We just returned from a few days in San Francisco. Dear was attending an oncology conference and I tagged along to enjoy some sight seeing. It worked out for me to also spend some time with a couple friends from my college days. My Chinese/Russian friend Alice gave me a tour of Chinatown on Thursday as part of a larger tour of the city she knows well. Then on Saturday morning we had a couple hours before we left the city and Dear and I walked to Chinatown.
The most photographed structure in Chinatown is undoubtedly the large Chinatown Gateway, also known as the Dragon Gate.
The gate was designed in 1970 by Clayton Lee and is based on the ceremonial gates that can be found in Chinese villages. The gate is adorned with sculptures of fish and dragons and is flanked by two large lion statues. The gate has three passageways. The large, central one is meant for dignitaries while the two smaller passageways are meant for the common people.
San Francisco’s Chinatown is not only the oldest but also the most famous and largest Chinatown in the U.S. Thanks to the many ornamented houses, shops and eateries the area is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. The lampposts are all very ornamental and have dragon motifs.
While in Chinatown with my friend Alice we enjoyed Dim Sum at one of the restaurants.
Alice celebrates Chinese New Year so we shopped around the town so she could pick up some things for her celebration. I bought a few souvenirs to create a Chinese table setting and I think we’ll pick up some takeout for Chinese New Year and celebrate, too. It’s the year of the Monkey.
I’m linking up to ABC Wednesday created by Mrs. Nesbitt and carried on by Roger and the ABC Team.
C is for Chinatown!
I’m also linking up to Tuesdays Treasures hosted by Tom The Backroads Traveller
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
such interesting architecture isn’t it? i remember as a kid, my mom went to hong kong to visit my dad (he was in the navy) and i used to love going through the photo albums of her trip there…everything was so colorful and and amazing!
Love China Town! I went there with my mother in the late 70s and again with my sister-in-law in the 80s. Would love to do a trip again and I bet with the preparations of the New Year approaching it was an exciting trip.
San Francisco is always a nice destination. Your photos look like great fun at Chinatown. I love the gate and the graffity wall.
those areas are always so colourful..and the smells delightful, don’t you think?
Lovely entry Ellen, thank you for it and your loyal participation ofcourse also.
Have a nice abc-day / -week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ <abc-w-team)
I really enjoyed these…I would love to have seen this area for myself. It is just so interesting.
It looks so exotic and interesting. The year of the monkey, eh? Hmmmm…
Isn’t it nice to go to conventions where you have nothing to do except be entertained! This would have been a splendid one – so colourful.
A very nice place to see in San Fran. Great food and a lot of trinkets to buy at affordable prices.
My ABC WEDNESDAY
I loved San Fran’s Chinatown when I visited! We have a great gateway here in Vancouver’s Chinatown, too. Check out this girl’s blog http://bcadayatatime.com/2010/02/22/while-you-are-in-vancouver-you-have-to-visit-china-town-and-heres-why/
Leslie
abcw team
Chinatown in London is memorable, but this one is SO famous for the US. Thank you so much for taking all of these photos and sharing them with us. It is beautiful, and I love the mural.
What a wonderful post and beautiful photos ~ Aren’t you lucky to have your friend tour Chinatown with you ~ I loved Chinatown and San Francisco ~ fond memories ~ and the cable cars! Great choice for C!
Wishing you the best in each day. ~ ^_^
What a wonderful treat to visit a chinatown with someone who celebrates Chinese New Year!
I love to visit our Victoria Chinatown. Of course, the one in San Francisco is famous! I enjoyed looking at it and would love to visit. I think you’ll have fun setting a table for Chinese New Year!
Chinatown looks so colorful and fun! My son and his wife spent a Thanksgiving Day in Chinatown, eating Chinese food instead of the traditional turkey dinner. They had recently moved, had no close friends as of yet, and were too far away to come home. So they had an adventure instead, visiting San Francisco, walking the Golden Gate Bridge, and eating in a Chinese restaurant. 😀
China Towns look so interesting, but I’ve never been to one. I love the architecture. Thanks Ellen for sharing this week and please return with more treasures.
That was a grand tour. I liked the murals.
Happy ABCW!
The murals are very snazzy – definitely worth a photo 🙂
Now I really want to go back there to visit China Town in SF!!! Great post Ellen.
Chinatown is a really good subject and very colourful. Thanks for sharing.
Wil, ABCW Team
How lucky you were to have your own very knowledgeable guide. It’s the complicated wonderful kind of place that a mere tourist would love but undoubtedly miss the best parts of!
Chinatown looks like so much fun. So colorful.
How wonderful you got to spend time with college friends. I think my favorite shot is of the colorful wall mural,
I am ill so that is why I was delayed in commenting.
Beautiful! I like that the town seems to have kept the vintage flavor…
Chinatown is a fun place to visit. There’s one in Vancouver and a smaller one here. I like visiting some of the shops. Great time with your friend.
Love to visit Chinatown in SF!
I was there in 1988!
ROG, ABCW
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in San Francisco. We used to take our plane to Oakland and then ride the BART into town. That was much easier than landing at the international airport and driving all the way into town. – Margy
Wow! Great photos! It’s so colorful and lovely looking.
Loved taking the tour with these colourful illustrations!