Chinatown

Set back from Philadelphia’s skyscrapers and colonial buildings, Chinatown is an oasis of Asian traditions, architecture, and dining in Center City. Settled in between Arch, Vine, 8th, and 13th streets, Chinatown has grown and prospered for more than a century, serving as the hub for East Asian culture in the Delaware Valley metropolitan area. It is now the third-largest Chinatown in the United States.

While the neighborhood can trace its origins back to the 1870 founding of a laundry at 10th and Race streets, it did not obtain the Chinatown title until the mid-1920s. In the following decades, the East Asian community faced its fair share of adversity in the form of construction. The creation of the Independence Mall and the Vine Street Expressway, among other new developments threatened Chinatown’s existence. In 1969, the community rallied to create the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation to preserve the cultural center and fight against future developments.

Chinatown is a popular destination for people of many ethnicities, noted for its good food and shopping. Visitors are greeted by the neighborhood’s signature landmark: the Friendship Gate over 10th Street, just north of Arch Street. The first authentic Chinese gate built in America by artisans from China was commissioned in 1982 and designed by local architect Sabrina Song. At 80 tons, the gate recognizes the bond with Philadelphia's sister city, Tianjin. Along with colorful dragons and ornate designs, the Chinese symbols for "Philadelphia," "City," "China," and "Town" adorn the top of the gate.

While Chinatown offers great shopping - specializing in jade, marble, silk, crystal, and porcelain items - and 15 grocery stores, the neighborhood's main attractions are its 50 restaurants. Destinations include Imperial Inn, Sang Kee Peking Duck House, Tai Lake Restaurant, and for the vegetarians, New Harmony Vegetarian Restaurant. The eating options in Chinatown, however, are endless, and also include Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese fare in many locations.

For an impressive and lip-licking tour of Chinatown, check out Joseph Poon's Wok 'N Walk Tour of Philadelphia Chinatown. Led by the chef of an authentic fusion restaurant in the heart of Chinatown, hungry guests walk through the streets of the neighborhood taking in its food and culture - including a tour of a fortune cookie factory and a lesson in Chinese vegetable carving. All tours are accompanied by a four-course meal composed of authentic Asian cuisines.

As a primarily commercial area, only about 1,000 people call Chinatown home. Chinatown is easily accessible by SEPTA with regional rail, two subway lines, and numerous bus routes having stops inside or just outside the neighborhood. Additionally, it is just a short walk from City Hall and the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

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