Historical Chinatown Walking Tour
Description
Savor the sights, sounds and stories of Canada's oldest Chinatown on this 90-minute walking tour. Follow in the footsteps of gold miners, merchants, laborers and revolutionaries as you weave your way along Chinatown’s main streets and then into Fan Tan Alley (the city’s most infamous thoroughfare).
Tour Options
Itinerary
Victoria was the supply center for the gold rush and grew to become British Columbia’s largest city before the birth of Vancouver in the 1880's. Victoria’s Chinatown was the home base for thousands of Chinese. Some established their own stores, restaurants, laundries and farms. In the city, some worked as gardeners, servants and cooks in the homes of non-Chinese. Outside the city, many worked for others in the gold fields, coal mines, logging camps and fish canneries. For many years, Victoria had the largest Chinese population in Canada. Today, its Chinese population is small in comparison to other cities, but Victoria will always have the distinction of being home to Canada’s oldest Chinatown.
The Chinese Public School is Victoria's most intriguing building. Learn about why it was built and why there is much more to its ornate architecture than meets the eye.
Fan Tan Alley is undoubtedly the most famous place in Chinatown, if not in all of Victoria. Many former gambling dens still exist in Fan Tan Alley. A demonstration of how to play fan tan may be included in your tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- No health restrictions
Reviews(41)
Had a wonderful time! The tour is a family owned operation, with guides who have personally studied the history out of interest and want to share it most truthfully, not sensationalize it! They also appear to know and have good relationships with the locals.
You are very right, the guides who give our Historical tours have each studied Victoria’s history out of interest, and are keen to share what they know. We’re glad that you enjoyed the Chinatown Walking Tour.
The depth of historical knowledge and information was outstanding! Our guide was dynamic, interesting and his enthusiasm in telling us about the history of the region was infectious. We’ve done walking tours al over Europe and this was one of the best of the best! We’ll be signing up for their ghost tour next!
Wow, we’re so pleased that you found our historical tour of Chinatown to be the best of the best of the walking tours that you’ve taken! As you noticed, our guides are passionate and well versed in the history of Victoria.
Our tour guide, John, provided an excellent history of Chinatown. We could tell that he really knows his subject and enjoyed sharing his expertise.
Thanks for coming along with us on our Chinatown Walking Tour. You are quite right that John, like our other historical guides, really knows the material and he does enjoy sharing his knowledge.
In addition to his ability to weave together world history and its impact on the development of Victoria’s China Town, Chris’ connection with the locals made this tour all the more special.
Agreed, our Chinatown tour is a wonderful way of getting a perspective on Chinese history in Canada and specifically in Victoria.
A beautiful morning to enjoy the sites and beauty of Victoria’s Old Chinatown. Our tour leader was an expert in the history of the area and I would love to read his book about the Chinese movement in and out of Victoria. We walked very leisurely and he spoke very clearly and the ear piece was very helpful to avoid the auto noises. This should be a “do not miss” as part of your tourist agenda. We even had a couple from here in Victoria. They seemed to also enjoy the entire experience.
Thanks for joining us on our Chinatown tour. We’re so glad to know how much you learned from John. He did literally write the book on Chinatown. Agreed, the personal listening device helps filter out the noise of the city.
This is to correct the review I sent on June 23, 2025: This tour is amazing, especially for people who are curious about historical facts and stories of Chinese immigrants to Vancouver and learn how Chinatown and its locals evolved from the 1800s to present day. Judy is very knowledgeable and I highly recomnend this tour.
Thanks for amending the review that you wrote on June 23 for our Historical Chinatown Tour. We appreciate your high praise.
We had a great time with John leading us on the historical walking tour in Chinatown in Victoria, BC. It was 1.5 hours of non-stop information, background and history. This man knows his city very well and was pleased to share it with us. We will plan to take the Ghostly Walk and Historical Walk when we return in future.
Thanks for joining us on our Chinatown Historical Walking tour. John literally wrote the book on Victoria’s Chinatown and as you found out, he does enjoy sharing his knowledge. We look forward to welcoming you on any other of our historical walking tours and/or our Ghostly Walks on your next visit to Victoria.
John was a very knowledgeable and engaging guide. He knows the neighbourhood and people so well, and we learned so much about this very special place
We're glad that you learned so much on the Chinatown Walking Tour that you took with John. He wrote a book about the Chinese experience in Victoria.
Unique experience with in-depth behind the scenes gems from a knowledgeable guide who grew up in the area.
We're so pleased that you enjoyed the Chinatown tour so much. Thanks for coming along.
We just took friends on this tour. I had been on this very tour before and really enjoyed it. Our friends liked it too. So informative. Gracious tour guide and assistant. I will continue to recommend it to alal of our guests.
It's great to know that you're one of our repeat customers. Thanks for bringing your friends on our Chinatown Walk and for continuing to recommend our tours to your friends.
