San Francisco Chinatown Shopping and Tours

Include this Chinese Museum and Culture Center on SF Walking Tours

Oct 27, 2009

Independent travelers may easily miss two attractions which illustrate the colorful history of the famous movement of the Chinese to San Francisco's Chinatown.

A popular sightseeing attraction in San Francisco, Chinatown is one of the oldest and largest Chinese communities outside of China. The main streets which tourists visit in Chinatown San Francisco are Grant Avenue and Stockton Street where they find various gift and food shops which are great for purchasing items like ginger root, bamboo shoots, golden-glazed ducks, sharks fins, fish, cackling chickens, a variety of herbs and learn how to taste several Chinese teas.

For tourists interested in the history of Chinatown, there are two sites of particular interest: the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco and the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum. Both of these can be found on city walking tours.

Located inside the Hilton Hotel in the San Francisco Financial District (750 Kearney Street, on the third floor, (415) 986-1822) is the Chinese Culture Center, an inspiring discovery. This Culture Center has been a non-profit organization since 1965 where many workshops, lectures, exhibits, and performances are held such as the Chinese of America documentary 1786 – 1980 and Chinese Women of America – A Pictorial History.

The current art exhibit on display, Xian Rui, is by Dora Hsiung. "Xian" means fresh and with "Rui" as sharp, this exhibit brings light to the works of under-recognized Chinese artists. Born in Shanhai, Dora Hsiung has lived in multiple continents, and now resides in Massachusetts. The works are spectacular.

While there are several superior private city walking tours available of Chinatown, a highly valued one is the Heritage Walking Tour offered by the Culture Center and available Tuesday through Sunday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. for $30 per adult. Lunch is available on the 10 a.m. tour for additional cost. The sights on this city walking tour are:

The gift shop available at the Culture Center is open Tuesday – Saturday and with limited hours on Sunday where Chinese merchandise and art pieces, books and souvenirs may be purchased.

The other attraction is the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum exhibit which is open Tuesday – Friday, noon to 5 p.m., admission fee of $3 for adults. (415) 391-1188 And, there is free admission for the public on Thursdays.

The Main Gallery of the Museum tells the story of the history of the Chinese in USA. Referring to the Chinese Historical Society's website, there were more than 90% of Chinese immigrants from the Pearl River Delta region in China during the first surge to USA in the 1600s. As one is walking through these astonishing exhibits, they see a colorful display and artifacts that are arranged in an excellent and thorough method. Be sure to go on a docent guided tour through the museum, an absolute must to be able to listen to the detailed information given.

This museum opened in November 2001 in the historical Chinatown YWCA building, which is easily recognized landmark building designed by Julia Morgan (who designed many buildings including Hearst Castle). The traditional courtyard gardens and fountain inside the YWCA building is an added attraction to this tour. The Chinatown YWCA played an important part to the young Chinese American women for over fifty years.

Don’t miss these two amazing sightseeing attractions in Chinatown, San Francisco, the Chinese Culture Center and the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, which are slightly off the beaten path of normal shopping and tours for visitors.

The copyright of the article San Francisco Chinatown Shopping and Tours in California Travel is owned by Donna West. Permission to republish San Francisco Chinatown Shopping and Tours in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.