San Francisco Chinatown Walking Tour
Description
Discover San Francisco's Chinatown on this fascinating walking tour. Immerse yourself in the vibrant colors and rich heritage and culture of this storied neighborhood as your insider guide takes you to popular and off-the-beaten path locations. View historic landmarks, visit an herbal pharmacy and hear about Waverly Place, a secluded alley full of private clubs. Stroll through the Stockton Street food markets and sample fortune cookies at the factory where they're made. You'll leave with a whole new appreciation for this historic and culturally authentic neighborhood.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet at Old St. Mary's Cathedral, 660 California St., to begin your walking tour of Chinatown's most popular sights and hidden locales. Your guide will highlight the history and culture of Chinatown, explaining how the remarkable authenticity of ancient Chinese culture has been preserved and celebrated in a must-visit San Francisco attraction.
Chinatown’s outdoor living room and the birthplace of San Francisco’s first American flag, first public school, and first cable car line.
Stroll among the freshest and most exotic foods in the Bay Area at the Stockton Street Food Markets.
We’ll sample these “wise crackers” and watch how it’s done.
At this exotic dried goods store, you'll see ginseng, bird's nests, gecko lizards, fish bladders, sea cucumbers, abalone and more and hear about what these foods can do for you.
Admire architectural details; hear about the history of secret institutions on Waverly Place; and time permitting, visit a secluded Buddhist temple.
Stationery store? Party goods supply store? Come with us to discover exactly what this store sells and why.
View the East West Bank building for an example of pagoda style architecture, common in Asia. But what was here before the bank? At this stop, you'll understand the complexity of the Chinese language, both spoken and written.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Tours operate rain or shine; please dress appropriately
- We need a minimum of 2 persons to confirm your booking. If you are traveling alone, we will offer alternate dates for you to join us.
Reviews(787)
It was fantastic! We could ask Linda anything, laughed a lot, and learned a lot! We can really recommend this tour!
For those of you who understand German - hope it's a positive review! I love that my guests post reviews in their own language. All I can respond with is: Thank you Barbara and Milan!
Ryan was a knowledgeable guide! The experience was wonderful. The food and tea were very good. I highly recommend.
Linda Li was really wonderful--it was a very bespoke tour, and she shared all her knowledge about culture and history of Chinatown. We really appreciate her thoughtfulness and insights, and for tailoring the tour to our group's interests!
Hi Scarlett: I was fortunate to take you and your family to places of interest. Stopping at the tea shop was the highlight of our visit because we had the hostess Corinna all to ourselves! Thank you for the 5 star review.
Linda provided us with a fun, interesting, and very informative tour!
Hi Karend: Love those adjectives! Thank you for the 5 star review.
Super experience. Linda was so helpful with our scheduling. Alan provided a great tour with so much information and insights on Chinatown and the history of Chinese-Americans. Thank you so much. It was just the experience we were hoping for.
Hi prjense: Our team of Alan and myself just love this review. We are thrilled to have offered a memorable experience for your family!
We had a great tour with Lei Huang through SF‘s Chinatown. It was way more than just pointing out the landmarks, Lei gave us an insider‘s look into the real Chinatown - the history, architecture, culture, social organizations, power balances, and of course the delicious food! I’ve done some research on the Chinese American experience in California, and Lei‘s insights helped fill in the gaps and gave me new questions to explore. Fantastic experience!
Hi Stepha: All that in 2 hours? What a terrific tour! Lei is an exceptional tour guide, and you were fortunate to share your knowledge with each other. It's also wonderful to read that his tour inspired you to learn more. Thank you for the 5 star review of Lei Huang.
I lived in the Bay Area many years ago. I was worried about visiting because what if things were not as fun or nice as then. I am very pleased that it was just as I remembered ( a tad busier) I love China town. It has always been a go to spot for me . It was clean. People were friendly and helpful.
Hi NevaS1: I feel the same way! Although I am in Chinatown almost every day giving tours, I see places that are no longer there (sad) but new stores that are replacing these locations with new products and staff that are bilingual and appreciative of continual commerce. Thank you for this 5 star review.
An absolute must for families. We had four generations with us — kids aged 8 and 10 and grandparents in their 70s — and Linda Lee managed every single one of them beautifully. Born and raised in Chinatown, with over 40 years leading this tour, Linda brings history, humor, and genuine heart to every stop. The herbal pharmacy, fortune cookie factory, Buddhist temple, Stockton Street markets, and private family clubs all meant nothing to us before she explained them. She turned streets we’d walked down a dozen times into places we finally understood. Her stories of growing up in this community, surviving the 1906 earthquake’s legacy, and rebuilding with pride are unforgettable. She remembered all our names. She made our 8-year-old laugh and our 70-year-old grandparents feel like they were getting the insider tour of a lifetime — because they were. Best experience of our San Francisco trip, full stop. Book early — it sells out constantly.
Dear TheLoaf: This review is making me look like the Cheshire Cat. Upon meeting your family, I wanted your children to be engaged with the stories and sights of what Chinatown had to offer beyond its touristy look, and I knew I had to work hard when your son did not believe I was Bruce Lee’s wife after viewing his mural at the start of the tour. Perhaps asking your kids to show off their healthy looking tongues in the herbal pharmacy convinced them that Chinatown had stores showcasing ancient remedies worth thinking about more than the Labubu dolls and Pokemon cards beckoning from store windows. Thank you for this fantastic review. What is thrilling to read is that your family’s curiosity about Chinese culture and history was memorable, and a jumping board to learn more about a civilization that dates back thousands of years. I wish I could compose this thank you reply as articulately penned as your review. Suffice to say that a 5 star is an owner’s dream rating, and this eloquently composed note of your family’s tour experience makes my heart sing. Thank you, Linda Lee
Wow! Linda is amazing! Getting a tour of Chinatown from a Chinatown native was so valuable. She knew such cool old stories and facts about the people of Chinatown. My sisters, Mom and I did a Saturday morning tour and it was the highlight of our vacation. Thank you, Linda! You were wonderful!
Hi Tess_G, Janice,Tara, and Robyn: The four of you were so interested in Chinatown and delightful that I kinda wanted to be a distant family member. I'm glad you went home with memorable stories of Chinatown's history and culture. Don't forget to save your Colorado and Nevada tangerine peels to fight off impending colds!
The tour was fun and informative, the kids enjoyed it too. We learned a lot about Chinese immigration to the city as well as a lot about their beliefs and culture.
Hi Jennifer and Kelly: I'm thrilled that you ended the year with a memorable tour and that your kids learned a little bit more about Chinese culture. Thank you for the 5 star review and Happy New Year!
