Ten Reasons to Visit San Francisco's Chinatown

Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks ten reasons to visit San Francisco's Chinatown ranging from food and fortune cookies to historic landmarks and shopping.

San Francisco's Chinatown is a vibrant and culturally rich neighborhood that offers a wealth of experiences for visitors. Here are ten reasons why you should consider visiting:

Red Paper Lanterns in San Francisco's Chinatown

Ten Reasons to Visit San Francisco's Chinatown

1. Rich Cultural Heritage: San Francisco's Chinatown is one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns outside of Asia. It's a living testament to the city's rich cultural diversity and immigrant history.

2. Historic Landmarks: Explore historic landmarks such as the Dragon Gate, which marks the entrance to Chinatown, or the Tin How Temple, one of the oldest Chinese temples in the United States.

Enjoy Dim-Sum in San Francisco's Chinatown

3. Authentic Cuisine: Indulge in authentic Chinese cuisine ranging from dim sum to regional specialties. Chinatown offers a wide array of restaurants, bakeries, and tea shops where you can taste traditional flavors. See our page on the Best San Francisco Chinatown Restaurants.

4. Shopping: Enjoy shopping for unique souvenirs, gifts, and exotic goods along Grant Avenue and Stockton Street. From herbal remedies to intricate artwork, Chinatown's shops offer a diverse array of items.

See Colorful Cultural Celebrations in San Francisco's Chinatown

5. Colorful Festivals: Experience vibrant cultural festivals such as Chinese New Year or the Autumn Moon Festival, where the streets come alive with colorful decorations, dragon dances, and traditional performances.

6. Architectural Marvels: Marvel at the architecture of Chinatown, characterized by its ornate pagoda roofs, red lanterns, and traditional Chinese motifs. The architecture provides a fascinating glimpse into Chinese design and craftsmanship.

A Street in San Francisco's Chinatown

7. Hidden Alleys and Courtyards: Wander through the maze of narrow alleys and hidden courtyards, where you'll discover hidden gems like the Waverly Place and Ross Alley, home to the famous Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.

8. Cultural Institutions: Visit cultural institutions such as the Chinese Historical Society of America or the Chinese Culture Center to learn more about the history, heritage, and contributions of Chinese Americans.

Chinese Fortune Cookies

9. Fortune Cookies: Stop by one of the fortune cookie factories to see how these iconic treats are made and even customize your own fortune. It's a fun and unique experience not to be missed.

10. Local Festivities and Events: Immerse yourself in the vibrant community life by participating in local events, from street fairs to cultural performances. Whether it's a martial arts demonstration or a traditional lion dance, there's always something happening in Chinatown.

Our Pick of the Guides

These are just ten of the reasons why San Francisco's Chinatown is well worth a visit when you're in the city.

Other San Francisco Pages

San Francisco
Information about San Francisco, including what to see, where to stay, where to eat, and links to sources of information including the official visitor website.
Cheap Flights to San Francisco
Cheap flights to San Francisco with Southwest Airlines, Virgin America, SkyWest, JetBlue and other airlines from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Seattle.
Alcatraz Famous Inmates
Pacific Coast Highway dishes the dirt on Alcatraz's famous inmates, like the infamous Al Capone and the well-known Birdman, who never kept birds at Alcatraz!
San Francisco Airport Hotels
San Francisco Airport hotels include a Grand Hyatt, La Quinta, Westin, Marriott, Super 8 and bayfront hotels ranging from budget to 5-star luxury.
Perfect Day in San Francisco
A perfect day in San Francisco would include Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, and the California Academy of Sciences.
Best Nightlife in San Francisco at the California Academy of Sciences
The Best Nightlife in San Francisco could be at the California Academy of Sciences where once a week it becomes a temporary nightclub.
Visiting Golden Gate Park
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's advice on visiting Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and seeing its museums, gardens, lakes, buildings, and even bison!
Best Time to Visit San Francisco
Pacific Coast Highway Travel’s advice on the best time to visit San Francisco, covering the weather and climate from month to month and season by season.
San Francisco Sightseeing Tours
San Francisco sightseeing tours can be by helicopter, bike, walking, eating in Chinatown, touring the gay area or trips to the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.
Touring Alcatraz
Touring Alcatraz, the former island prison, is one of the best things to do in San Francisco and attracts over 1.5 million visitors a year.
Free San Francisco Kindle Guide to Free Attractions
101 free San Francisco attractions and things to do are in the Kindle guide, 101 Free Things to Do in San Francisco, in the Travel Free eGuidebooks series.
Photos of the Golden Gate Bridge
A selection of the best Photos of the Golden Gate Bridge on the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website, for travel and photographic inspiration.
Best Romantic Hotels in San Francisco
Pacific Coast Highway Travel brings you the best romantic hotels in San Francisco, many with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and in the heart of the city.
Visiting the Golden Gate Bridge
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to visiting the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco including how to get there and free walking tours of the bridge.
Ten San Francisco Dishes and Drinks
Before you go it helps to know what to eat in San Francisco and so here's our list of ten San Francisco dishes and drinks that you have to try.
Ten Best Things to Do in San Francisco
Pacific Coast Highway Travel lists the ten best things to do in San Francisco, including Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf.
Best Museums in San Francisco
The best museums in San Francisco include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum and Exploratorium.
San Francisco Best Chinatown Restaurants
San Francisco has some of the best Chinatown restaurants in the USA, and its Chinese restaurants provide superb dining. Here are our top eating places.
San Francisco Music Tour on the Magic Bus to Haight-Ashbury
Take a San Francisco Music Tour with Magic Bus, a trip through the musical past to Haight-Ashbury, the City Lights Bookstore and the Summer of Love.
Best Golf Courses in San Francisco
The Pacific Coast Highway Travel guide to the best golf courses in San Francisco for all budgets and skill levels, including courses close to the city center.
Your Insider's Guide to San Francisco
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's book review of Insider's Guide to San Francisco guidebook by Jill Loeffler, publisher of the San Francisco Tourism Tips website.