Chinatown

Vancouver's mini-Hong Kong

Noteworthy for: Vancouver's Chinese population increased dramatically in the 1980s and 1990s, as thousands fled from Hong Kong in anticipation of the British handover to China.
Talk of the town: The Sam Kee Building on Pender Street is officially the world's narrowest commercial building; it is only six feet wide.

Vancouver is home to Canada's largest Chinatown and with 17 percent of the city being Chinese, it is about as authentic as it gets. The Chinese have been in Vancouver since the Fraser Canyon gold rush of the 1850s and have steadily built up their community in Chinatown and beyond since.
The Millennium Gate on Pender and Taylor marks the original heart of Chinatown, while Shanghai Alley - another of Chinatown's oldest streets - houses the Dynasty Bell, a gift from the city of Guangzhou in China. Further along is the impressive China Gate, and also the Chinese Cultural Centre, which promotes Chinatown's heritage. The Dr Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden also has an entrance here.

The maze of streets around Keefer, Main and East Pender to Gore Avenue is the main commercial center, with stores selling everything from fabric and furniture, to handicrafts and herbs and spices. For restaurants, you'll find many of the best around Carrall Street, just off of Keefer.