Uncover the secrets of San Francisco's Chinatown district on this fascinating walking tour. Immerse yourself in the vibrant colors, buzzing atmosphere and rich heritage and culture of this storied neighborhood as your insider guide takes you to popular and off-the-beaten path locations, including an authentic Buddhist temple, an herbal pharmacy and Waverly Place, an unassuming 2-block-long alley full of interesting history. Stroll by the street food markets, sample fortune cookies at the factory where they're made, and upgrade to include a 10-course dim sum lunch. You'll leave with a whole new appreciation for this slice of the city!
Meet at Old St Mary's Cathedral to begin your walking tour of Chinatown's most popular sights and hidden locales. Your guide will teach you all about the history and culture of Chinatown, explaining how the remarkable authenticity of ancient Chinese culture has been preserved and celebrated in its road to becoming a must-visit San Francisco attraction.
As you navigate a historic maze of mysterious sights, have your camera out as you admire eye-popping Chinese decorations adorning the streets. Pass pagoda-style buildings and hear about their significance, and step inside an herbal pharmacy to learn about the uses of ginseng root for longevity, pearl pills for beautiful skin and gecko lizards for energy.
Stroll down Stockton Street past busy markets selling some of the freshest and most exotic foods in the Bay Area. Gain an understanding of Chinatown's religious culture as you visit an authentic Buddhist temple, where you'll see dazzling altars adorned with red lanterns, gold antiques and incense-filled bronze urns. You'll also see a Chinese language school to find out how local Chinese families keep alive language and cultural traditions for their children.
At your next stop, Waverly Place, your guide will give you the inside scoop on Chinatown's most interesting alley full of temples, private clubs and secret societies. This 2-block-long street may seem unassuming at first glance, but you may be surprised at what you learn.
If the intoxicating sights, sounds and smells aren't enough, get ready for a great taste of Chinatown. Visit a fortune cookie factory to sample these 'wise' cookies and watch how they're made. Upgrade to include a hosted 10-course dim sum luncheon at one of Chinatown's most popular restaurants!
Ending back near your original starting point, you'll leave with a list of recommended stores and restaurants in Chinatown, so you can continue exploring Chinatown like a real insider.
Amazing experience. Definitely worth the time and money!
Review by: Lorenext, March 2018
great!
Review by: Aleksandra K, March 2018
Very nice tour of Chinatown.
Review by: Dillon R, February 2018
Linda was awesome, a wealth of knowledge
Review by: Tod M, January 2018
We had a great time on our tour. Alan was so knowledgeable and helpful. It was great to hear about his first hand experiences growing up in Chinatown. Also, I highly recommend the Dim Sum lunch!
Review by: Katie K, January 2018
Linda was knowledgeable, hilarious and an excellent guide, lending context to the history of Chinatown by adding in her own family experience. We had a small group of 6, and she did a great job tailoring the tour to the things that were of interest to us. Dim Sum was awesome too! A definite must!
Review by: Jerry G, January 2018
The family takes a lot of walking tours. Most are interesting and great. This one both turned my stomach, and my wife's. We had to stand next to a man smoking a bong filled with some obscene smelling substance. Not marijuana. The guide stopped next to him. I had to stand next to vomit on the sidewalk, and we went through a traditional Chinese grocery/market. There was fish lying out, frozen, and people were touching the fish and throwing it around, and putting it back. There were other animals, frogs, etc...out and about the market. It was simply unsanitary. I suppose I'm just the weak one writing here. But we were so, for lack of a better term, 'grossed out', we forsake even going to the optional lunch. Was some of this just the day? Maybe, certainly bad luck on this particular day but it was all too much.
Review by: 2travelers, December 2017
We traveled to San Francisco with another couple for a quick get-away. We are all 65 ish and have been to China Town several times and thought this tour might be a new way to visit the area. Linda was raised in China Town so she was able to personalize a lot of the areas we visited. Our group was very small and she was quick to answer all our questions. She made the tour very interesting and has a wonderful personality and a great sense of humor. I would recommend this tour for anyone that is interested in learning about the history, architecture, pharmacy medicines, fresh foods in the markets and even a fortune cookie factory. Wouldn't hesitate to take this tour a second time.
Review by: Hiram C, December 2017
The tour guide was amazing, lots of historic buildings, visited fortune cookie factory, Buddha temple, farmers market, herbal store and lots of food
Review by: gerard H, November 2017
This tour of Chinatown with Linda Lee was incredible. She has first hand knowledge of the history of the Chinese in California and how they lived, worked, progressed. It was like going back in time. It certainly gave me insight into a community where everyone shared living space, work loads, child and elder care. The lunch we enjoyed was truly a Chinese food feast with multiple entrees to sample. The only part that was a little difficult is the hills since we are seniors and live in the low country, of Charleston....it was worth the effort and we were treated with respect and patience
Review by: shanstring, October 2017
Linda Lee was an excellent guide. She was informative , knowledge , witty and spent just the right amount of time at each stop along the way.
Review by: Alison O, October 2017
Believe what you read about Linda Lee! She’s funny, knowledgeable, and warm. Was part of a relatively small group. Awesome tour and guide!
Review by: Sue-Ellen W, September 2017
Dave our guide was amazing, full of 'not in a text book' information and tips
Review by: Louise G, September 2017
Our guide was excellent. Really knows her stuff! I recommend having the lunch with her after tour.
Review by: Rosalyn M, September 2017
Fabulous tour! Worth every penny. Linda Lee was an expert on the area, had done her homework to educate us, and it was just such a fun walking tour. I recommend it highly.
Review by: DAVE D H, September 2017
This is a good way to experience Chinatown our Tour Guide actually lived there and was very familiar with the neighborhood.
Review by: Elizabeth T, September 2017
Highly recommend this tour. Our guide Regina was born and raised in Chinatown and she definitely knows the history and the places to go. Although roaming around Chinatown might sound like fun - take the tour you won't regret it and then do some roaming. We elected to have the optional lunch and it was truly amazing. We were served 4-5 dim sum with plenty for everyone. Then, we had more food served such as chicken, green beans with tofu, fried rice... and two types of hot tea. Soft drinks are included. Beer / wine / other is optional and extra cost.
Review by: Joseph S, September 2017
The tour was amazing and informative. Linda Lee is a superior tour guide. She is funny and very knowledgeable. To top it off, the lunch was very scrumptious.
Review by: Normajean T, August 2017
China Town walking tour with lunch was great! The tour guide was very funny and knowledgeable! The lunch was great too! I would highly recommend it!
Review by: Bernita R, August 2017
Loved this tour and the Dim Sum lunch was very tasty. Be prepared to walk!
Review by: Elizabeth V, August 2017
Linda was entertaining and interesting - a highlight of our trip!
Review by: mbenz8170, August 2017
The Chinatown tour with Miss Lee was wonderful, very informational and a pure delight.
Review by: Stewart H, August 2017
Linda Lee is an amazing, animated, interesting Chinese-American Tour- Guide._br/_ She is passionate about her city and especially Chinatown._br/_ The tour hit on some major interests in the area but the best thing was that Linda gave you a behind the scenes look. Amazing!!!
Review by: Sherry R, August 2017
Great tour of Chinatown. Our guide took us to see so many places that we would never have seen on our own. I really enjoyed the lunch. A great way to end our time in San Francisco!
Review by: Robert D, August 2017
Tour was awesome. Alan Fong was a great guide. Lunch was perfect
Review by: Katherine O, August 2017
This was a fantastic tour with Julie who was raised locally! It was informative and entertaining. We got to learn about and experience the real Chinatown not just the commercial tourist area. Seeing the markets was a real treat. The best part of lunch was just getting to talk and spend more time with our guide who was simply the best. Please take this tour of Chinatown with Julie while it is still authentic and before the modern world wipes it away completely. You won't be disappointed.
Review by: Kathryn G C, August 2017
Our Chinatown walking tour was one of our favorite tours while visiting SF. We were honored to have Linda Lee Bruce Lee's wife, LOL leading the tour! Growing up here allowed her to give us a personal experience tour. Her knowledge of their local pharmacy, history, clubs, food, market, family upbringing, schooling, fortune cookie factory and customs were exceptional. We traveled with our Grandkids and they were very thrilled to have learned so much while visiting and having a fun time. Linda learned everyone's names and where we were from. She didn't leave anyone out and tried to tie in our personal lives with those who live in Chinatown. The Dim Sum was extra-ordinary delicious and family friendly while in a great setting. We will definitely recommend this tour to our family and friends. Linda, Thank you so very much! We did buy an outfit for our dog, Millie. Your family from Texas!
Review by: John J, July 2017
Linda Lee is a knowledgeable and entertaining guide who brings her tour group into the process, not allowing them to simply be bystanders. The two hours flew by as she recounted Chinatown's history, including her own story when relevant. No wonder she gets the ratings that she does - well deserved!
Review by: Teri N, July 2017
Linda was an excellent guide, giving an overview of the Chinese culture and the shops in San Francisco Chinatown. The Dim Sun lunch was fantastic!
Review by: Michael K, July 2017
OMG!!! Amazing tour. You must take this and request Linda Lee as your tour guide. Not only did she discuss with us the complete history of San Francisco Chinese with us, but the in-depth cultural, religious, societal, educational, and familiar issues of the Chinese in San Francisco and surrounding areas. Then, the food markets and then.....OMG how amazing!!!! One of the best tours Ive had!
Review by: Brandy K, July 2017
Our tour guide Linda was really knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the Chinese culture. I enjoyed her stories and explanations about Chinese medicine and history of how the Chinese came to San Francisco. The only thing I'd change was to have a bit more time at the fortune cookie factory. It is quite small in the front so even if we had to go in as small groups...even just two minutes would have been great. We literally walked in and out of the fortune cooking factory. I didn't even have time to look at what was going on. I would have liked to have a few minutes to observe the making of the cookies. The lunch at the end was very good. I enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend.
Review by: Debbie R, July 2017
Fun and informative. We learned a lot about Chinatown and Linda Lee was a delightful guide.
Review by: cangeletti13, July 2017
Lynn is the best!!! Great tour with incredible history. Lots of fun and delicious lunch. If you really want to tour and know china-town this is the tour for you. Fun and informative for the whole family.
Review by: Rebecca J, July 2017
Linda Lee gave us a great tour and shared many of her experiences growing up in Chinatown. We learned so much more by having her narration than we would have just walking around the neighborhood on our own and shopping. We learned about the culture and the history of the area, as well as what it's like today for both residents and Chinese-American visitors who come to shop for certain things. It was very interesting!
Review by: Sheetal B, May 2017
Really great tour. Our tour guide Linda was really friendly, informative, and lovely. We learned a lot about Chinatown and the history of the Chinese immigration over the decades into San Francisco. The tour ended with a DELICIOUS lunch - which I'm still salivating about. Definitely recommend this tour, AND the lunch :
Review by: KBMini, April 2017
Fantastic tour with Linda and so glad we added the lunch - saw and learned lots and the lunch was delicious. Went to the Chinese Cultural Museum after tour on Linda's recommendation to see the scale miniature scenes of life in Chinatown.
Review by: Irwin M, April 2017
The tour was informative and fun. Tour guide, Linda, was excellent. We got to see side streets and shrines. Dim sum was a nice ending to a 2 hour walk. Relaxed, quiet and good food. Overall highly recommended
Review by: Ashley B, April 2017
We had a great time, the tour guides were very knowledgeable. We did a Chinese Tea tasting, enjoyed fortune cookies from the Fortune Cookie Factory and finished up with a delicious dim sum lunch to name a few activities. Loved it, and I would highly recommend it.
Review by: Helen I, March 2017
Great way to learn about the history of Chinatown. The guides were great and full of information -husband and wife team. Really enjoyed the lunch add-on. The restaurant was really good -so good that we went back there ourselves later on in our trip. Our group catered from ages about 8-70's and all seemed to really enjoy themselves!
Review by: Paul J, March 2017
Be aware this is not an intimate tour. We had 30 people in our group. Bring your printed voucher. Our guide had no record we had scheduled a tour for that day or had already paid for the lunch. Guide was very amiable but voice didn't carry well for 30 people to hear.
Review by: Deborah C, February 2017
Linda Lee a chinatown native and tour guide for 30 plus years gave our small group a fun, informative and lively tour. She easily engaged two seniors, a mom, a 9 yr old and two teens! Not an easy feat. She was prepared with so much great information on the history and current day life in chinatwn and used her personal experience to bring it all alive. _br/_ We all loved the chinese food market and the fortune cookie factory. I did not include lunch as i was meeting a friend at a sichuan place, but linda gave me directions. I highly rate this tour, fun, informative and a great value!
Review by: Karen A, January 2017
It was a cold windy day in SF but Linda Lee warmed our hearts with her comprehensive tour and history of Chinatown. She shared her personal history growing up in Chinatown. Lunch at the Oriental Pearl was a good addition. Afterwards, we walked around the corner for a tea tasting at Vital Tea Leaf. We highly recommend this tour.
Review by: M M B, January 2017
One of the highlights for our San Francisco trip. Lynn was friendly, professional, easy to understand and focused on things that our group said were of interest. She added a tea tasting into the tour which was great. The dim sum lunch was a great way to end the tour. Highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Deanne S, December 2016
Very interesting!
Review by: Rachael M, November 2016
Linda our guide was outstanding!! Really knowledgable. Super personable and an amazing memory--she memorized who everyone was in our group which was about 14 people super quickly. She kept everyone engaged. I just wish I'd realized to have money out and ready when we went through the markets or fortune cookie places so I would have been better prepared to SPEND while I was already in the places rather than coming back again later if I could even locate them!
Review by: Canada, October 2016
Linda Lee was a very enthusiastic guide. Because she was born and grew up in China Town she was very knowledgeable. She had many interesting details to confide and many stories to tell.
Review by: Michelle M, October 2016
We took 4 tours in San Francisco and this one was the favorite of everyone in our group! Linda was funny, knowledgable, and obviously cares deeply about the area and making sure that everyone who visits Chinatown leaves loving it! We had the optional dim sum lunch and the steamed buns were some of the best I've had! For the price and what we did, I think this was a great value!
Review by: Patricia H, October 2016
Linda Lee was a great tour guide and very aware of everything going on in Chinatown. It was interesting to visit the pharmacy and grocery store which was very different from where one usually shops. Lunch was delicious! I would absolutely recommend this tour.
Review by: Edward S, October 2016
Great experience!
Review by: aecmills, October 2016
We thoroughly enjoyed our Chinatown Walking Tour. Our guide was excellent and the dim sum 10 course meal was delicious. Everyone on the tour enjoyed dining together and the conversation flowed nicely.