Chinatown Los Angeles

Chinatown Los Angeles

Perhaps no area of Los Angeles better emphasizes its title as the “melting pot” of the city, and indeed the entire country, than Chinatown. As is clear from the name, it owes its name to the Chinese community, which chose this part of the city as its place of settlement. Today it is a true corner of Asia in the heart of America - full of Chinese restaurants, eateries and shops. But that's not all: Chinatown also boasts significant "all-American" monuments and many different events throughout the year.

A Little History

The first mention of Chinese citizens in Los Angeles dates back to 1852. Apparently, the pioneers appreciated the advantageous position of the city and the wide opportunities for enrichment - five years later there was already a small community here. The Chinese quickly infiltrated Los Angeles commerce—by 1870, there were about 200 permanent residents, mostly laundry workers, gardeners, farmers, and road workers. Ironically, they lived on a small street in Los Negros. At the beginning of the 20th century, immigrants from China managed to completely take over the laundry business and grow to an unimaginable 3,000 people. Chinatown already occupied 15 streets, on which there were about 200 “national” houses. As a result, numerous shops and restaurants, a Chinese Opera House and three temples arose. Residents of the area even published their own newspaper, and when calling Chinatown from other US cities, you had to dial a separate code, different from Los Angeles. Thanks to its authenticity, the area quickly gained popularity, and the first tourists here were residents of Los Angeles, who came to gawk at the exotica.

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What to See

The place to start your acquaintance with Chinatown is from Central Square, which is located at 947 North Broadway. Along the sides of the square you can see traditional buildings in which the families of Chinese pioneers in L.A. still live, and several monuments: a statue of the founder of the Republic of China, Sun Yat The Seine, a five-step pagoda and a well from 1939, where it is customary to throw a coin and make a wish.

The oldest bakery, Phoenix, still bakes the best strawberry cakes in all of Los Angeles.

The Saigon Plaza, Chinatown Plaza and Dynasty Center shopping centers offer jewelry, clothing and shoes. It is worth paying attention to the building of the oldest Chinese bank - Cathay Bank, the Taoist temple, the Chinese Methodist Church and the Pacific Alliance Hospital, where doctors of traditional Chinese medicine are treated. The West Plaza shopping center is worth a visit in search of avant-garde paintings and interesting artistic items. You can learn more about the history of Chinese communities in Southern California in general and Los Angeles in particular at the Chinese Historical Society, which displays many photographs and artifacts from the community's early years.

Address: Chinatown, Los Angeles