How to Explore Seattle's Chinatown
Located in downtown Seattle near Elliott Bay, the Chinatown International District offers a fascinating Asian community of restaurants, ethnic and specialty shops, art galleries and history. The area is truly diverse and is home to many Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Vietnamese and Southeast Asian residents.
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Instructions
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Understand that the Chinese first settled here in 1860 when laborers were brought to Seattle to work on railroads, salmon canneries, mining and other industries in Washington and Alaska. The community grew near the busy waterfront and growing downtown district between Fifth Avenue to Seventh Avenue with South King Street as the main thoroughfare. Today it's not only a major visitor attraction but also an area that is the location of home and work for many Asian residents. The district also includes parks with gardens and Asian themed sculpture.
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Keep in mind that an excellent walking tour is the "Touch of Chinatown" offered Tuesday through Saturday. Tickets for the one-and-a-half hour tour are available from the tour office in the Wing Luke Asian Museum at 719 King Street. Other tours include "Chinatown by Day" with a six-course dim sum lunch; "Nibble Your Way Through Chinatown," a progressive taste tour, and a "Chinatown by Night" which includes an eight-course banquet. Tickets and information are available through the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau website.
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Know that historic attractions include the Wing Luke Asian Museum, Northwest Asian American Theatre, Liem's Aquarium and Bird Shop. Restaurants and shops that have historic significance are Linyen Restaurant and Lounge, Korea Ginseng Center, Mon Hei Bakery, Kau Kau Barbeque, Tai Tung Restaurant, Uwajimaya, the oldest district grocery and gift store and Kinokuniya, the largest Japanese bookstore in the area. Another interesting attraction is the China Gate Restaurant, which opened as an opera house in 1924.
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Tips & Warnings
Chinatown is like stepping into another country with foreign languages being heard more than English. Be sure to keep your street guide handy so as not to get lost. Most restaurant staffers do speak English.
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- Photo Credit Photo by Natasha Lawrence
