Chinatown, Victoria

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Chinatown itself, while supposedly the best preserved Chinatown in all of Canada (according to the standard tourist propaganda), really isn't that large. It is filled with a number of small stores and restaurants, and those are really all better covered in their own entries.

You will find a number of public art works that emphasize this is Victoria's china town, and that is about it in terms of making Chinatown a general purpose tip due to the businesses all being separate.

The main gate (see photo 1) is located at Fisgard and Government streets, and the main business district of Chinatown extends west on Fisgard street from there. A huge portion of the markets, stores and restaurants are extremely hidden from view from the street as they are located down narrow alleys. The most commonly mentioned such alley on the tourist literature is Fan Tan Alley, which runs south from Fisgard Street several stores west from Government Street.

Herald Street, one block north of Fisgard, also features some elements of Chinatown, but not the heavy concentration seen on Fisgard for the one block between Government Street and Store Street.

I have just barely scratched the surface of what is available in Chinatown in terms of vendors and restaurants. However, most likely you will find your best information about this area of town featured in the individual restaurant and shopping tourist information rather than in general Chinatown information.

Other than all those independent businesses, the primary attraction here is to wander through the section and window-shop, and admire the huge works of art declaring to the world that this is Chinatown.

The web site given below is for a tour company that does offer walking tours of Chinatown, but I have not been on any of their tours. It does feature a little information about the area, but not a whole lot.

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Victoria's Chinatown may have lacked in some respects but the murals that decorate some of its walls were stellar and inspiring. We found them to be one of the highlights of the city. It felt like you were looking in at some part of history.

Lee Mong Kow was born in China in1863 and emigrated to Victoria in 1882. His superior intelligence, talent in English, and trustworthiness led to him being appointed as first the interpreter at the Canada Custom House and later at Canadian Immigration. Along with his official duties, he owned and operated many Chinatown businesses while having 17 children with wife Seto Chang Ann whom he married in 1893. He was noted for helping Chinese immigrants cut through red tape and is revered today as one of Chinatown's greatest all-time citizens.

The mural was painted by Maltby in 2007 and is located at 631 Fisgard Street. The artist has another fantastic mural at 512 Fisgard Street depicting life in Chinatown at the turn of the century.

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The Gate of Harmonious Interest is the gateway to Victoria's Chinatown and was installed in 1981 though modeled after those and built in China. Its theme is one of Yin & Yang with a Golden Dragon and Red Phoenix featured prominently. Two inscriptions "To work together with one heart" and "To help each other achieve harmony." alludes to the fact that both Chinese and non-Chinese locals worked together to make this gate possible.

The Chinese Public School located at 636 Fisgard Street was constructed in 1909 and stilll offers classes in Chinese languages, history and culture.

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This little neighborhood close to the Gorge area of Victoria's waterfront possesses some interesting shops and restaurants to be discovered and is well worth a little walk about to have a look.Its not a large area to cover and walking wont take you more than an hour...depending on how much you want to browse or window shop...

Victoria's China Town is in fact listed on Parks Canada's list of National Historic sites because it is the oldest surviving China Town in Canada and was the largest urban center of Chinese population in Canada through the first decade of the twentieth century...The Chinese were some of the earliest immigrants to settle permanently in Victoria...many arrived here early on during the Gold Rush on mainland B.C. and stayed...

Here you will find an assortment of grocery stores,restaurants,and shops where you can find cheap souvenirs and postcards.

China Town contains a network of alleyways and courtyards hidden behind the street fronts that used to be havens of gambling and opium dens .The alleyways served as escape routes in case of police raids.These are still seen today but the alleyways are filled with small shops and galleries..

The main entrance..The Gate of Harmonious Interest was constructed in the Eighties as a monument in recognition of, and to preserve, the Chinese heritage in Victoria for everyone.

The stone lions at the Gate were donated by Victoria's sister city,Suzhou in the People's Republic
of China and on the outer right pillar is a plaque with the names of 61 Chinese Canadians who
died fighting for Canada in the Second World War.There are also time capsules embedded into the concrete on either side of the red pillars...

The most narrow street in all of Canada is to be found here in Victoria's China Town....its name..Fan Tan Alley...measures all of 0.9 metres wide...This alleyway is the place where the famous motorcycle chase scene was shot for the film"Bird on a Wire" starring Goldie Hawn and Mel Gibson...

Chinatown in Victoria has great food, shopping and sightseeing. Order a bubble tea and have a walk down Fan Tan Alley.
Once full of brothels and opium dens, the alley is now undoubtedly the narrowest shopping district in British Columbia.
As for the bubble tea ... well, try one and judge for yourself.

Victoria's Chinatown is the third largest and the oldest in Canada. There you'll find lots of restaurants, tea shops, cafes (I recommend you to go to 'Bean around the world'), art and gift shops and many, many inexpensive stuff!!! I advise you to go to a big shop located at the left of the Gate of Harmonious Interest, sorry I don't remember the name of the shop but you will love it! Even though it is a safe place, don't go alone at night. There is a walk tour to Chinatown where you'll learn about its history and famous people, it is offer by local famous John Adams. To get more info and prices go to the Visitor info Centre.

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The Chinese people play a big role in British Columbia history and are certainly considered pioneers. Chinatown is part of that history. It's an old part of Victoria which holds onto Chinese heritage.

If you've been to Vancouver or San Francisco, or any city with a really large Chinatown, don't come to Victoria with the same expectations. While Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest one in Canada, it's possibly the smallest as well. The area is pretty much confined to one and a half blocks. However, you'll see Chinese restaurants, produce stores, traditional medicine stores and more. If you look closely and zoom in on the photo I've attached, you can even spot a Chinese-style telephone booth!

The best part about Victoria's Chinatown, in my opinion, is Fan Tan Alley. Fan Tan Alley is a very narrow gap between 2 buildings, and if you weren't looking for it, you would walk right past it without realizing it was there. Once you walk through the narrow path between the 2 brick buildings, it opens up into a narrow courtyard with a bunch of little shops. There's a great used music shop, and a fantastic musical instrument shop. There's some great clothing boutiques, and my favourite, the Chinese store full of little trinkets and novelty items. The store looks small, even from inside, but once you go around the corner, you realize it extends into several rooms!

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There is lots to see and do in Victoria's Chinatown! Walk along Government Street until you reach Fisgard- then you've arrived! Check out the Silk Road Tea House on Government St for teas, and bath products. Wander through the maze-like Neverending Store, squeeze through Fantan Alley (scenes from Bird on a Wire were shot here) and stop for bubble tea at Panacea. For dinner you can't beat the food at Don Mees, and they apparently have great dim sum too!.

While you're in the neighbourhood, walk down to Wharf St. and turn left- check out Fran Willis' funky art gallery (quickly, as she just announced that after twenty-five years she will be closing her doors)!