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Step 1
Bring a map. Chinatown is in downtown San Francisco, so any map of the city should be sufficient. Chinatown is roughly enclosed by Bush Street to the South, Montgomery Street to the East, Union Street to the North and Jones Street to the West.
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Step 2
Walk up Grant Avenue, the tourist center of Chinatown. Stop at the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue to pass through the regal entrance known as Dragon Gate or Chinatown Gate. One block up on the right is Saint Mary's Park, where a statue of Dr. Sun Yal-Sen honors the lives and service of Chinese war veterans.
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Step 3
City Lights Bookstore, at the corner of Broadway and Columbus, is an independent bookstore that houses three stories of poetry, politics and literature. Opened in 1953 by poet and current owner Lawrence Ferlinghetti, City Lights has become a mecca for alternative book connoisseurs or visitors just looking for a comfortable place to sit and read. To learn more about the history of Chinatown, pick up a copy of "The Adventures of Eddie Fung" by Judy Yung. The book tells the life story of Eddie, a Chinese man who grew up in Chinatown in the 1930's and became a Japanese Prisoner of War during World War II.
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Step 4
Walk down Stockton Street. Stockton Street is less often visited by tourists and offers a slice of authentic Chinese culture. In fact, Stockton Street is often equated to Hong Kong. For a taste of genuine Chinese food try one of the dim sum restaurants in this area.
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Step 5
Explore the side streets, which are filled with food markets and brightly decorated trinket shops. Stop by a vegetable market to buy some Taro root, which can be baked and is starchy like a potato. Visit one of the shops, such as the two-story Canton Bazaar on Grant Street, which sells everything from tiny stone Buddhas to babbling fortune fountains.
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Step 6
Talk to the locals and take pictures. Talking to the people who live and work in Chinatown is the best way to get to know the culture, and to find out about special events and festivals.
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Step 7
Visit during Chinese New Year and take part in one of the most exciting parades in the world. The Chinese New Year parade was first celebrated in San Francisco in the 1860's, and was used as an opportunity to teach Americans about Asian culture. Today, Chinatown hosts a variety of New Year festivities including flower markets, a street fair with puppet shows and lion dancing and the Miss Chinatown U.S.A Pageant.
