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Neighborhood

Chinatown

An immersive experience

Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia
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Overview

Beyond the colorful Chinatown Friendship Gate at 10th and Arch streets lies Philly’s vibrant Asian enclave, originally settled in the mid-19th century by Cantonese immigrants.

On any given day or night, Chinatown pulses with sensory pleasures, including fantastic food and an abundance of activities. Visitors can look forward to acclaimed chefs serving steaming platters of hand-stretched noodles seasonal street festivals the locally guided tours and more.

Stretching from Arch Street to Vine Street, and from 11th street to 8th Street, the neighborhood is packed end-to-end with restaurants and stores that represent Hong Kong, Cantonese, Fujianese, Northern Sichuan and Taiwanese cultures, with a sprinkling of Korean, Thai, Malaysian, Burmese, Vietnamese and American hipster thrown in for good measure.

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Essential Info

A main cultural and economic hub for much of the region’s Asian-American population, Chinatown remains a vibrant area, densely packed with restaurants, markets, cafes, shops and performance spaces. Its proximity to hotels and the Pennsylvania Convention Center makes it ideal for visits of any length, from a quick visit for a couple of hours to entire days devoted to exploring the nooks, crannies and intriguing alleyways that help make the neighborhood feel so vivacious.

Exploring Chinatown

Visitors can meander through the colorful, bustling neighborhood on their own, or enlist a tour guide to help with the extra details. Philly By Segway’s mural tour includes a roll through Chinatown for those who want to try out a new mode of transportation. For a more immersive experience, Philly Food Adventures leads visitors on a 2.5-hour walking and eating tour of the neighborhood that includes stops for tasty taro cake and pork buns, as well as a sit-down Sichuan meal where diners can choose to turn up the spice level.

Getting Here

Bus lines that stop in Chinatown include the 23, 47, 47M, 48, and 61. The Chinatown subway station conveniently stops at Race and N. 8th streets. Jefferson Station serves the area as well.

Chinatown streets at night Chinatown streets at night

  — Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

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