| San Francisco promises a memorable visit
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| | stunning Chinese clothing, artwork,
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| for those planning a vacation or even a
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| | souvenirs, home décor items and more
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| few side stops while on a business trip.
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| | that you certainly won't get at home.
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| And if you're a first-time guest to the
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| | Entering the Chinatown gates on Bush and
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| city, you won't want to miss one of the
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| | Grant streets transports you into an
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| best-loved attractions: Chinatown.
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| | amazing world. The authentic Chinese
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| Finding a central location is one key to
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| | culture is apparent with indoor/outdoor
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| a successful personal or business trip to
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| | stores and street vendors on practically
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| San Francisco. For those who want to be
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| | every sidewalk, the prevalence of the
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| in the heart of the city, boutique hotel
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| | Chinese language, spoken and written
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| accommodations are available in the
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| | everywhere and the stores filled with
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| downtown area near Moscone Convention
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| | gorgeous silks and other uniquely Chinese
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| Center. Staying downtown gives you ready
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| | goods. But the smells and tastes of
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| access to all that downtown has to offer
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| | authentic Chinese food are one of the
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| and is within easy walking distance to
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| | biggest draws.
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| Chinatown. Because you're also within
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| | With practically every variation of Asian
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| walking distance of Moscone Convention
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| | cuisine available, chefs offer fabulous
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| Center, you'll have added convenience for
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| | delicacies of fresh fish, beef, pork,
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| any conference or convention you're
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| | chicken and vegetables. The culture is
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| attending.
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| | so genuine you may believe you're on
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| Brief History of Chinatown
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| | another continent. You'll find makers of
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| San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest
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| | fortune cookies, roasted chickens hanging
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| in North America, dating back to the Gold
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| | in the windows, bakeries overflowing with
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| Rush era. In 1848, Chinese immigrants
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| | Chinese pastries, and fruit and vegetable
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| began arriving to seek their fortune, and
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| | stands filled with exotic produce.
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| the two-and-a-half square block area of
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| | If you're visiting San Francisco during
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| Chinatown began taking shape. The 1906
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| | January or February, ask about the dates
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| earthquake, though, completely leveled
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| | for the Chinese New Year. Varying each
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| Chinatown. In the aftermath, during the
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| | year, this exciting celebration can occur
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| many and heated conversations about where
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| | as early as January 15 or as late as
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| and how Chinatown should be rebuilt (many
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| | February 19. The 15th day of the New
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| wanted the Chinese moved to the outskirts
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| | Year ushers in the Lantern Festival.
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| of San Francisco if not banished from the
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| | Taking place at night, this celebration
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| city altogether), the decision was
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| | is marked with glorious lantern displays
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| finally made to rebuild and expand
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| | and children carrying lanterns in a
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| exactly where Chinatown stood. One of
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| | parade. Something the entire family will
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| the Chinese merchants even came up with
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| | enjoy.
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| the idea to rebuild it as a kind of theme
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| | Other festivals to make note of include
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| park with "Oriental" pagodas and facades
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| | the Chinese New Year Flower Fair in
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| still present today as a way to draw
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| | February, when brilliant blooms take over
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| tourists and visitors.
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| | the heart of Chinatown the weekend before
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| Despite worldwide events, intervention by
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| | the Lunar New Year, allowing families to
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| the governments (China and the U.S.), and
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| | buy traditional plants for their
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| changes in San Francisco, Chinatown
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| | celebrations. Streets are filled with
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| provided for itself. By the 1930s, a
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| | authentic dancers, musicians, artists and
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| parallel and self-sufficient community
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| | cultural displays for residents and
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| had grown in the dozen square blocks that
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| | visitors to enjoy. The Chinatown
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| now comprise Chinatown, complete with its
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| | Community Street Fair in March is a grand
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| own schools, hospital, nightclubs...
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| | celebration complete with streamers,
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| there was even a Chinese telephone
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| | balloons, banners and lanterns. A
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| exchange and a marching band. Today,
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| | delightful display of genuine Chinese
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| Chinatown is a surprisingly diverse
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| | culture is evident in the kite and
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| neighborhood, but the colorful history
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| | lantern- making exhibits, folk dancing,
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| and cultural influences remain
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| | shows and more. The Asian Family
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| significant, making it a unique and
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| | Heritage Celebration takes place in May
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| vibrant place for locals and visitors
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| | and many other festivals are conducted
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| alike.
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| | throughout the year.
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| An Authentic Asian Experience
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| | Chinatown is a popular attraction that
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| Although its name is Chinatown, this
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| | has been loved for centuries, with appeal
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| section of San Francisco is home to
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| | that's universal and crosses generational
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| Chinese, Vietnamese, Mongolian and other
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| | boundaries. The whole family, from
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| Asian regions. Today, the largest
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| | children to grandparents, will enjoy
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| Chinatown in North America is found in
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| | spending the day discovering what so many
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| San Francisco. Boutique hotels in the
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| | others have fallen in love with.
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| nearby area allow immediate access to
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