San Francisco’s China Town is the most visited attraction in California. This vibrant neighborhood is as close as you are going to get. San Francisco Chinatown is the heart of the Asian American community of San Francisco, and home to some of the most authentic restaurants and curious shops.

The ornate Chinese gate was given to Chinatown San Francisco in 1969 by the Republic of China as a gift, and has marked the entry to Chinatown ever since then. There are over 1.5 million people of Chinese descent living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chinatown will give you a real taste of their culture, since many of these shops and market carry items that the residents purchases.

Chinatown San Francisco is filled with lots outdoor produce stands, herb and medicinal shops, chatoic souvenier shops, antique stores, and shops where you can find and purchase fine kimonos, chinese silk fabrics and clothing. On Stockton, the major bus lines fill with Asians coming and going from downtown, so if you don’t want to walk you can always hop on a bus to get there. With colorful shop front covered with papers lanterns and strange symbols you can’t read, and crowds of tourists and groups of little old ladies having their daily chat, its easy to get confused and disoriented.

Saturday is the busiest day for shopping, so if you don’t mind the crowded sidewalks and the occasional shove, then you can come see the action. Most visitors can’t read the packages of food or wouldn’t know what to do with the exotic vegetables, and opt for having lunch in the area at one of the excellent Asian San Francisco restaurants.

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