Chinatown
This is North America's second biggest
Chinatown, after San Francisco's. Mandarin and
Cantonese are the mother tongues in 30 per cent of
Vancouver homes, which makes Chinese the largest
"minority" ethnic group. There are lots of interesting
markets with many varieties of fresh and dried seafood
and mushrooms. You'll also find inexpensive houseware
and traditional Chinese medicine.
 In
the heritage area around Main Street and Keefer, you'll
find everything from ginseng to green tea, fine
embroidered linens, silk robes, exotic fresh produce
plus traditional Chinese tableware and cooking utensils.
Natural apothecaries and herbalists abound in Chinatown,
and it's the best place in Vancouver to buy
freshly-prepared Asian delicacies from moon cake to
roasted duck. The summer weekend night markets are
always popular, especially for cheap imported goods and
a vast smorgasbord of take-out food options.
What a fascinating world you’ll find as you enter
Vancouver’s amazing Chinatown! As the largest Chinatown
in Canada, this neighbourhood is alive with a myriad of
sights and sounds of the Far East. Step into the world
of the largest ethnic minority in Vancouver and explore
colorful shops boasting a variety of unique items,
including Chinese clothing, baskets, and linens; martial
arts equipment; exquisite antiques, stationery, and
artwork; and fascinating Chinese herbs.
During the summer, on weekend evenings, Keefer and
Pender Streets become a busy open-air night market. If
you have time for a leisurely meal, try dim sum at one
of the many small restaurants. It is an inexpensive,
multi-course culinary adventure. Relax in the peaceful
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, or marvel at
the ornate Millennium Gate - just steps away on Pender
Street. Visit the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum, or
participate in one of its many activities.
Vancouver's Chinatown is the place to visit for a taste
of Chinese culture:
Browse through the fascinating shops
Stroll through the fresh market
Consult a traditional Chinese medicine herbalist
Stroll through the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese
Garden
Take your photo in front of the massive Han Dynasty Bell
in Shanghai Alley
Take one of the many walking tours: shopping, cuisine,
architecture, culture.
 When
it’s time to eat, you’ll find the choices are
staggering. From traditional Chinese cuisine to Asian
Fusion, the restaurants in Chinatown are top-notch.
Don’t forget to stop at one of the neighbourhood’s many
bakeries or spend some time at the Fresh Market, where
you can buy fish, meat, produce, and other items to
create your own sumptuous meal.
To learn more about the life of the Chinese in
Vancouver, head to the Chinese Cultural Center and
Museum for a lesson about Chinese immigration to North
America. Also make a stop at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen
Classical Chinese Garden and enjoy peace and tranquility
amidst a beautiful floral setting.
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Chinatown Night Market
(Mid May - Early Sept, 2008)
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 6:30 - 11:00 p.m.
100 & 200 block of Keefer Street (between Gore, Main &
Columbia Street
Styled after Asian marketplaces where shopping is
personal, local and bartering is the name of the game,
the Chinatown Night Market is one of Vancouver’s summer
highlights. Stalls and tables set up on Keefer Street
are loaded with bargain-priced merchandise, including
CDs, garments, novelties, watches, food and accessories.
Enjoy horse-carriage rides on Fridays, entertainment
shows on Saturdays, and family fun and games on Sundays.
Downtown Vancouver
Vancouver Hotels
Vancouver Attractions
Chinese
Cultural Centre Museum
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden |
