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About this activity

You could spend days wandering the lantern-covered streets of Chinatown, but this hour-long tour has been designed as an introduction to immerse you in its unique history and culture and give you a few reasons to come back again later. The tour starts near the Dragon’s Gate, to discuss the history of this once-rough area, and address the mystery of SF’s moving waterline. Stopping at historical points of interest, your guide will introduce you to the often-overlooked history of Asian immigration to the US - it goes back much farther than you may think - and explain the ways that Chinatown has been integral to the growth of San Francisco as a whole. But this tour is only partially about history; you'll also be immersed you in the modern life of the neighborhood that is a fascinating mix of East and West. You’ll stop off at landmarks like Waverly Place, Portsmouth Square, and St. Mary’s Cathedral. You'll discuss Chinese medicine at a traditional apothecary, tempt your tastebuds at some of the city’s best bakeries, and even taste some fresh fortune cookies (an SF invention) at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. Before you go, your guide will recommend some of his favorite places to eat dim sum so you can come back later to eat in one of the foodie capitals of the city.