Sure, there are other Chinatowns in other U.S. cities, but none of them is quite like the one in San Francisco. The second largest Chinatown and the country’s oldest, San Francisco’s Chinatown is a must-see for anyone spending a few days in this California city. It is also just a short walk from North Beach, San Francisco’s version of Little Italy.

Dating back to the 1800’s, Chinatown was originally settled by thousands of immigrants that flocked to California to escape China’s terrible economic conditions and get rich during the Gold Rush. These Chinese citizens brought their culture, customs, food and way of life with them. The whole area was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake that demolished almost all of the wooden houses and shops. This time it was reconstructed specifically as a tourist attraction.

Visitors to this exotic part of San Francisco will find everything they can imagine when it comes to Chinese culture. There are several museums filled with beautiful works of art such as the Kee Fung Ng Gallery, with amazing sculptures, paintings and more. Other great places to visit include the Chinese Historical Society of America and the Chinese Culture Center.

For visitors looking to see how locals live, the Chinatown Marketplace on Stockton Street is lined with fruit and vegetable stalls and herb and tea shops.  There are also several alleys where you can find unique souvenirs as well as social clubs, including Ross Alley, where you’ll find the world famous Golden Gate Cookie Factory, Chinatown’s major fortune cookie factory. Plus, there are several special events throughout the year including the Chinese New Year Flower Fair and the Chinatown Night Market Fair.

And of course, nobody can visit San Francisco’s Chinatown and not try some genuine Chinese cuisine. The streets are lined with restaurants, from small Dim Sum snack shops like New Asia and Great Eastern, to elegant Chinese restaurants like The Empress of China. And as you walk down these streets several waiters will hand you flyers with their menus and encourage you to come inside.