Chinatown: History, Stories & Hidden Corners
Take an audio tour through San Francisco’s famous neighborhood
What to Expect
Step into the vibrant world of San Francisco’s Chinatown (the oldest in North America) and explore its rich history, bold traditions, and layered identity at your own pace. This self-guided audio tour leads you through bustling streets, peaceful temples, and hidden alleys as you uncover the stories of early immigrants, community resilience, and cultural preservation.
From the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory to lesser-known corners far from the tourist path, each stop blends local insight with engaging narration to bring the neighborhood to life. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a longtime local, this tour offers a deeper connection to one of San Francisco’s most dynamic and enduring communities.
Ready to go? Book below or download our app and purchase directly from your phone.
📍 Location: San Francisco, CA
🚶♂️ Type: Walking tour
⏱ Duration: Approx. 1.5 hours (flexible)
✅ Includes: App download, GPS-triggered audio, No expiration
📶 Works Offline: Download ahead of time - no cell service required
🎧 Multiple Languages: English, Spanish
Get Ready for Your San Francisco Self-Guided Tour
Step into San Francisco’s Chinatown, where history and modern life blend through vivid colors, aromatic markets, and enduring traditions.
This self-guided walking tour takes you through the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the city’s most culturally significant neighborhoods.
As you wander through lantern-lined streets, narrow alleys, and peaceful temples, you’ll uncover stories of migration, perseverance, and celebration that continue to shape daily life here.
Chinatown isn’t a preserved museum—it’s a living community with deep roots and a constantly evolving identity.
Along the route, you’ll visit both famous landmarks and lesser-known corners, from historic gathering spaces and family-run shops to hidden spiritual sanctuaries and the beloved Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.
Engaging narration brings forward the voices, traditions, and experiences that define this neighborhood.
This tour offers a richer, more authentic look at Chinatown—revealing layers most visitors never notice, but long remember.
What You’ll See on Your San Francisco Walking Tour
Dragon’s Gate
Pass beneath this ornate ceremonial entrance to begin your journey into Chinatown. Flanked by stone lions and topped with a traditional green-tiled roof, the Dragon’s Gate signals the start of Grant Avenue and the neighborhood beyond.
Grant Avenue
Chinatown’s most famous street is lined with hanging lanterns, specialty stores, and historic façades. Grant Avenue captures the energy of the neighborhood, blending longtime traditions with modern life.
Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral
Completed in 1854, this Gothic brick church stands as one of San Francisco’s oldest surviving buildings. Its long history reflects the layered faiths and immigrant stories that shaped the area.
Portsmouth Square
Often called the heart of Chinatown, this historic plaza has been a gathering place since the city’s earliest days. Today, it remains lively with conversation, games, and a strong sense of community.
Chinese Historical Society of America Museum
Located in a former YWCA designed by Julia Morgan, this museum explores Chinese American history through engaging exhibits and personal stories. It provides valuable context for understanding Chinatown’s past and present.
Chinese Culture Center
Situated above the street level, this contemporary arts space highlights modern Chinese American voices. Through rotating exhibitions and performances, it connects heritage with creative expression.
Tin How Temple
One of the oldest active Chinese temples in the United States, Tin How Temple offers a quiet refuge above the busy streets. Incense, prayers, and tradition fill this intimate spiritual space.
Ross Alley
Narrow and atmospheric, Ross Alley reveals a different side of Chinatown. Once known for gambling halls and barbershops, it now feels calm and historic, with unexpected discoveries along the way.
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
Tucked into Ross Alley, this tiny factory produces fortune cookies by hand. The aroma and rhythmic folding make it one of Chinatown’s most memorable stops.
Waverly Place
Often called the Street of Painted Balconies, Waverly Place features colorful buildings, community organizations, and hidden temples. It’s a visual and cultural highlight of the neighborhood.
Stockton Street
Bustling and local-focused, Stockton Street is where residents shop for groceries, seafood, and specialty items. Less polished and more everyday, it offers an authentic glimpse of life in Chinatown.
Bruce Lee Mural
This striking mural honors Bruce Lee, the martial arts icon who spent part of his childhood in the neighborhood. It stands as a tribute to cultural pride, strength, and influence.
Old Chinese Telephone Exchange
Once staffed by an all-female, bilingual team of operators, this building represents an important chapter in community communication and women’s history.
Journey to the West Mural
Inspired by the classic Chinese tale of the Monkey King, this colorful mural brings folklore to life while adding vibrancy to the streetscape.
Spofford Alley
Quiet and narrow, Spofford Alley hints at Chinatown’s hidden past. Once linked to secret societies and underground activity, it now offers a reflective walk through the neighborhood’s layered history.
WWII Pacific War Memorial Hall
This memorial honors Chinese American contributions during World War II, particularly in the Pacific. Through photographs and artifacts, it highlights stories of service, sacrifice, and resilience.
Sing Chong and Sing Fat Buildings
These twin structures, crowned with pagoda-style rooftops, helped redefine Chinatown after the 1906 earthquake. Standing at the edge of the neighborhood, they remain enduring symbols of perseverance and cultural identity.
Meeting Point
Your San Francisco Chinatown walking tour begins at the Dragon Gate.
Dragon Gate is located at the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue. It is a traditional Chinese gate, with a green roof.
FAQs About Our San Francisco Walking Tour
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Visiting the Chinese Historical Society of America cost the following:
Public K-12 Groups: $3 / student plus $5 / chaperone
Private K-12 Groups: $5 / student plus $10 / chaperone
College Students & Adults: $10 per participant
Visit the Chinese Historical Society of America website for more information.
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Tours are fully refundable up to 24 hours in advance.
If it’s within 24 hours or you had an issue during your tour, email support@drivesanddetours.com. We review all requests individually and will always do our best to make things right.
Our goal is to ensure every traveler has a great experience exploring with Drives & Detours.
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Our San Francisco walking tour is a mostly flat walk of just over one mile. You'll want to allow around an hour and a half to give yourself time to enjoy some of the stops along the way.
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Yes, downloading the Drives & Detours app will give you full access to the tour you have purchased, as well as many other self-guided tours.
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Download the tour before you go. Some areas have poor signal, which can make downloading the tour difficult. Once the tour is downloaded, it will work without any cell signal
The tour audio plays automatically as you approach each stop
Want to see more? Tap “View Stop” to see photos and bonus content
To return to the map, tap the small down arrow between the “previous” and “next” buttons
Follow the blue line and audio directions to stay on route
Use audio controls to pause, rewind, or skip—just like a podcast
Safety first: Keep your eyes on the road or sidewalk, follow traffic laws, and stay aware of your surroundings
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No—download your San Francisco tour before you go, and you won't need a cell signal. Drives & Detours’ tours work without any cell signal once they are downloaded to your device.
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Once you have purchased your San Francisco walking tour from Drives & Detours, you can use it whenever you want. You can always take the tour another day if the weather is bad on the day you plan to take it.
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Unfortunately, Dives & Detours cannot guarantee that the San Francisco self-guided tour is accessible. People with wheelchairs, strollers, or mobility impairments are very welcome, but we recommend checking the San Francisco Travel website for detailed information.
Pro Tips for Your Drives & Detours San Francisco Self-Guided Tour
Download before you go.
Enable location services—GPS triggers the audio.
Use earbuds, headphones, or your car speakers.
Pause and resume anytime. If you take a break, just reopen the app and head back toward your last stop.
Lost your way? Tap any pin on the map, then tap the right-turn-arrow icon to open your default maps app for turn-by-turn directions to that spot.
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