wotif
Skip to main content
A street lined with parked cars, red lanterns, and various storefronts. 1
The AA Bakery & Cafe storefront with people outside. 2
A grey car parked in front of a shop named 'ITAL Tea-Leaf' with a signboard and a storefront. 3
A building facade with signage in both Chinese and English, reading 'QUONG MING JADE EMPEROR PALACE.' 4
A traditional EastWest Bank sign with Chinese characters. 5
By SANFRANCISCOEXPLORERTOURS LLC
Free cancellation available
Price is NZ$97 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 2h 30m
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

  • Explore the rich history and vibrant culture of San Francisco's Chinatown on this engaging 2.5-hour walking tour. Guided by a local expert, uncover the stories behind key landmarks, including the iconic Dragon Gate and historic Old Saint Mary's Cathedral, Grant Avenue, Portsmouth Square Park, Old Chinese Telephone Exchange, and many more. This tour is ideal for all ages and offers a comprehensive view of the area’s unique heritage and culinary delights.

    • Duration: 2.5 hours, perfect for history and food lovers
    • Group size: Limited to 15 participants for an intimate experience
    • Includes a professional guide, a bottled water, free admission, and fortune cookies
    • Discover historical sites like the WWII Pacific War Memorial Hall and the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.

Activity location

  • Dragon Gate San Francisco
    • Grant Avenue
    • 94108, San Francisco, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Dragon Gate San Francisco
    • Grant Avenue
    • 94108, San Francisco, California, United States

Check availability

Walking Tour

  • Activity duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes2h 30m
    2h 30m
  • English
Language options: English
Starting time: 1:00 PM
Price details
NZ$97.11 x 1 AdultNZ$97.11
Total
Price is NZ$97.11
Until Wed, 30 Sept

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Admission fee
  • Inclusions
    Bottled water
  • Inclusions
    Professional Guide
  • Inclusions
    Fortune Cookies
  • Exclusions
    Service charge
  • Exclusions
    Hotel pick up and drop off

Know before you book

    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transport options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Please note that we will run the tour if there is a minimum of 2 travellers.

Activity itinerary

Dragon Gate San Francisco

  • 10m
Travellers can learn about the history of Dragon Gate. Travellers can take photos of the iconic structure, read its historic inscriptions, and step right through it to begin exploring San Francisco's historic Chinatown.

Grant Avenue

  • 10m
Travellers on Grant Avenue in San Francisco can walk through the iconic Dragon Gate, shop for souvenirs and speciality cookware, and transition from the historic Chinatown district into the lively North Beach area. The avenue is one of the oldest and most famous streets in San Francisco.

Old Saint Mary's Cathedral

  • 10m
Travellers can take photos while our guide talks about the history of Old Saint Mary's Cathedral and the relationship between San Francisco Chinatown and Old Saint Mary's Cathedral. Travellers can explore the historic interior, attend services, and browse the gift shop at Old Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco.

WWII Pacific War Memorial Hall

  • 10m
Travellers can learn about the American Volunteer Group pilots who fought alongside Chinese forces, with photographs, artefacts, and stories connected to the China-Burma-India theatre. Exhibits explain the dangerous WWII airlift over the Himalayas that supplied Chinese forces. (Open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).

Portsmouth Square Park

  • 10m
Travellers can learn about the history of Portsmouth Square Park. For example, many years before Chinatown existed, this was the exact spot where the city of San Francisco began. In 1846, during the Mexican–American War, John B. Montgomery sailed into the bay aboard the USS Portsmouth and raised the American flag here, claiming the town of Yerba Buena for the United States. Shortly after, the town was renamed San Francisco.

743 Washington St

  • 10m
Travellers can see the distinctive pagoda-style building, and they can also learn about the history of this old Chinese telephone exchange and take some photos from the pavement.

Hop Sing Benevolent Association

  • 10m
Travellers can view the historic exterior, admire traditional architecture, and learn about early Chinese immigrant history at the Hop Sing Tong Building located in San Francisco's Chinatown and Learn about the Hop Sing Tong, a benevolent association started around 1870 to help Chinese immigrants deal with racial discrimination.

Spofford Street

  • 10m
Travellers can learn about Sun Yat Sen, who lived on Spofford Alley, was a revolutionary leader, and later became the first provisional president of the Republic of China. They can also learn about the history of the Qing Dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of China, which ruled from 1644 to 1912. .They can visit the site of building number 36, where Dr. Sun Yat-sen—the father of modern China's 1911 revolution—secretly lived and plotted the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty.

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

  • 10m
Travellers can watch workers hand-fold fortune cookies, sample fresh treats, and create custom messages at the historic Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in San Francisco's Chinatown. They can also take some photos.

Stockton Street

  • 10m
Travellers can learn about the gold rush transformed San Francisco, and how San Francisco Chinatown was created. Our guide will also talk about the difference between a Chinese supermarket and an American supermarket.

Quong Ming Jade Emperor Palace

  • 10m
Quong Ming Jade Emperor Palace (operated by the Quong Ming Buddhism & Taoism Society) located at 1123 Powell Street in San Francisco's Chinatown, travellers can experience an authentic, intimate glance into traditional Chinese spirituality, heritage, and community life.

Cable Car Museum

  • 10m
Travellers get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the "living heart" of the city's transit system at the San Francisco Cable Car Museum, Located inside the historic Washington-Mason powerhouse on Nob Hill, it functions simultaneously as an active industrial hub and an educational exhibition space.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Dragon Gate San Francisco
    • Grant Avenue
    • 94108, San Francisco, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Dragon Gate San Francisco
    • Grant Avenue
    • 94108, San Francisco, California, United States

Best Deals on Things to Do

Experience the wonders of the world up close with great deals on things to do near and far. We offer one-of-a-kind activities that allow you to explore San Francisco your way. Whether you love nature, culture, food or a bit of adventure, we have the perfect activity for you.