Ethnic enclave of Chinese expatriates
Chinatown
Chinatown is a common term used to describe an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, typically situated in an urban area.
Chinatowns can be found around the world, including in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. The history of Chinatowns date back to the Tang dynasty in the 10th century, arising from the nation's important role in global trade.
How locals move
Getting around Chinatown the local way
- Get inEach of the three Cable Car lines pass through Chinatown.
- Get inStation you can catch the Powell-Mason or the Powell-Hyde cable car line at Powell and Market.
- Get inTo reach Chinatown's famous Grant Avenue via the cable car, exit BART or the MUNI Metro at the Embarcadero Station and catch the California cable car line at California and Market.
- Get inOf course, if you'd rather avoid the long lines and crowded trip that a cable car ride entails, there are several good MUNI bus lines that serve the area.
From Wikivoyage: San Francisco/Chinatown-North Beach, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.