Chinatown, San Francisco: Food and Culture Self-guided Audio Tour

Fortune cookies, dim sum and hidden alleys: eat your way through the oldest Chinatown in North America with a local. David Hu, a 5th-generation Chinese American who grew up in San Francisco, leads you to his favourite bakeries and secret corners, sharing the stories of the people who built this neighbourhood. Stop, enjoy the food and continue at your own pace - all food at your own cost. -Watch fortune cookies folded by hand and discover their surprising Japanese American roots -Grab dim sum at Good Mong Kok, egg tarts at Wong Lee and mooncakes at Eastern Bakery -Wander Ross Alley and Waverly Place, once home to gambling dens and temples -Hear how Bruce Lee was born here, and how the Chinese Exclusion Act shaped Chinatown -35 stops, 1.2 miles, about 1 to 1.5 hours with time to snack and shop Starts at the Dragon Gate on Grant Ave & Bush St. Food is paid for separately. Redeem your code in the VoiceMap app before you go. GPS-triggered audio, offline maps and unlimited use.

1. 1

   Dragon's Gate

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   Start at the Dragon Gate on Grant Avenue, where David, a 5th-generation Chinese American who grew up in San Francisco, welcomes you to the oldest Chinatown in North America. Hear how this neighbourhood grew from a handful of Gold Rush settlers.

2. 2

   Stop 2

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   See California’s first cathedral, built in 1854 by Chinese labourers. Look up at the clock tower’s stern warning, “Son, observe the time and fly from evil”, aimed at the brothels and gambling dens that once surrounded it.

3. 3

   Canton Bazaar

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   Browse one of Grant Avenue’s classic emporiums, packed with porcelain, jade, silk and souvenirs. David shares tips on what’s worth buying, and how shops like this helped turn Chinatown into a tourist destination after the 1906 earthquake.

4. 4

   Stop 4

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   Turn onto Waverly Place, the “street of painted balconies”, where colourful temples and family association halls sit above the shops. Discover the role these associations played in protecting Chinese immigrants in a hostile city.

5. 5

   Stop 5

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   Bruce Lee's Chinatown: Hear how the world’s most famous martial artist was born right here in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1940, and the ties that kept Bruce Lee connected to the neighbourhood as he rose to become a global icon.

6. 6

   Chinese Historical Society of America

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   Pass the museum housed in a 1932 building designed by Julia Morgan, architect of Hearst Castle. Learn how the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 shut America’s doors to Chinese immigrants, and how families found ways around it.

7. 7

   Ross Alley

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   Stroll through Ross Alley, uncovering hidden corners and historical anecdotes as you traverse the narrow passages that hold the secrets of Chinatown's past.

8. 8

   Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co

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   Watch fortune cookies being folded by hand at this tiny Ross Alley factory. Find out the surprising truth about where fortune cookies really came from, a story with roots in San Francisco’s Japanese American community.

9. 9

   Stop 9

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   Join the line at one of Chinatown’s best-loved dim sum takeaways. Grab steamed pork buns, shrimp dumplings and more to eat on the go, with David’s tips on what to order. Food is paid for separately.

10. 10

    Stop 10

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    Stop at this neighbourhood bakery for traditional Chinese baked goods, from flaky egg tarts to sweet buns. A perfect snack as you continue walking, and a taste of everyday Chinatown life.

11. 11

    Portsmouth Square

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    ause at “Chinatown’s living room”, where locals gather to play cards and chess. This is also where San Francisco began: the American flag was raised here in 1846, and news of the Gold Rush was shouted from this square in 1848.

12. 12

    Stop 12

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    Visit one of the oldest bakeries in Chinatown, famous for its mooncakes. Learn what these rich pastries mean during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and pick one up to try for yourself.

13. 13

    The Wok Shop

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    Pass by The Wok Shop, a culinary haven that supplies woks to professionals, community members, and food enthusiasts alike, showcasing the kitchen essentials that fuel the culinary heartbeat of Chinatown.

14. 14

    Chinatown Kite Shop

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    Explore the Chinatown Kite Shop, an iconic establishment offering handmade Chinese dragon kites and more, blending cultural artifacts with artistic creations.

15. 15

    St. Mary's Square

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    End your tour at St Mary's Square, where you can reflect on the rich tapestry of experiences, cultural discoveries, and gastronomic delights encountered on your journey through San Francisco's Chinatown.

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.