Chinatown

Unlike the Chinatowns in Vancouver or New York, San Francisco's Chinatown is in some areas filled with tourist shops. Still, it has a lot of charm and atmosphere.

Besides the well known Chinatown Gate, the approx. 24-block area contains a lot of pagoda-roofed buildings, as well as nicely decorated lamp posts and phone booths in Chinese style.

Chinatown also has several temples; three of them are located in the Waverly Place, which is also known as the 'street of painted balconies'. This street is certainly worth a visit. Another nice and much-photographed place in Chinatown is the corner of California and Grant, which has some nice pagoda-roofed buildings.

The best way to visit San Francisco's Chinatown is by strolling through the streets. The area you should visit is located between Stockton Street and Grant Street, which has the best Chinatown atmosphere.