Seniors Enjoy Strolling Through Chinatown

Yes, Chinatown, but which one.  There are Chinatowns in several major cities, San Francisco, New York City and London, the list goes on and on. Chinatown of San Francisco is the largest Chinese community on the West Coast. These seniors had the good fortune to just stroll through Chinatown and to take in the wonderful environment of Hong Kong personified.

We picked up some neat “cooking tools” and we dined in an authentic restaurant high on the second floor right in the heart of the quarter. As we were just walking along, I noticed many Chinese going up a wide stairway. I said to my wife, “let’s see where they are going.”

It was around noon and we soon learned that it was a restaurant. A young man greeted us and asked how we happened upon this restaurant. I told him that “curious Jim” just followed folks up the stairs. I think that we were the only non natives in a large room that was packed with hundreds of Chinese enjoying their noon meal. What a memorable experience.

Largest and Oldest Chinatown

Chinatown became established in the mid 1800’s when there was a large boom in Chinese immigration to the United States. Many came to escape China’s uncertain economic conditions, attracted by the Gold Rush and later by the opportunity to work on the Transcontinental Railroad.

Chinatown can  be found in any guidebook. When checking out this unique and bustling part of the city, why not step off the main streets, dip into the alleyways and get a real view of its residents? That’s the best means for senior visitors to get to know this famed quarter.

San Francisco Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest Chinatown in North America. It is one of the top tourist attractions in San Francisco.

Seniors Walk Through Dragon’s Gate

The entrance to Chinatown at Grant Avenue and Bush Street is called the “Dragon’s Gate.” By just strolling senior visitors will soon discover that Chinatown is about eight blocks long and has two long main streets, Grant Avenue and Stockton Street.

We recall the air that permeates of Chinese BBQ’d meats, the decoration of brightly colored lanterns, the collective sound of Cantonese chatter, the wide open markets filled with the plethora of unfamiliar roots, herbs, and vegetables. Chinatown offers a bounty of shops, including restaurants, Chinese grocery stores and delis, bakeries, tea and herbal shops, clothing stores, galleries and souvenir haunts. It’s just plain fun.

Three annual festivals honor the city’s Chinese heritage. Chinese New Year and the Autumn Moon Festival draw  crowds to Chinatown. It’s one of the most exotic-feeling parts of San Francisco along with Fisherman’s Wharf and at times, you may hear more Chinese spoken on Stockton Street than on the streets of Hong Kong.

Enjoy it all. jeb