San Francisco Chinatown Walking Tour
Description
Discover San Francisco's Chinatown on this fascinating walking tour. Immerse yourself in the vibrant colors and rich heritage and culture of this storied neighborhood as your insider guide takes you to popular and off-the-beaten path locations. View historic landmarks, visit an herbal pharmacy and hear about Waverly Place, a secluded alley full of private clubs. Stroll through the Stockton Street food markets and sample fortune cookies at the factory where they're made. You'll leave with a whole new appreciation for this historic and culturally authentic neighborhood.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet at Old St. Mary's Cathedral, 660 California St., to begin your walking tour of Chinatown's most popular sights and hidden locales. Your guide will highlight the history and culture of Chinatown, explaining how the remarkable authenticity of ancient Chinese culture has been preserved and celebrated in a must-visit San Francisco attraction.
Chinatown’s outdoor living room and the birthplace of San Francisco’s first American flag, first public school, and first cable car line.
Stroll among the freshest and most exotic foods in the Bay Area at the Stockton Street Food Markets.
We’ll sample these “wise crackers” and watch how it’s done.
At this exotic dried goods store, you'll see ginseng, bird's nests, gecko lizards, fish bladders, sea cucumbers, abalone and more and hear about what these foods can do for you.
Admire architectural details; hear about the history of secret institutions on Waverly Place; and time permitting, visit a secluded Buddhist temple.
Stationery store? Party goods supply store? Come with us to discover exactly what this store sells and why.
View the East West Bank building for an example of pagoda style architecture, common in Asia. But what was here before the bank? At this stop, you'll understand the complexity of the Chinese language, both spoken and written.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Tours operate rain or shine; please dress appropriately
- We need a minimum of 2 persons to confirm your booking. If you are traveling alone, we will offer alternate dates for you to join us.
Reviews(790)
Linda provided an engaging and informative experience and we were grateful to have decided on this tour.
Hi Stacey: Hope your daughter caught up with ABC News and made it on the evening's broadcast, talking about Portsmouth Square Park's renovation impact on residents, store owners and visitors to Chinatown. And of course, thank you for the 5 star review!
Linda Lee offers a very engaging tour of Chinatown, filled with historical and cultural references, and her personal experiences of growing up up in Chinatown.
Hi Dnah and Andrew: Thank you for this 5 star review. I didn't get a chance to see Simon Mendes' film at the Jewish Film Festival this year, but congratulations to your family for an impressive inclusion - hope many will see it for years to come. Glad you enjoyed yourselves in Chinatown with me!
Linda was a star. Growing up in China Town she had a ton of first hand experiences to share with us. Highlight of our stay in San Francisco.
Hi ScottlZ6 & M: I enjoyed our intimate tour of Chinatown as well. Thinking of getting an Uno game to play; looks easy and fun! Thank you for the 5 star review.
It was fantastic! We could ask Linda anything, laughed a lot, and learned a lot! We can really recommend this tour!
For those of you who understand German - hope it's a positive review! I love that my guests post reviews in their own language. All I can respond with is: Thank you Barbara and Milan!
Ryan was a knowledgeable guide! The experience was wonderful. The food and tea were very good. I highly recommend.
Linda Li was really wonderful--it was a very bespoke tour, and she shared all her knowledge about culture and history of Chinatown. We really appreciate her thoughtfulness and insights, and for tailoring the tour to our group's interests!
Hi Scarlett: I was fortunate to take you and your family to places of interest. Stopping at the tea shop was the highlight of our visit because we had the hostess Corinna all to ourselves! Thank you for the 5 star review.
Linda provided us with a fun, interesting, and very informative tour!
Hi Karend: Love those adjectives! Thank you for the 5 star review.
Super experience. Linda was so helpful with our scheduling. Alan provided a great tour with so much information and insights on Chinatown and the history of Chinese-Americans. Thank you so much. It was just the experience we were hoping for.
Hi prjense: Our team of Alan and myself just love this review. We are thrilled to have offered a memorable experience for your family!
We had a great tour with Lei Huang through SF‘s Chinatown. It was way more than just pointing out the landmarks, Lei gave us an insider‘s look into the real Chinatown - the history, architecture, culture, social organizations, power balances, and of course the delicious food! I’ve done some research on the Chinese American experience in California, and Lei‘s insights helped fill in the gaps and gave me new questions to explore. Fantastic experience!
Hi Stepha: All that in 2 hours? What a terrific tour! Lei is an exceptional tour guide, and you were fortunate to share your knowledge with each other. It's also wonderful to read that his tour inspired you to learn more. Thank you for the 5 star review of Lei Huang.
I lived in the Bay Area many years ago. I was worried about visiting because what if things were not as fun or nice as then. I am very pleased that it was just as I remembered ( a tad busier) I love China town. It has always been a go to spot for me . It was clean. People were friendly and helpful.
Hi NevaS1: I feel the same way! Although I am in Chinatown almost every day giving tours, I see places that are no longer there (sad) but new stores that are replacing these locations with new products and staff that are bilingual and appreciative of continual commerce. Thank you for this 5 star review.
