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Chinatown

Photo Credit: LACVB

A taste of the exotic East awaits the curious visitor just five minutes north of downtown Los Angeles. This Chinatown is smaller than its counterparts in other large cities, but it's jam-packed with Asian foods, cultural offerings, and interesting architecture. And it was the backdrop for the cinematic classic, Chinatown, which showcased its beauty.

A beautiful Oriental arch welcomes visitors at the entrance to this area. Shoppers will enjoy exploring the world of porcelain crafts, herbs, teas, Chinese pastries, antiques, and jade jewelry. A variety of authentic Chinese dishes are offered at the area’s restaurants, and a "dim-sum" brunch is a popular treat.

Every year, a Chinese New Year's celebration includes a festival and the Golden Dragon Parade. Fancy floats, marching bands, community leaders, and dancing dragons fill the streets to celebrate a new beginning. The festival features a variety of foods, games, crafts, and entertainment, including Chinese puppetry, acrobats, and Kung Fu demonstrations.

On Thursdays, between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Chinatown is host to a Farmer's Market that features an extensive assortment of homegrown fruits and vegetables, as well as hard-to-find Asian produce.

Getting there

• Chinatown is located between 900 and 1000 North Broadway. Directions and a map of the entire Chinatown area can be found on the ChinatownLA Web site.
• The Farmer’s Market is located at the public parking lot at 727 North Hill, between Alpine and Ord. Parking is free if you make a purchase at the market.

Hours of operation
The Chinatown area is always open.

Contact information
Call (213) 680-0243 or send e-mail to info@chinatownla.com.

Additional information
Upcoming special events are listed on the ChinatownLA Web site calendar page.