A colourful chaos rings out through Vancouver’s historic Chinatown, where restaurants spill exotic fumes onto streets that are busy throughout day and night. From markets and tea shops to traditional gardens, this small neighbourhood evokes the atmosphere of Asia. It’s one of the most authentic Chinatowns in North America, and its distinctive style is a sharp contrast to other neighbourhoods in the city.
Most visitors to Chinatown enter through the elaborate Millennium Gate, then explore a few blocks around West Pender Street and Keefer Street. Tea boutiques entice visitors with their fragrances, while small stalls sell a bafflingly diverse collection of goods, and the choice of Asian restaurants can keep people entertained for weeks. Within Chinatown, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden provides a great getaway from the bustle and noise. It’s been built in an iconic Ming-dynasty style, with Chinese plants, a small lake, and distinctive rooftops.
Stadium-Chinatown station is on the SkyTrain system and is situated on the southwestern corner of the neighbourhood. When coming by road, Hastings Street provides a divide between Chinatown and Gastown. Alight from the bus here and Chinatown is just half a block south.
This neighbourhood has a very authentic history. Chinese immigrants were shipped in during the latter part of the 19th century to build the national railroad. They stayed, and their small businesses were part of what helped Vancouver flourish in the early part of the 20th century.