Chinatown Los Angeles

Downtown L A Tour

Detouring north on Broadway from Temple Street, a five-block walk will take you to Chinatown Los Angeles. As early as 1852, a Chinese settlement was recorded not far from here. After the community moved to its current location, the Central Plaza was dedicated in 1938. A number of Chinese-themed buildings were built, and Chinatown Los Angeles became a popular tourist attraction.

Visiting Chinatown Los Angeles

You may enjoy shopping in Chinatown Los Angeles, and it has its share of shops selling live fish and poultry, as well as Chinese-themed souvenirs. However, if you've been to the vibrant Chinatowns of San Francisco, Vancouver or New York City, you may find Chinatown Los Angeles boring in comparison. If you do decide to go, the self-guided walking tour available at the Chinatown Los Angeles Website will enhance your visit.

You can learn more about the history of the Chinese in city and about Chinatown Los Angeles at the Chinese-Amerian Museum in the nearby El Pueblo historic district.

Movies filmed in Chinatown Los Angeles include Rush Hour, Lethal Weapon 4 and of course, Roman Polanski's 1974 classic Chinatown.

Follow Alameda Street south to find a great place for a bite to eat.

Chinatown Los Angeles Website

Chinatown Los Angeles is roughly bounded by Alameda Avenue, Yale Street, Bernard Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue. You'll find the Chinatown Los Angeles dragon gate at N. Broadway and Cesar Chavez. Central Plaza, with its neon sign which has become iconic for Chinatown Los Angeles is on N. Broadway near Bernard.

If you want to go directly to Chinatown Los Angeles from other parts of the city, the easiest way to get there may be the MTA Gold Line.