Chinatown San Francisco sits in the northeast of the city, between the Financial District and Nob Hill. Its streets make a manageable outing to combine with nearby neighborhoods; for a broader route, see this one-day San Francisco itinerary. The Twin Peaks Hotel is in San Francisco, with Church station about a two-minute walk away.
Orienting Yourself in Chinatown
Think of Bush Street as the southern edge and Broadway as the northern one, with Kearny Street to the east and Powell Street to the west. Grant Avenue is the main tourist-oriented street, while Stockton Street has a more local shopping feel, with groceries, food and seafood shops concentrated mainly on its west side.
San Francisco Travel says Chinatown was founded in 1849 during the Gold Rush and rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake. The neighborhood adjoins North Beach and the Financial District, so you can extend your walk into either area. For more on moving between neighborhoods, use this guide to getting around San Francisco by transit and on foot.
What to See on a First Walk
Begin at Dragon Gate, at Grant Avenue and Bush Street near Union Square. From there, walk north along Grant Avenue to see its ornate architecture and traditional lanterns, then turn onto Waverly Place for its painted balconies. San Francisco Travel describes the gate as about a 10-minute walk from Union Square.
Portsmouth Square offers a pause in the middle of the neighborhood. It is described as San Francisco’s oldest public square and remains a gathering place where residents play Chinese chess and practice tai chi. Across from Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, built in 1854, St. Mary’s Square has a statue of Sun Yat-Sen.
For context on Chinese American history, the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum is at 965 Clay Street; its collection contains more than 22,000 artifacts. The Chinese Culture Center is at 750 Kearny Street, across from Portsmouth Square and inside the Hilton hotel. San Francisco Travel lists it as free to visit.
Finding Food in Chinatown
For a street-level look at food shopping, head to Stockton Street. The Chinatown Visitor Information Center describes it as a local grocery and food-shopping street, with seafood shops mainly on the west side. Produce and fish markets are among the neighborhood’s defining sights, though individual businesses set their own hours.
Chinatown also has an annual outdoor Stockton Street Market during the two weeks before Lunar New Year. The market has operated since 2012, with vendor booths on the street. Lunar New Year celebrations recur every February and include parades, fireworks and festivals.
Getting There by Transit
Muni’s T Third serves Chinatown–Rose Pak Station, at Stockton and Washington streets on the southwest corner. The Central Subway has a Chinatown stop, and the cable-car lines connect Chinatown with visitor areas including Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square and the Embarcadero.
Other routes serving or providing access to Chinatown include the California, Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable cars, along with Muni bus routes 1, 5/5R, 6, 7, 8/8AX/8BX, 9/9R, 12, 21, 30, 31, 38/38R, 39 and 45.
Check the Muni map for the route that fits your starting point, and check the official site before you go: SFMTA publishes service hours and frequency, which vary by weekday, weekend and time of day.
Market Hours and Visitor Etiquette
Chinatown itself has no set opening or closing hours. Individual shops, markets and restaurants keep their own schedules; many shops and markets open around 9 or 10 a.m. and close by 6 or 7 p.m., with variation from business to business.
As you walk through the markets and residential streets, keep pathways clear and be considerate of people shopping or going about their day.
The San Francisco Chinatown Visitor Information Center is at 625 Kearny Street, where staff assist visitors with information and referrals. Its visitor-center opening hours are not verified, so plan around the neighborhood’s individual businesses rather than assuming the center will be open.