 | Victoria Chinatown Reviews | 1 - 10 of 30 |  |
Canada's third largest CHINATOWN is this city's most fascinating enclave. Preservation of historic buildings and revitalization of the neighbourhood have brought this colourful quarter to life. Hans and I loved walking through Chinatown with all the colourful souvenir shops and quaint little restaurants. Leave a Comment Directions: Between Government and Wharf Road on Fisgard.
|
Visiting Victoria?
Read reviews about Victoria Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
There is lots to see and do in Victoria's Chinatown! Walk along Government Street until you reach Fisgard- then you've arrived! Check out the Silk Road Tea House on Government St for teas, and bath products. Wander through the maze-like Neverending Store, squeeze through Fantan Alley (scenes from Bird on a Wire were shot here) and stop for bubble tea at Panacea. For dinner you can't beat the food at Don Mees, and they apparently have great dim sum too!.
While you're in the neighbourhood, walk down to Wharf St. and turn left- check out Fran Willis' funky art gallery (quickly, as she just announced that after twenty-five years she will be closing her doors)! Leave a Comment Directions: Between Government St and Wharf St on Fisgard.
|
In Victoria you will find Chinatown and Fan Tan Alley. This Chinatown is one of the oldest on the West Coast of North America. Victoria's Chinatown is a quite serene place, not as vibrant as it used to be and not as busy as Vancouver's Chinatown. There are still some restaurants and shops left in this area. Leave a Comment Directions: Between Government and Wharf Road on Fisgard.
|
Victoria's Chinatown was founded in 1858. Although it still covers about 6 blocks, it is estimated that during the Gold Rush, Chinatown accounted for about half of Victoria's entire population and was comprised of over 150 shops, three schools, five temples, two churches and a hospital. Today's Chinatown is much smaller, but it has retained much of its distinct cultural flavour.
At the corner of Government and Fisgard St. stands the "Gate of Harmonious Interest", a gift from the city of Suzhou, China, one of Victoria’s sister cities. If you walk down Fisgard St. towards Wharf St., make sure to keep your eyes open for Fan Tan Alley, the narrowest street in Canada. The old opium dens, gambling houses and brothels of Fan Tan Alley have now become novelty stores and souvenir shops. Also, on Sundays, Government St. turns into a huge marketplace.
If you want to find out more about the history of Victoria's Chinatown, you can go on a guided walking tour. The 90-minute tours start at the "Bright Pearl" sculpture (near the gate, no reservation needed), and cost $12. Tours run year-round on Saturdays at 10:30 am, and on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in July and August. Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Chinatown in Victoria isn't very big, but it is worth a visit...I enjoyed it more than the Vancouver Chinatown. There are many restaurants, grocery stores, and other shops in the area. The shops all seem to sell the same old souvenirs. Instead of buying just another souvenir, I bought a can of roasted eels...and they weren't too bad...the eels had some sort of barbeque sauce on them...they had more taste to them than canned tuna. I also visited a take out place in Chinatown and got BBQ duck which was better than the eels. In Chinatown, you'll also find the narrowest street in Canada - Fan Tan Alley which is only about 4 feet wide. In the past, it was an entrance to a maze of secret passageways, gambling and opium dens and other seedy stuff...all that's gone now. Check out Chinatown! Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Victoria?
Read reviews about Victoria Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Step through 'The Gate of Harmonious Interest' for an unforgettable walk through Canada's Oldest Chinatown...and North America's Second Oldest Chinatown.
Victoria's Chinatown was the stopover, playground, and temporary home for prospectors and adventurers during the heydey of the 1858 West Coast Gold Rush.
As Victoria expanded during the 1880s and early 1900s the Chinese community also grew. Victoria was an important Pacific seaport, and goods from China arrived to be sent to other parts of North America. Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway brought many Chinese people to British Columbia, who then remained in Victoria after the railway was completed in 1885. Some Chinese people found prosperity as merchants and landlords, and a number of the wooden buildings that made up much of Chinatown were replaced by brick buildings three and four stories high.
Chinatown's "Forbidden City" was a network of alleyways and courtyards hidden behind the street fronts. This section of Chinatown was only open to Chinese people. Among other things, it housed gambling dens that featured elaborate escape routes in case of police raids. Leave a Comment Directions: Between Government and Wharf Road on Fisgard.
|
| | |
Victoria's Chinatown, founded in 1858 by Chinese immigrants looking for gold or working for the railroads, is the oldest Chinatown in Canada. Only covering 6 blocks, it's certainly not as big or as active as Vancouver's Chinatown but it's worth a look since it's so centrally located.
If you find yourself in Chinatown, be sure to find Fan Tan Alley, the world's narrowest street which is only about 4 feet and either end and no more than 6 feet in the middle. In the late 1800s Fan Tan Alley was the entrance to all kinds of seedy activities-opium dens, gambling houses, brothels-all replaced by souvenir shops. Scenes from one of Mel Gibson's worst movies, "Bird on a Wire", which costarred a screeching Goldie Hawn, were filmed here. Leave a Comment Directions: Between Government and Wharf Road on Fisgard.
|
Connecting Pandora Street and Fisgard Street (Chinatown), Fan Tan Alley was originally home to brothels and gambling dens. Today, it holds the North American record for "Narrowest Street". Inside the narrow alley you'll find some great shops (Heart's Content has the best collection of funky hosiery in Victoria and there is a great record store too), a little shop selling fresh noodles, and lots of ambiance (scenes from 'Bird on a Wire' were shot here). Don't miss this local gem! Leave a Comment Directions: Between Government and Wharf Road on Fisgard.
|
chinatown in victoria is not very big, but it's good and authentic.
it's actually the oldest in canada.
i really enjoyed strolling around there, looking at the shops and eating good chinese food. Leave a Comment Directions: Between Government and Wharf Road on Fisgard.
|
If you have visited my other pages such as Vancouver, Calgary, or London, you'd know I'm a fan of Chinatown. It seemed to me the one here has been "Victorianized"; it's small but complete, old yet yuppy, just like Victoria.
Behind the big gate there are your usual restaurants and grocery stores. Look closer you'll find over-decorated shop signs and phone booths. While I was there several tour buses made a quick photo stop -- something I had never seen in Vancouver's or other Chinatowns.
Besides Chinese, I saw a small group of "out-of-Chinatowners" living here, mostly above the restaurants. They seemed to be the young, hip type -- students, maybe starving artists. What really makes Chinatown hip is the small alleys with fancy little shops. The most famous one is Fan Tan which I'll post in the next tip. Leave a Comment
|
Best Victoria Travel Deals Great Vacations In Canada
Enjoy Breathtaking Beauty - Book A Vacation In Canada With The Experts Canada Train Travel
Experience Rock Mountaineer's Canadian Rockies train holidays. Victoria Hotels
Book at Marriott's Official Site for our Guaranteed Best Rates. Sponsored Links |
- Travellers Inn Downtown
1850 Douglas Street, Victoria - Gatsby Mansion Inn And Restaurant
309 Belleville St, Victoria - Mountainside Luxury Resort Sp
3500 Mayfair Drive, Victoria - James Bay Inn-B.C.
270 Government St, Victoria - Super 8 Motel - Victoria Airport
2477 Mt Newton Cross Road Jct Patricia Bay Hwy (Hwy 17), Victoria - Lodge At Weirs Beach
5195 William Head Road, Victoria - Queen Victoria Hotel And Suites
655 Douglas Street, Victoria - Dominion Grand Hotel
759 Yates St (formerly Dominion Grand Hotel), Victoria - Holiday Inn Victoria
3020 Blanshard Street, Victoria - Howard Johnson Hotel Canterbury
310 Gorge Road East, Victoria - Chateau Victoria Hotel And Stes
740 Burdett Ave, Victoria - Pauls Motor Inn
1900 Douglas Street, Victoria - Blue Ridge Inn
3110 Douglas Street, Victoria - Quality Resort Sea View
4550 Cordova Bay Rd (formerly Quality Resort), Victoria - Royal Scot Suite Hotel
425 Quebec St, Victoria
|
on October 23, 2004
on May 15, 2007
on January 25, 2005
on July 8, 2007
on June 21, 2003
on March 15, 2006
on August 22, 2006
on January 14, 2007
on June 28, 2003
