San Francisco Chinatown 2-Hour Walking Tour
by All About Chinatown Tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$118Overview
The tour starts at Old St. Mary's Cathedral, where the guide introduces Chinatown’s history and culture. Over about two hours, participants walk to several key spots and lesser-known locations in this neighborhood. The first stop is Portsmouth Square, recognized as Chinatown’s outdoor living room and the site of San Francisco’s first American flag, public school, and cable car line. Next, the group strolls through Stockton Street’s food markets, known for fresh and exotic produce. The tour includes a visit to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co., where fortune cookies are made and samples are provided. Returning to Stockton Street, travelers see an exotic dried goods store featuring items like ginseng, bird's nests, gecko lizards, fish bladders, sea cucumbers, and abalone, with explanations of their uses. The walk continues to Waverly Place, also called The Street of the Painted Balconies, to observe architectural details and learn about secret clubs; a Buddhist temple visit is possible if time allows. The final stops take place on Grant Avenue, including a stationery and party goods store, and the East West Bank building, an example of pagoda-style architecture. The guide explains the history of the site and aspects of the Chinese language spoken and written. The tour includes a professional guide but does not provide hotel pickup or drop-off, and gratuities are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
All About Chinatown Tours
The meeting point is Old St. Mary's Cathedral at 660 California Street. The guide introduces Chinatown’s history and culture, describing how elements of ancient Chinese culture remain authentic and celebrated here.
10 min
Portsmouth Square
This area is known as Chinatown’s outdoor living room and was the location of San Francisco’s first American flag, first public school, and first cable car line.
15 min
Stockton Street
Walk through the Stockton Street Food Markets, where some of the freshest and most exotic foods in the Bay Area are sold.
15 min
Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co
Observe how fortune cookies are made and sample them at this factory.
10 min
Stockton Street
Visit an exotic dried goods store featuring items such as ginseng, bird's nests, gecko lizards, fish bladders, sea cucumbers, and abalone, with explanations of their health uses.
10 min
The Street of the Painted Balconies
Look at architectural details on Waverly Place, learn about the secret clubs located there, and if time permits, visit a secluded Buddhist temple.
10 min
Grant Avenue
Stop at a store selling stationery and party goods to understand what it offers.
10 min
Grant Avenue
View the East West Bank building, an example of pagoda-style architecture, and learn about what was previously on the site and some features of the Chinese spoken and written language.
10 min
Meeting point
The cross street is Grant Avenue
End point
The tour ends near Grant Ave., 2 blocks from Old St. Mary's Cathedral, the starting site of the tour.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
San Francisco Chinatown 2-Hour Walking Tour
by All About Chinatown Tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$118Overview
The tour starts at Old St. Mary's Cathedral, where the guide introduces Chinatown’s history and culture. Over about two hours, participants walk to several key spots and lesser-known locations in this neighborhood. The first stop is Portsmouth Square, recognized as Chinatown’s outdoor living room and the site of San Francisco’s first American flag, public school, and cable car line. Next, the group strolls through Stockton Street’s food markets, known for fresh and exotic produce. The tour includes a visit to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co., where fortune cookies are made and samples are provided. Returning to Stockton Street, travelers see an exotic dried goods store featuring items like ginseng, bird's nests, gecko lizards, fish bladders, sea cucumbers, and abalone, with explanations of their uses. The walk continues to Waverly Place, also called The Street of the Painted Balconies, to observe architectural details and learn about secret clubs; a Buddhist temple visit is possible if time allows. The final stops take place on Grant Avenue, including a stationery and party goods store, and the East West Bank building, an example of pagoda-style architecture. The guide explains the history of the site and aspects of the Chinese language spoken and written. The tour includes a professional guide but does not provide hotel pickup or drop-off, and gratuities are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
All About Chinatown Tours
The meeting point is Old St. Mary's Cathedral at 660 California Street. The guide introduces Chinatown’s history and culture, describing how elements of ancient Chinese culture remain authentic and celebrated here.
10 min
Portsmouth Square
This area is known as Chinatown’s outdoor living room and was the location of San Francisco’s first American flag, first public school, and first cable car line.
15 min
Stockton Street
Walk through the Stockton Street Food Markets, where some of the freshest and most exotic foods in the Bay Area are sold.
15 min
Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co
Observe how fortune cookies are made and sample them at this factory.
10 min
Stockton Street
Visit an exotic dried goods store featuring items such as ginseng, bird's nests, gecko lizards, fish bladders, sea cucumbers, and abalone, with explanations of their health uses.
10 min
The Street of the Painted Balconies
Look at architectural details on Waverly Place, learn about the secret clubs located there, and if time permits, visit a secluded Buddhist temple.
10 min
Grant Avenue
Stop at a store selling stationery and party goods to understand what it offers.
10 min
Grant Avenue
View the East West Bank building, an example of pagoda-style architecture, and learn about what was previously on the site and some features of the Chinese spoken and written language.
10 min
Meeting point
The cross street is Grant Avenue
End point
The tour ends near Grant Ave., 2 blocks from Old St. Mary's Cathedral, the starting site of the tour.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.