VANCOUVER ISLAND - Discover Your Next Adventure:
Victoria Chinatown gate

Chinatown Victoria

walk icon
shopping icon
Activity:
Shopping, Sightseeing
Difficulty:
Easy
Location:
Victoria
Time:
30min-1.5hrs
Distance:
.1km

Activity:

walk icon
shopping icon

Accessibility:

Family access icon
All ages elderly Icon
wheelchair access icon
Dogs on leash Icon

Highlights Include:

Info Map

Chinatown Victoria BC - How to spend an hour in Canadas Oldest Chinatown

Discover why Chinatown is one of the first places newcomers visit on Vancouver Island. Located on Fisgard Street on the edge of downtown Victoria, Chinatown is a bustling and vibrant community full of colour and life. Visitors can explore the many shops and restaurants and take in the sights and sounds of the culture.

The traditional paifang arch is a popular landmark, and it’s easy to spend an afternoon wandering through the streets and taking in the sights and smells of Chinatown. Whether you’re looking for souvenirs or authentic cuisine, Chinatown is sure to have something to offer.

Victorias Vibrant Chinatown

Taking up only a couple of streets on the edge of downtown Victoria, it’s worth walking through and exploring the rich history of Chinatown. The narrow brick alleys are filled with colours that brighten any day. Within a 30-minute walk, you’ll be enriched by the 100-year history and surprised by the area’s dark past.

Old sign on Fisgard Street in Victoria British Columbias ChinatownHowever, we recommend grabbing a coffee or tea and popping in and out of some colourful shops. Fisgard Street is the most vibrant place in Chinatown, and the home to the Gate of Harmonious Interest, found at Canada’s Oldest Chinatown entrance. You do not want to miss other stops, including Canada’s narrowest street, Fan Tan Ally, or the oldest Chinese Temple in Canada, established by the Yen Wo Society in 1876.

A short walk down Fisgard Street in the opposite direction from the gate, you can find a brick building built in 1909 with traditional Chinese architecture. This building was a Chinese Public School where immigrants could learn the English Language, now serving as a cultural center teaching children about the Chinese Language and traditions.

Parking:
Great parking at 538 Fisgard St Parking lot. Or if you prefer A parade, try Centennial Square Parkade

Links:
• More Victoria Experiences

• More info about Chinatown

• Chinatown history walk PDF

• Online walking tour:

• Another walking route map for the day in Victoria

Market Square & Fan Tan Alley

the shops of Fan Tan Ally Chinatown Victoria on Vancouver IslandFan Tan Alley: Branching off Fisgard street, you will find Fan Tan Alley, Canada’s narrowest street. “Fan Tan” is named after a game played in gambling dens above the alley. The lower storefronts housed opium dens, restaurants and shops. Opium was legal in Canada until 1908, but gambling was not. Trap doors to second floors and locked gates at each end of the alley helped slow down police during raids on the illegal gambling dens.

Market Square: Before 1900, a ravine and stream ran through Market Square, separating Johnson Street from Pandora Ave. As the first Chinese arrived in town in 1858, most newcomers settled north of the stream. More affordable and away from the center of town, this was the beginning of Victoria’s Chinatown.

Now the creek is filled in. And believe it or not, many of the buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s have become a big part of Downtown Victoria. The beautiful brick buildings have been combined with the inner block to build a beautiful square open area to sit, relax, listen to live music and have a beer in the sun.

 

Super cool history and architecture found in this local alley. Full mix of eclectic shops. Steeped in hundreds of years of history and stories.

History of Victorias Chinatown

This area is enriched in Canadian history. Unfortunately, like most colonialism, you were considered second-rate citizens if you were not Britsh, and Chinese migrants were no different.

In 1858 Chinese migrants arrived in British Columbia via ships from San Francisco to take part in the Gold Rush.

In 1860, the Sino-British Treaty’s first labourers allowed the first Chinese immigrants to arrive directly from Hong Kong.

By spring of 1860 Chinese population on Vancouver Iland reached 1,577, and the white population was 2,884. Less than one percent of the Chinese people were women.

Living in Victoria was historically rough for the Chinese. As time went on, the government stripped them of their working and voting rights—additional taxes and the stress of dealing with Anti-Chinese Associations.

If you are interested in the full timeline, you can visit it here
https://chinatown.library.uvic.ca/index.html%3Fq=chronology.html

This street is bustling with locals and tourists with over 150 years of history, the struggle of Chinese immigrants coming to Canada and the Chinese Traditions that formed this area of Victoria. It’s worth a visit, and its location allows for easy access by water taxi or a stroll down the popular Government street accessing Victorias Inner harbour.

 

Victoria Chinatown

Play Video

FAQ:

Is this the largest Chinatown in Canada?
It was once but currently holds the title of oldest in Canada. The largest Chinatown is on the mainland and belongs to Vancouver.

When was Victoria Chinatown Made
The first Chinese migrants started arriving directly from Hong Kong to Victoria in 1859.
The Tam Kung Temple was built by Hakka people on Government Street in 1876
What should I do when in Chinatown?
Visit the shops, eat the food and walk down fan tan alley.

Is Chinatown in Victoria Safe?
Yes, on the edge of Victoria’s tourist and shopping district, it is common for tourists and locals to browse through authentic local stores.

Photo Gallery:

surfing Sombrio Beach
Beach Icon
Hiking Icon
surfing icon
Waterfall icon

Sombrio Beach

Coldwater surfers, backpackers and families out for the day; a place you must visit
Abkhazi-Garden-garden1
flower icon
Coffee Icon
icon directory shopping

Abkhazi Garden

Abkhazi Gardens is a renowned garden and tea house where visitors can admire the native Garry oaks, Japanese Maples, and magnificent rhododendrons.
Sidney Pier beacon park
shopping icon
walk icon
View point icon

Sidneys' Beacon Ave

Full of charm and character, visitors can explore Sidneys’ many boutiques and art galleries, stroll along the waterfront boardwalk, or simply relax and enjoy the view.
Esquimalt Lagoon drift wood sculpture
Beach Icon
Picnic Icon

Esquimalt Lagoon

Sand beaches, driftwood displays and the sites that surround this fantastic beach.

Did we miss something?
Have more to add?

Original Author:

Modified: May 17, 2023
Last Visit: March 23, 2023
Join Our Weekly Newsletter
Vancouver Island's Ultimate Experiences!
For the adventurous, curious and those who love Vancouver Island.
Includes lesser known hikes, stories, and more.

Unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

Pack Out:
We love this Island, and want to keep the natural beauty please respect the places you visit and pack out what you pack in and leave the area better than when you arrived. We all know how much trash can spoil an experience and the environment, so please help us keep it clean!

Wildlife:
Vancouver Island is a land of natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Please be aware of your surroundings and take the usual precautions for personal and wildlife safety.
Black bears, cougars and even wolves are common on Vancouver Island for more on Wildlife Safety Click Here 

Tide and Seasonal Safety:
Changing seasons and tides can have a drastic effect on most locations on Vancouver Island. Please be cautious as the information in this post may vary depending on the time of year and weather. Make sure to check for current weather and tide information before you make your journey!
When visiting the beach, it’s essential to pay attention and stay safe! Please be cautious walking on the shore during high tide. At this time, some areas may not be accessible. Click here for the tides in your area. Be aware of ocean currents before swimming, paddle boarding or kayaking.

Land Acknowledgement:
We would like to acknowledge the land we appreciate daily within the 50 First Nations that make up the traditional territories of the Coast Salish, Nuu chah nulth, and Kwakiutl–the first peoples of Vancouver Island .

Disclaimer:
The information on this website should not be taken as accurate, complete or up-to-date. Please check and look into the information yourself. We do not assume any liabilities for the use of this information. It is unreasonable to rely solely upon the information from this website. 

Join Our Weekly Newsletter
For the adventurous, curious and people who love Vancouver Island.
Includes lesser known hikes, stories, and more.

Unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

Submit a change suggestion:

max of 4 images
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email