Hello, inquisitive people. Wander Woman here!
Mini Adventure To The Dragon’s Gate, Chinatown
Yesterday I had the opportunity for a fun “mini-adventure” in my own backyard. I took a little trip to San Francisco’s Chinatown for lunch and some shopping in the many gifts and souvenir stores.
Even though I live only about 15 miles (24 km) away from San Francisco, an excursion into the heart of the city always feels festive to me. Chinatown, especially, is a treat for the senses abounding with sights, sounds, scents, and flavors that you can’t find elsewhere in the city.
A Mini Asia, The Chinatown!
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest anywhere outside of Asia, and also the oldest Chinatown in the United States. It dates back to the mid-1800s, and the California gold rush.
The lure of gold and the dream of striking it rich brought immigrants from all over the world to California, including many eager fortune-seekers from China. The Chinatown district that sprang up in San Francisco must have been a welcome haven and a little slice of home for the weary travelers, miners, and laborers who had made their way around the globe from Asia.
The Dragon’s Gate of Chinatown!
The iconic Dragon Gate, shown in the photo, was built in the late 1960s using materials gifted from the Republic of China. The ground was broken for the gate in 1967, it was completed in 1969, and dedicated in 1970.
The gate stands at the intersection of Bush Street and Grant avenue and marks the southern entrance to the approximately 8-block-long Chinatown.
Today, San Francisco’s Chinatown bustles with activity as both locals and tourists shop. dine, and sightsee. It is a must on any visit to the City By The Bay.
