Chinatown Alleyways and Temples

The Dragon Gate is a ceremonial archway marked by three separate portals topped with vibrant green tiles and curled dragon sculptures. Straddling Grant Avenue at the intersection of Bush Street, it functions as the official southern…

Old Saint Mary's Cathedral sits on the corner of California Street and Grant Avenue, easily identified by the red brick walls and the clock tower that rises above the surrounding buildings. When the cornerstone was laid in eighteen…

Hang Ah Street, also known as Pagoda Place, is a quiet, narrow walkway tucked between Grant Avenue and Stockton Street in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown. You can identify it by the alternating English and Chinese text inscribed…

The Tin How Temple occupies the top floor of a four-story building on Waverly Place. You can identify this site by the quiet, incense-filled atmosphere hidden above the street, marked by red lanterns and a collection of traditional altars.…

Portsmouth Square is defined by its tiered design featuring red-painted columns and curved, tiled roofs that rise above the surrounding street level. This one-block space is the oldest public plaza in San Francisco, dating back to eighteen…

The Kong Chow Benevolent Association building on Stockton Street stands out for the traditional Chinese architectural elements and ornate detailing that adorn its upper-floor temple. Originally founded by Cantonese immigrants in eighteen…

Spofford Street is a narrow, single-block alleyway in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown, recognisable by the constant, rhythmic sound of mah-jong tiles being shuffled and clacked from behind residential doorways. This quiet lane,…

The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory sits tucked into Ross Alley, where the scent of baking vanilla dough frequently drifts into the narrow, mural-lined walkway. Opened in nineteen sixty-two, this small storefront is one of the few…