Chinatown, Grant Avenue

Chinatown is a fun place to walk around, especially in the early evening. It's wonderful to see Grant Avenue, which is strung with lit-up red lanterns with gold tassles. There are whimsical Chinese-style lampposts, and storefronts with rooftops that swoop up in the corners. There are plenty of Asian cafes, and little shops selling candies with your zodiac year on them. Chinese street performers play erhu Chinese two-string violin on corners. On the corner of Clay Street and Grant Avenue is a mural with sculptures of terracotta warriors. On other side streets are murals of dragons and kung fu artists. Trade Mark Building is a beautiful one, with four layers of gorgeous rooftops, across the street from Old Saint Mary's Cathedral, making an interesting mix of east and west. 

There are two squares that I would like to visit next time: Portsmouth Square Park, with beautiful Chinese gates and pavilions, performers, a playground, and amazing city skylines. And Willie Woo Woo Wong Playground, an imaginative playground in a small inner-city square.
Chinatown is right next to the North Beach Little Italy neighborhood! It is a wonderful neighborhood with Saint Peter and Paul Church (which offers services in Italian and Cantonese), in front of Washington Square Park where everyone has picnics in the afternoon.

Directions

Chinatown in San Francisco is centered around the 900 block of Grant Avenue.

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