subject: Chinatowns Top Five: What You Cant Miss In San Francisco! [print this page] The great city by the bay has it all: comfortable weather, avant-culture, sports, entertainment and breathtaking sights. Within it, a single 24 square block neighborhood gets the lions share of attention and visitors Chinatown. So, staying at a San Francisco Chinatown hotel, for many, is a no-brainer.
Once youve got your Chinatown San Francisco hotel picked out, get ready to explore the top five things to do and see in the greatest single concentration of Chinese people outside of Asia:
5. Tea. You know the phrase for all the tea in China? Theres a good reason for that. From Green to Oolong, Chinatown offers the most flavorful variety of teas on this side of the Pacific. Stop in at one of the numerous tea shops to taste for yourself.
4. Visit the Goddess. Portsmouth Square is home to a detailed replica of the Goddess of Democracy used in the Tiananmen Square protest, and is one of the few open spaces in Chinatown.
3. Photo Op. Grant Avenue is the gateway to and decorative showpiece of Chinatown, each year hosting the Autumn Moon Festival Street Fair and the ever-popular Chinese New Year Festival & Parade. If youre going to take one tourist-y picture in Chinatown, the Dragon Gate on Grant is the place to do it.
2. Get some Dim Sum. Chinatown offers come of the best Dim Sum in California, delicious individual portions of food, usually served in a small steamer basket or on a small plate. Think Tapas, Chinese-style. Ask the concierge at any one of the many hotels near Chinatown San Francisco for the best spot near you.
1. A walk through Hong Kong. Want to feel like youre really there? Then head over to Stockton Street. Often ignored by tourists, this thoroughfare presents an authentic Chinese look and feel, from the fresh produce and fish markets to the many smaller restaurants frequented by locals. Its just the think to add that extra something special to your Chinatown trip.
