-[See]- Chinatown in San Francisco
Although Chinatown is one of San Francisco’s top tourist destinations, it’s definitely not one that’s cliche enough to pass up. Being the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in North America, even a quick walk-through will leave you mesmerized in culture, color, food, history, and even leaves you with a strong sense of tradition.
This past February was my first time in San Fran, and as there are many great things to get into in the city, I was sure that Chinatown deserved a visit in my short stay. I admit that I thought I could run through the area quickly before planning to hit Haight and Ashbury, but the area is embracing enough to keep you stuffing more quarters in your parking meter. (And yes, much of San Francisco still uses parking meters designed for quarters only, so it’s wise to keep spare change on you.) The second you walk into the area, you instantly feel like you’ve warped yourself right into Asia. From the outdoor fresh markets full of produce and fresh fish, to the bartering old asian couple at one of the various butchers, the Chinese New Year drum parade following the infamous red dragon, signs advertising fresh dim sum, herb shops, acupuncture clinics, tea houses, to Buddhist temples.
The marvelous thing about San Fran’s Chinatown is that right when you think you’ve stepped into another world, there you see the Oakland Bay Bridge in the distance, standing before hills of beautiful American landscape, around the glistening waters of the bay. On the roads you see charters of classic cable cars… along buildings and truck sides you’ll find urban graffiti as found in any greatly populated city, and at last you see the American flag waving along buildings and storefront signs all written in Chinese calligraphy. Since it is a major tourist destination, you’ll find people from all over the world, making this one of most culturally diverse areas you’ll find in the country. There is truly no place like it.
After spending a few hours in the area there is still a lot I have yet to see, giving reason to come back for a longer look.
Check out some of the photos I took along the way, and feel free to throw in some recommendations on what else I should see next time I visit Chinatown.