America's Largest Chinatown: San Francisco
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The 24 square blocks of San Francisco's dynamic Chinatown teem with activity 365 days a year. Beloved Grant Avenue, with its red lanterns and bright facades, brims with woks, kites, and kitschy souvenirs galore. Locals shop at Stockton Street's bargain-priced open-air markets, or relax and gossip at monument-filled Portsmouth Square. Enticing smells waft through the air: dim sum dumplings, mooncakes from traditional bakeries, and fortune cookies from a back-alley "factory." Vying for space on the packed thoroughfares and quiet alleyways are old-fashioned apothecaries, incense-filled temples, historic churches, one-seat barbershops, family benevolent associations, serene teahouses, fresh fruit stalls, and worlds more. |
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Tips in this Tour:
 | Head to bustling Stockton Street for some of the best deals on fresh produce, plus an extensive variety of Chinese spices and traditional treats. Just be prepared for elbow action on congested sidewalks. |
| This is one of the worst neighborhoods for street parking in San Francisco! Skip the headache of looking for a spot and head straight to the garage under Portsmouth Square. |
| There are many narrow alleyways that can be used as shortcuts to quickly scamper through when the congestion of major thoroughfares becomes too much to bear. You might discover an interesting shop or restaurant along the way, too! |
| This neighborhood isn't too hilly (at least compared to some other treacherously steep parts of the city), however the incline does increase dramatically once you are west of Stockton Street. Chinatown is serviced by several Muni bus lines, but be prepared for a sardine-packed ride in the morning and evening. If you're not going far, walking may be more enjoyable. |
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| Transportation: | By Foot - Easy walking |
| Specialty: | City/Town |
| Category: | Guided Tour - play before & while you tour |
| Rating: |
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| Added: | 09/05/2008 |
| Duration: | 30 min |
Purchase/Download:
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More about this tour |
Chapters in this tour:
Introduction
Grant Avenue
Historic Portsmouth Square
Eating Throughout Chinatown
Chinatown Alleyways
Places of Worship
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Provider: Barbara Rockwell
Barbara Rockwell is a
San Francisco-based writer specializing in travel and the arts. A native of the SF Bay Area, she has written for guidebooks including "Step by Step San Francisco" and "Smart Guide San Francisco," and regularly contributes to a variety of destination-based websites.
