The first big wave of Chinese sojourners, settlers and indentured servants arrived in the city of San Francisco in the mid 1800s. Due to the discriminatory laws and policies against the Chinese of that particular time in history, the Chinese were driven out of most mainstream society and were therefore forced to live together in order to survive. They developed their own communities of support creating the first Chinese ethnic enclave now known as "Chinatown".
Find out how our present day Chinatown and the communities within have been shaped by history through the many tours that are offered by our Chinatown organizations.
Tours offered by Non-Profit Organizations in the neighborhood:
Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco: Heritage Walking Tour
Days: Tuesday-Sunday
Time: 10am, 12pm, 2pm
Prices: Adult: $30, Child: $25 (15 & under), Children under 5: FREE
Tour Highlights: Portsmouth Square, Chinese Telephone Exchange, Tin How Temple, Chinese Market, Fortune Cookie Factory
Contact/Reserve: 415-986-1822, ext. 24 tour@c-c-c.org
Website: www.c-c-c.org/programs/chinatown/
Chinatown Alleyway Tours
Days: Monday-Saturday
Time: 11am-1pm
Prices: Adult (18 or older): $18, 10-17yr or Student with ID: $12, 6-9 yr: $5, Children 5 & under: FREE
Tour Highlights: Ross Alley. Spofford Alley, Waverly Alley
Contact/Reserve: 415-984-1478 info@chinatownalleywaytours.org
Website: http://www.chinatownalleywaytours.org/tourinfo
Tour offered by commercial companies:
Wok Wiz Chinatown Walking Tours & Cooking Center
Days: Monday-Sunday (Check availability)
Time: 10am (3 hours)
Prices: $25-90
Tour Highlights:
Wok Wiz Daily Tour: Local herbalist, art galleries, tea purveyor, Chinese temple, produce markets.
I Can't Believe I Ate My Way Through Chinatown! Tour: Chinese food history, samplings of variety of foods
Contact/reserve: 212-209-3370 or http://www.zerve.com/WokWiz
Website: http://www.wokwiz.com/tours/index.html#daily
San Francisco Chinatown - Day Walking and Dim Sum Lunch Tour
Days: Daily
Time: 10am (2 hours for tour, 3 hours w/lunch)
Prices: $20-45
Tour Highlights: Historical buildings, herbal pharmacies, fortune cookie factory, Stockton St Food Markets, Buddhist Temples, Waverly Place, Chinese Language Schools, Tea Tasting Demonstration and Lecture, Lunch (Optional)
Contact/Reserve: 415-474-9855, 877-474-3127
http://www.buysanfranciscotours.com/tours/sf-all-about-chinatown.html
Taste of Chinatown
Days: Daily Time: 10am, 2pm (3 hours)
Prices: $69-89
Tour Highlights: Local architectures, Chinese crafts and Chinese cuisine
Contact/Reserve: 415-474-9855, 877-474-3127
http://www.buysanfranciscotours.com/tours/sf_local_taste_chinatown_culin...
Evening Chinatown Ghost Tour—Walking Tour—San Francisco Chinatown Ghost Tour
Days: Friday, Saturday
Time: 7:30pm (1.5 hours)
Prices: $16-24
Tour Highlights: Chinatown's supernatural past and present through a ghostly tour of Chinatown's historic and mysterious streets and alleyways
Contact/Reserve: 415-474-9855, 877-474-3127
http://www.buysanfranciscotours.com/tours/chinatown_ghost_tour.html
Evening Chinatown Tour and Dinner—Motor Coach and Walking Tour—Grey Line Tours
Days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: 6:00pm (3.5 hours)
Prices: $54-65
Tour Highlights: Drive through culinary hub renowned for fine dining, multi-course feast, guided walking tour of Chinatown, drive through the nocturnal sights across the Bay Bridge to Treasure
Contact/Reserve: 415-474-9855, 877-474-3127
http://www.buysanfranciscotours.com/tours/chinatown_evening_tour_graylin...
Night Culinary Tour of Chinatown and North Beach—San Francisco Walking and Culinary Tour
Days: DailyTime: 6:00pm (3 hours)
Prices: $69
Tour Highlights: Dim Sum at the oldest Chinese bakery in San Francisco; cookie fortune factory; tea tasting; pizza & wine, Western saloons and back parts of North Beach
Contact/Research: 415-474-9855, 877-474-3127
http://www.buysanfranciscotours.com/tours/local_taste_chinatown_north_be...
