chinatown dc tour

Top ways to experience Chinatown and nearby attractions

• Eastern Market • 5 min walk

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

Chinatown - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Washington DC Delicious Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour (From $70.00)
• Private 4-hour Best of Washington Tour at night with private driver and guide (From $762.73)
• Private Half-Day Tour of Washington DC with a driver-guide (From $539.23)
• Half-Day Private Washington DC Tour with Airport Pick Up (From $1,026.37)
• Best of DC: Big Bus 2-hr Day Tour & 2-hr Panoramic Sunset Tour (From $69.00)
• (0.30 mi) Sonder Callisto
• (0.21 mi) Duo Nomad
• (0.30 mi) Sonder Europa
• (0.56 mi) Capitol Hill Hotel
• (0.62 mi) Thompson Washington D.C.
• (0.02 mi) Call Your Mother
• (0.02 mi) Souk
• (0.02 mi) Lavagna
• (0.03 mi) Lola's Barracks Bar & Grill
• (0.06 mi) Ambar Capitol Hill

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Downtown historic district (chinatown) washington, d.c..

Courtesy of the Library of Congress. Photo by Carol Highsmith.

Chinatown is part of the the National Register of Historic Places-listed Downtown Historic District, which encompasses Washington, D.C.'s original downtown - one of the oldest mixed use areas in the city. In the 1930's, Chinatown moved from another part of the downtown district to where it is located today. The neighborhood is a mix of commercial, residential, religious, and governmental buildings. Vibrant and interesting to visit, it teems with people, some of Chinese descent and others with a rich variety of Asian and other cultural roots.  

The city's primary public market (Center Market) was built in 1802 on Pennsylvania Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, a point midway between the White House and the U.S. Capitol, now the site of the National Archives. Seventh Street was the main route to the downtown market from farms north of the city. Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue became the principal commercial streets in D.C. with residences mingling with businesses and government and private office buildings.  

D.C.'s first Chinatown was established in the 1880s along the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue between 4 1/2 Street (John Marshall Way) and 7th Street, NW. Chinatown was comprised mostly of men who had immigrated to the western United States and had then migrated east. Many of these men had left wives to come to America, hoping to make their fortunes and return to China. As Chinatown began to grow, mutual aid societies and native place and family associations were formed which became an important lifeline for the residents of Chinatown. In the mid-1880s, there were approximately 100 residents in Chinatown and the first Chinese grocery store opened in 1892. While Chinese restaurants and laundries were scattered all over the city, Chinatown was the only area that had Chinese stores. As was common in Chinese immigrant communities in the U.S., the Chinese in D.C. organized  tongs  (voluntary associations) formed around shared interests such as home districts in China, family names, and native dialects. The first tong was formed in 1894 and other tongs soon began to appear. The various  tongs  were in constant competition for influence within Chinatown, providing support and protection to both residents and newly arriving Chinese immigrants. By 1898, Chinatown had expanded to include parts of 3rd Street NW and by 1903, the neighborhood was bustling with drugstores, restaurants, barbershops, tailor shops, laundries, residences, and community organizations. In the late 1920s, D.C began plans to redevelop the area between 4th and 6th Streets, tearing down Center Market, displacing Chinatown, and building government and private office buildings. At that time, there were two active tongs in Chinatown: On Leong Tong, formed in 1912, with 200 members, and Hip Sing Tong, formed in 1925, with 50 members. On Leong Tong appointed a committee to look for new buildings for their members. In October 1931, they announced that they had acquired the necessary land on H Street, NW between 6th and 7th Streets (the northern end of the Downtown Historic District), had bought a double building, and had leased additional space to accommodate the eleven businesses that were members of their  tong . The Hip Sing Tong, which at one point threatened to move away from their rival  tong , eventually moved with them to H Street. Once they moved to the new Chinatown, both groups dropped  tong  from their names and became prominent merchant associations. This new Chinatown soon spread from 2nd Street to 8th Street, NW along H Street and became a bustling neighborhood with stores, restaurants, churches, temples, and residences.  

As an anchor for the new Chinatown, the On Leong Tong immediately renovated the buildings it purchased at 618 and 620 H Street, NW, remodeling the two buildings into one, adding a tile roof over the first floor and a tile roof above the third floor. Similar remodels were made to existing buildings throughout Chinatown, giving the area a distinctive appearance and character. The area that formed the new Chinatown had been occupied by earlier German and Jewish immigrants and some of the city's oldest pre-Civil War buildings, with flat roofs and sloped roofs, can still be seen beneath the building's Chinese facades. By 1936, 800 people - including 32 families - were living in Chinatown. They established Chinese schools, clubs, and entertainment facilities. Chinatown also had a number of community organizations, including family associations to provide social services and support, district associations to settle disputes, and civic or merchant associations.  

Attempts to preserve Chinese culture centered on the Chinese School, which was established in 1931 to teach Chinese language and customs. In addition, several religious institutions also worked to preserve the Chinese culture of Chinatown. Foremost among these was the Chinese Community Church, which was founded in 1935 and is located at 500 I Street, NW. The Chinese Community Church building was designed by Thomas Ustick Walter, Architect of the Capitol from 1851-1865, who also designed the U.S. Capitol dome. The Church was built in 1852 and was a Presbyterian Church before serving Jewish and later Baptist congregations. Calvary Baptist Church, located at 755 8th Street NW, had a Chinese Sunday School as early as 1889 as part of a missionary effort aimed at teaching English and the Bible to Chinese immigrants. St. Mary's Catholic Church, located at 727 5th Street NW, also reflected the changing neighborhood. In the early 1950s, the church hired a Chinese priest and a Chinese Mass is still celebrated there every Sunday.  

Chinatown remained a strong community into the 1960's, but the riots that followed Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968, and the ensuing decline of D.C's downtown area led many of the Chinese residents of Chinatown to move to suburbs in Maryland and Virginia.  

In the early 1980s, the D.C. government built a new convention center between 9th and 11th streets, displacing many Chinese residents living in the area. To provide housing for the displaced residents, Chinese community groups worked together to build the Wah Luck House apartment building at the corner of 6th and H Streets NW. Designed by noted Chinese American architect Alfred Liu, the apartment building uses modern Chinese design motifs and also features a Chinese garden with pathways and seating.  

In 1986, the District of Columbia dedicated the Friendship Archway, a traditional Chinese structure designed by architect Alfred H. Liu in the style of Ming and Qing Dynasties gates. The archway, located on H between 7th and 6th Streets, has seven cantilevered roofs put together without nails in the ancient Chinese tradition of  Dougong . This technique uses interlocking wooden brackets and is one of the most important elements in traditional Chinese architecture. The gate is 60 feet high with over 7000 glazed tiles and 280 painted dragons. Built to celebrate the friendship between Washington, D.C. and its sister city of Beijing, China, it is the largest single-span archway of its type in the world.  

Today, the Chinatown Community Cultural Center, at 616 H Street, works to preserve and promote Chinatown’s identity as a cultural destination and offers walking tours and other programs that celebrate Chinese culture, history, language, and heritage. Chinatown's signs, street lights, banners, and building ornamentations reflect the neighborhood's Chinese heritage and several restaurants located along and around H Street NW, between 7th and 6th Streets are owned by Asian American families. Chinatown is a thriving and vibrant area with residences, restaurants, theaters, office buildings and stores that continue to draw people to the historic downtown heart of Washington D.C. Chinatown is located in Washington, D.C's Downtown Historic District and is roughly bounded by Massachusetts Avenue NW, 5th Street NW, G Street NW, and K Street, NW (Mount Vernon Square). For information about its walking tours of Chinatown and other programs visit the  Chinatown Community Cultural Center  website. For more information about Chinatown visit the  Washington D.C. tourism  or the  Cultural Tourism DC  websites. A project through the Underrepresented Community Grant Program , which works to diversify nominations submitted to the National Register of Historic Places, funded an effort to recognize the significance of this district related to Asian American history in D.C. 

You Might Also Like

• asian american and pacific islander heritage
• asian american and pacific islander history
• asian american sites
• asian-pacific heritage
• asian american history
• district of columbia
• washington dc
• national register of historic places
• nrhp listing
• underrepresented community
• historic preservation fund

Last updated: November 2, 2020

Chinatown Tours

D.c. chinatown walking tour.

Explore the tour below, and keep an eye out for in-person guided tours in the future.

Location: 6th and Eye Street, in front of the Moy Family Association 

D.C. Chinatown’s history begins in the 1800’s, and is generally considered by the presence of Chinese people appearing in records, in writing, and in the public eye, but the marginalized status early Chinese immigrants in the U.S. 

In 1851, the first Chinese person would register an address on Pennsylvania Avenue. His name was Chiang Kai. The majority of the first residents were new immigrants, seeking to settle in urban centers where working-class jobs would be widely available. Some early residents were also from the West Coast, escaping Sinophobic conditions developed under retaliation by American workers against cheap Chinese labor, which had been driven to the area by an economic boom fueled by the Gold Rush (1848-1855). These residents took up small business jobs in restaurants, grocery stores, dry cleaners, and many more, due to exclusion from other white-dominated trades. By 1884, the population was estimated at around 100 individuals.

This population would remain stunted as racism towards Asian immigrants, particularly Chinese, worsened. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 dictated that no Chinese nationals were to be allowed to enter the country, and those already in the U.S. were barred from citizenship, further contributing to their alienation. The population is primarily made of bachelors, as many originally immigrated with plans to bring their families after having settled. By 1903, Chinatown had established itself as an insular and functional community. The Evening Sun described the neighborhood as “where the real Chinese life is to be found.” Social networks from villages in China allowed new immigrants, mainly from Southern China’s Taishan area, to seek the familiar in an unfamiliar place. Connections from ancestral homes often carried into the new locale, and were significant enough that a single contact from China served as justification for immigrants choosing the new American soil they chose to make their new lives. By 1928, the Chinese population of Washington D.C. was estimated at around 600. At its peak, the neighborhood occupied the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue, stretching from 2nd to 4 ½ Street. 

The reaction of the wider public to the blossoming community was largely negative, with the residents considered dirty, secretive, mysterious, and highly insular. Many outside the enclave actively worked to suppress Chinese presence by buying out real estate, discriminatory hiring practices, and actively racist rhetoric, further confining the community. For example, stereotypes persisted that Chinese had an affinity and particular talent for doing laundry, while in fact it was racist hiring practices that demanded that immigrants own and operate their own businesses. The April 2nd, 1903 issue of the Evening Star, speaking on the classic American Chinese dish chop suey , read: 

“The Americanized celestial looks invariably pale, and in most instances half fed, and people think of a Chinaman as scrubbing away in his laundry day and night, and subsisting on rice, but it is said that this wan, pallid fellow, with his funny hat and combination cape, sacque, and petticoat, is about the merriest and best ordered glutton to be found on a day’s journey.” 

Fear existed that a phenomenon was underway in D.C. as was happening in the West Coast, where inexpensive Chinese labor left many white laborers without jobs. Because of this discrimination, the early Chinatown community was shaped heavily by internally-adjudicated organizational structures. Family associations, such as the Moy, Lee, and Chen families, served as community pillars and pseudo-governing bodies, providing support for each other and the residents. Although in its second iteration of home, These associations helped adjudicate neighborhood disputes, integrate new immigrants into their new home, and established Chinese language schools, essentially serving to fill any social welfare needs that the government could not or refused to. Operating adjacent to these associations were tongs , or businessman’s associations that helped adjudicate the neighborhood in the commercial sense, despite often being tied with organized crime. The Sunday Star described one example of their work, stating, “should a Chinese want to open a restaurant outside of Chinatown, his tong decides whether he would be situated too close to another member restaurateur. If the competition would not be too keen the association gives its blessing and even lends him money, if need be.” Racist policing practices capitalized on the crime associations of tongs for immigration crackdowns into the 1920s. An October 19, 1928 Washington Star stated, “a police campaign against Chinese who are in D.C. illegally [was] launched by the recent killings,” in reference to a murder in Chinatown that had occurred that year.

In 1931, the neighborhood was forced to relocate from Pennsylvania Avenue near John Marshall Place to its current location, centered around 7th and I Street as a result of the developing Federal Triangle and National Mall projects. It had been there for nearly 50 years. In 1932, led by an influential and large tong known as the On Leong Chinese Merchant’s Association, the community purchased and leased  property on H Street to house the 11 businesses operating within their tong , effectively establishing a new Chinatown when a rival tong followed them soon after. The Sunday Star reported that the site of the former Chinatown was quickly destroyed to make way for new developments, “[presenting] somewhat the appearance of a village in Northern France after a German bombardment. Most of the old brick structures formerly occupied by the Chinese have been torn down to make way for new Government buildings.” This transition and resettlement was not without turbulence, as many were unhappy to house the Chinese community. White property owners on H Street unsuccessfully petitioned the government to keep the Chinese out, citing fears of deterioration of the neighborhood and property prices.  The new Chinatown housed roughly 800 residents, making up 32 families. Immigration would continue to increase into the mid-1900s as the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed as a reflection of US-China relations during WWII.

Location: 5th and Eye St NW, on the street corner in front of the Chinese Community Church 

Young Chinese Americans laid in a position between their new American lifestyles and the effort to maintain Chinese identity. In 1931, D.C.’s first Chinese school was founded, where students could learn Chinese customs and way of life following their American education in the day. However, racial attitudes and discrimination were the worst they had ever been, due to the divisions and fear caused by the Great Depression. Chinese Americans were markedly ‘colored’, and were therefore subject to heavy racialization. This would continue into WWII, where anti-Japanese sentiment led Chinese Americans to make heavy display of their patriotism and distinguish themselves from Japanese Americans. Some would hang flags, fashion identification cards, and wear emblems that signaled both their allegiance to the U.S. but also emphasize the positive relationship between the U.S. and China. 

In the 1960’s, immigration quotas were expanded, and D.C.’s Chinatown, like many, experienced an uptick in population. By 1966, DC’s recorded Chinese population of first- and second-generation immigrants hovered around 3000. Because of the insularity and relative self-sufficiency of the community, the majority of the first generation immigrants would never learn English, while their children would have weak to no grasp of their parents’ mother tongue. The influx of new immigrants also marked the beginning of a dispersive effect, however, and Chinese shops and small communities began to form around the suburbs of D.C..

While this dispersion was underway, however, Chinatown would continue to serve as a community and cultural center for many Asian Americans in the DMV area, even as many moved to the suburbs of Maryland or Northern Virginia. Chinese New Year festival celebrations became one such opportunity for these diasporic groups to gather, and served as a cultural touchstone by hosting activities such as traditional costume shows, acrobatics, martial arts, among many others.

Many non-Chinese Asian American minorities also participated, demonstrating the neighborhood’s wide significance. D.C.’s Chinatown also participated in the national Chinatown tradition of playing street volleyball.

Neighborhood programs and institutions also helped inspire the lives of young people in Chinatown. The Chinese Community Church (CCC), founded in 1935, began offering services in Chinese in the early 1950’s and continues to do so to this day. The Chinatown Creative Workshop was one such example. It served as a program for new immigrant children to become quickly integrated into their community by teaching dance, art, and cultural classes. The program was largely successful and hosted anywhere from 30-50 children each year, but was ended in the 80s due to a lack of government funding. These programs laid in a delicate position between the wealth divide in D.C.: they did not have the money to be self-sustaining, yet were not poor enough to receive sufficient funding from the government. 

In a 2003 interview for  Small But Resilient: Washington’s Chinatown over the Years,  childhood resident Wendy Feng noted “I think one of the reasons people initially sojourned or stayed in Chinatown was because they felt safe in Chinatown. And I think a part of it was the Anti-Immigration Act [of 1882]…that sort of gave people the excuse to really behave badly towards them. And so they felt that they have to sort of isolate themselves within Chinatowns.” Nevertheless, Chinatown had definitively established itself as a home and home base for both a new and old diasporic population. Businesses, community organizers, and schools shaped the space that provided for many. 

Location: 8th and H Street 

Standing on 8th and H Street, the view can be relatively unassuming. 8th and H Street was the location of the Jade Palace restaurant, where a large mural by Eastern Wind was hung for eight years.

Designed by member and resident artist Miu Eng, it aimed to depict a multi-generational Chinese American identity, and included imagery of traditional family values, food, and connections to a homeland. The mural was  significant because it engaged a specific emerging identity: one of a young, original Chinatown made of Chinese Americans with a specific and enterprising political identity that came of age alongside the Civil Rights Movement. Chinese and Black solidarities had been growing the last decade, as political self-awareness had begun to rise both inside and outside the Chinese community. 

Many projects, groups, and small organizations formed in this political upturn in Chinatown. Eastern Wind was a publication that served as both a newsletter and a Chinese American magazine for the DC area. While Chinese American in name, it aimed to engage all Asian American ethnic minorities, and often spoke on larger issues facing Asians and Asian Americans. Eastern Wind was described by member and long-time Chinatown resident Harry Chow as “idealistic, enthusiastic, and outspoken.” Run by college students, the publication was an activist and leftist space, and engaged issues facing both their specific locale, such as protesting the construction of the convention center, as well as a larger Asian American national discourse, exemplified in September/October 1975’s issue titled “The Immigrant Issue”.

Eastern Wind  marked an important instance of the Chinese American community being in conversation with a greater national discourse. Voices that had been historically suppressed by language discrimination and access, positionality, and space were now highlighted in an important way that was given an important platform to speak for themselves and reckon with their own place. Its specific space-oriented focus on Washington D.C. also helped to parallel the concentrated Asian American movement on the West Coast. The same issue as above featured a letter titled “Eastern Wind Talks Back”, written in response to a racist Washington Post article, which featured this line: 

“Our outrage at being ignored as long-time contributors to America is only compounded by the continued lack of sensitivity to the Asian community. We hope and demand that in the future The Washington Post and other newspapers exercise better judgement when writing about a community of which they are neither a member nor well informed.”

Political identity was becoming less and less insular, and Chinatown became a site of inquiry for the city as a whole. Chinatown was a major site of work for Lady Bird Johnson’s 1960s Beautification agenda. Believing the mental health of a nation was highly reliant on aesthetic beauty, Lady Bird Johnson aimed to use Washington D.C. as her “front yard” example of this broader nationwide effort. Chinatown became an experimental ground for a series of infrastructural improvements, including the installation of public art and an increase in greenery, amongst other changes. These issues were not merely approached as a cosmetic bandage on issues of racial inequality and redlining, but as a method of streamlining resources for improving overall quality of life: clean water, air, and environments. The degree to which this agenda contributed to the gentrification of the area that continues today is unclear, but not insignificant. The Beautification agenda operated heavily in Black neighborhoods as well as Chinatown, with Lady Bird Johnson herself appearing to promote her work in the public eye. 

Chinatown was also impacted by the unrest following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in April 1968. Civil unrest affected the entire city, and residents reported rioting, burning, and looting of many businesses and storefronts. All businesses, including Chinese, were asked to close early out of respect. Harry Chow, longtime Chinatown resident, lived in the neighborhood through the unrest. His family ran a laundromat. As he recounts, a young woman entered the store warning that businesses on their Chinatown block were going to be destroyed. Another friend advised that they should place a sign reading “soul brother” in front of their store, signaling solidarity with the protestors. Their business was untouched throughout the night. Another business operated by Chinese immigrants was a grocery store in the historically Black Shaw neighborhood. The owners, close with the surrounding Black working-class community, also found their store untouched throughout the unrest. Windows and street fronts were marked with large X marks in soap to signify that the businesses were to be spared. Following the events of May 1968, however, the neighborhood was “essentially shut down for a week.” Many residents felt unsafe, hurt, and scared, with some citing the unrest as a reason to close their businesses, and move out of the city into the suburbs of Northern Virginia and Maryland. The population, already dwindling by the mid-60s, “didn’t know how to fit in.” Watch the full documentary here . 

Location: 7th and H Street NW. Notice the Chinatown Friendship Archway, the iconic imagery of the neighborhood. 

Into the late 1900’s, property prices in the neighborhood continued to rise, and it became increasingly difficult for residents to stave off developers and the tidal wave of gentrification. Local residents were offered large sums of money to buy out their property, especially to working class immigrant families. Chow described it as “enough to buy property in the suburbs, pay for college, and then some on top of that.” Many moved to the suburbs, and along with them, many of the amenities that sustained the distinct needs of the Chinese population – grocery stores, Chinese-speaking community services, and fellow Chinese American residents. In 2015, it was estimated that the Chinese population that remained in the neighborhood was as low as 300.

First generation elderly residents of Chinatown were hit the most hard by these changes. Wah Luck House, completed in 1982 and located on 6th and H Street NW, is the only remaining rent-controlled housing option for these residents, and the units are highly sought after. Many remaining residents are engaged in battles to stay where they are, and worry whether they’ll be able to stay in D.C. if Section 8 housing contracts evaporate.

Today’s Chinatown marks a very different neighborhood than the one that was first founded in the 1800s. The Chinatown Friendship Archway, built in 1986 and designed by Alfred Liu, is one example of this. Dually financed by the cities of Beijing and D.C., the archway marked solidarity between the two nations. Plans originally included an equivalent archway on the other side of Chinatown honoring the relationship between Taiwan and D.C., but was never completed. 

Still, the archway’s highly Asiatic imagery serves as a landmark, and marks the neighborhood as visually Chinese. This is not unintentional: in 1986, a group of Chinese American community advocates formed the Chinatown Steering Committee. Working with the D.C. Office of Planning, they began a series of reforms that encouraged English-Chinese signage in the neighborhood. The Office of Planning writes, “enhancing Chinatown’s physical experience requires activating streets with Asian themed vendors and animating buildings with Chinese signage and storefront design.” This includes the zodiac-themed crosswalk markers, dragon adornments on Capitol One Arena, and many others. Notice, for example, the zodiac decorations on the crosswalk.

These crosswalk decorations serve as a good example to think further about the rest of the neighborhood. While clearly themed after the Chinese zodiac, it’s a superficial representation that serves only to appear Chinese without accomplishing much for the neighborhood itself. 

In reflection, what does an ‘Asian theme’ really mean for the things that we know make Chinatown important today? The ‘themed vendor’ and ‘Chinese signage’ speaks nothing to the actual residential population as well as the now-dispersed Asian Americans who look to the neighborhood as a cultural touchstone. For example, many of the businesses now located in Chinatown are non-ethnic owned typical chain businesses, and are only markedly ‘Chinatown’ by the inclusion of phonetic spellings of their brand names in Chinese characters.

We must ask the question of what this really accomplishes for Chinese and Chinese Americans who look to and rely on this neighborhood. If the remaining Chinatown residents are facing eviction and aren’t being protected, the businesses aren’t Chinese-owned, and the visitors are not visiting ‘for’ Chinatown, what makes this neighborhood Chinatown besides nomenclature? 

We can find the answer in history, in memory, and in this small but resilient community. While often considered a ‘dying Chinatown’, D.C.’s Chinatown is precious, storied, and home to many, even those who may not live there anymore. 

Surratt Boarding House 

The Mary E. Surratt Boarding House, constructed in 1843, was the site of several meetings of the co-conspirators in the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Surratt herself was associated with Confederate sympathizers, and when put on trial for conspiracy, Mary Surratt became the first woman executed by the United States federal government. The space has since been returned to a commercial space, and houses a restaurant today with a plaque to honor its history. 

Wah Luck House

Wah Luck House, located at 800 6th Street NW, is an important space for those who have remained in the Chinatown community. Built in 1982, it is one of very few remaining rent-controlled spaces, and houses the greatest density of Chinese residents that remain in the neighborhood. 

Temple of Cun Yum 

Also known as Guan Yin Temple, the Temple of Cun Yum is a Buddhist temple located on H Street NW. While small in size, the space is one of few religious sites left in the neighborhood and is known for its distinctive pink color and green roof. The interior houses a number of religious objects and spaces of worship. 

Chinese Community Church

The Chinese Community Church (CCC) was founded in 1935 and has been a continually operating community staple ever since. Providing services in English and Cantonese, the church was key to helping early immigrants settle, find community, and gather together. They also house a number of community events, services, and programs that connect those from all over the DMV area, including the Chinatown Service Center. The CSC offers a number of programs, such as personal finance classes and English classes. 

Click here to see citations. Special thanks to Harry Chow for photographs provided to the 1882 Foundation. 

Chinatown, DC: The Complete Guide

Raymond Byrd / Getty Images

Chinatown History

Things to do, what to eat and drink, getting there.

Chinatown is a small historic neighborhood of Washington, D.C. , that features a variety of cultural attractions and businesses for tourists and residents alike. Whether you're looking for a delicious and authentic meal or to learn about the history of the city's Chinese-American population, Chinatown is an easy stop that's within walking distance of the National Mall and Penn Quarter. When the MCI Center was built in the 1990s—now known as the Capital One Arena —it helped to revitalize the neighborhood with new restaurants and stores but displaced many of the original businesses in the process. Despite gentrification, Chinatown remains one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting the nation's capital.

In the early 1900s, the Chinatown area was mostly populated by German immigrants, but Chinese immigrants began moving to the area in the 1930s after they were displaced from the original Chinatown along Pennsylvania Avenue when the Federal Triangle government office complex was built.

Like other Washington neighborhoods , Chinatown's population declined sharply after the 1968 riots when many residents moved to suburban areas, spurred by the city's rising crime and deteriorating business climate. In 1986, the city dedicated the Friendship Arch, a traditional Chinese gate designed by local architect Alfred Liu, to reinforce the neighborhood's Chinese character.

The core of the neighborhood was demolished to make way for the MCI Center, which was completed in 1997, and in 2004, Chinatown went through a $200 million renovation, transforming the area into a bustling neighborhood for nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.

Perhaps the most fascinating part about D.C.'s Chinatown is the way that the neighborhood has held on to its immigrant roots despite a declining Chinese population and an influx of national companies. For example, even big-name corporations like Starbucks, Subway, and Walgreens include the names of their business in Chinese characters prominently displayed on their storefronts.

• Friendship Arch : You can't miss the entrance to Chinatown in Washington, D.C. The Friendship Arch is one of the largest of its kind outside of China and was built in 1986 to commemorate the relationship between the sister cities of Washington, D.C., and Beijing. It's located at the intersection of H Street and Seventh Street and is without a doubt the most iconic part of the neighborhood.
• Alleyway Tours : To get a comprehensive history of Chinatown, join one of the informative Alleyway Tours . These tours are led by local youth volunteers and designed by the Chinatown Community Development Center, drawing on painstaking research and oral history from interviews of longtime residents.
• Chinese New Year Parade : The most exciting time to visit Chinatown is, without a doubt, during the Lunar New Year celebrations. The New Year falls around the end of January or early February, depending on the year, and you can expect to see lion dancers, firecrackers, dragons, and much more during the annual parade through the neighborhood.
• Nearby Museums : Chinatown is only about two blocks long, but some of the city's best museums are just a few minutes away on foot. The National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum are just across from the Capital One Arena at the south end of Chinatown and are free to visit. Just a couple of blocks further are two important sites in American history, Ford's Theater and the Petersen House , where Abraham Lincoln was shot and then subsequently died.

Chinatown is considered one of the best neighborhoods in Washington for going out to eat and houses several of the city's best restaurants. As the neighborhood has gentrified and diversified over the years, you can now find all types of cuisine, not just Chinese food, although it's still the best place in the capital for finding an authentic Chinese meal.

• China Boy : This no-frills restaurant is one of the most popular options for grabbing a quick meal. The diner is small and has limited seating, but you can easily your housemade pork buns and hand-pulled noodles to go and enjoy them outside.
• Reren Lamen & Bar : The specialty at Reren is the lamen bowls, similar to ramen but using traditional Chinese ingredients that are all handmade or locally sourced. Make sure you arrive hungry enough to also try some of the appetizers like the beef and scallion pancake, Chengdu spicy wontons, or Nanking duck.
• Tony Cheng's : This multilevel restaurant is best known for its dim sum and Mongolian barbeque. It's been a Chinatown landmark in Washington, D.C., for many years.
• Daikaya : Daikaya isn't a Chinese restaurant, but it is one of the top places to eat in the neighborhood . This funky Japanese restaurant has a popular ramen house on the first floor that typically has a line out the door, while upstairs it serves cocktails and snacks in an izakaya setting.

Chinatown in Washington, D.C., is located east of Downtown near Penn Quarter and easily accessible via all lines of the D.C. metro , so it's easy to reach from anywhere in the city. The red, yellow, and green lines all pass through the Gallery Place-Chinatown stop, which is the closest metro station. If you're riding the blue, orange, or silver line, get off at the Metro Center stop and it's just an eight-minute walk to the Friendship Arch.

The Best Time to Visit Washington D.C.

Get to Know Washington, D.C. Neighborhoods

8 Must-Visit Ethnic Enclaves in the US

50 Best Free Things to Do in Washington, DC

Top Destinations in the Eastern United States

North Beach San Francisco: Little Italy

A Guide to Washington, D.C.'s Chinese New Year Parade

Where to Go in 2020: The Best Places to Travel This Year

Verizon Center: Travel Guide for a Wizards Game in Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. Guide: Planning Your Trip

Two Days in Washington DC: A 48 Hour Itinerary

Everything You Need to Know About the Washington, D.C. Cherry Trees

Union Station, Washington DC: The Complete Guide

12 Best Things to Do in Washington, DC, With Toddlers

8 Best Events in the Washington D.C. Area in February

10 Youth Hostels and Student Housing in Washington, DC

Map for Tour

Historic downtown and chinatown, tour description.

This tour explores the diverse collection of buildings, memorials, and monuments located in Washington’s historic commercial core. Downtown Washington is a large area stretching west from Judiciary Square to Farragut Square and Foggy Bottom, and north to Massachusetts Avenue NW and Dupont Circle. It is not necessarily a clearly defined area, and Washingtonians may have differing opinions on where Downtown's edges are. Regardless, Downtown is known for its historic sites (most notably, the White House), office buildings, hotels, restaurants, entertainment and sports venues, and parks.

The historic core of Downtown is located east of the White House and north of Pennsylvania Avenue — rather than along K Street and Connecticut Avenue NW, where many office buildings were constructed in the postwar years. Historic Downtown lies at the heart of the federal city, as laid out in 1791 by the French engineer and planner Pierre L’Enfant. This area is traversed by Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street NW, which have been important transportation routes since Washington's beginnings. Pennsylvania Avenue, between the city's two most important points, Capitol Hill and the White House, quickly became a thriving thoroughfare. This stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue is especially significant, as every four years it is the focal point of the presidential inauguration route. 7th Street became an important commercial corridor thanks to the north-south thoroughfare's connection to points north of the city, both in the District and in Maryland.

F Street also became an important center of commerce and entertainment, and some of the city's oldest and most architecturally significant buildings, designed in a Greek Revival/Neoclassical style, can be found along and near this street: the Old Patent Office, General Post Office, and U.S. Treasury Building. Next to these government buildings are clusters of smaller, historic commercial and residential buildings designed in various styles that were popular in the years right before and following the Civil War. In addition to these smaller buildings are some of the city's early "skyscrapers" dating to the 1880s and 1890s, such as the Atlantic and Sun buildings, and the Washington Loan & Trust Company. Over the years, many historic buildings (and facades) have been incorporated into new construction, giving the neighborhood layers of history that are quite visible to pedestrians. Chinatown, centered along H Street, adds additional character to Historic Downtown, with its specific design elements. This particular Chinatown dates to the 1930s, as the community was forced to move from the Judiciary Square-Federal Triangle area to accommodate new federal office building construction. The buildings, many of which predate the 1930s, were repurposed and altered by the Chinese American community, with the 1843 Mary Surratt House as a prime example of new uses and layers of history.

It is important to note that only a portion of this area falls within the Downtown Historic District, which is generally centered along 7th Street and F Street, east of 11th Street, as well as the Financial Historic District along 15th Street. Nonetheless, there are many historic landmarks that fall within and outside the historic districts' boundaries.

Locations for Tour

The white house, treasury department, national savings and trust company, bond building, western union building (commercial national bank), colorado building, federal-american national bank (and interiors), garfinckel’s department store (julius garfinckel & co.), riggs building (keith-albee building), national metropolitan bank, rhodes' tavern (1799-1984), hotel washington, willard hotel, baltimore sun building, harris & ewing photographic studio, brownley confectionery building, homer building, warner theatre building (and interior), pennsylvania avenue national historic site, evening star building, petersen house, ford’s theatre national historic site, atlantic building, saint patrick’s church, martin luther king jr. memorial library (and interior), old masonic temple, equitable co-operative building association (and interior), national union building, washington loan and trust company, ledroit block (f street, nw, south side of 800 block), old patent office, general post office (general land office), temperance fountain, national bank of washington, central national bank (apex building), grand army of the republic memorial (dr. benjamin f. stephenson memorial), major general winfield scott hancock statue, oriental building association, downtown historic district, the bulletin building, mary surratt house, on leong chinese merchants association, central public library, greyhound bus terminal, masonic temple (museum of women in the arts), real estate trust company (continental trust building), tour postscript.

• San Antonio
• St. Augustine
• Washington DC
• Home Main nav menu item
• MAP & STOPS Main nav menu item
• Things to DO Main nav menu item
• SCHEDULE Main nav menu item
• FAQS Main nav menu item

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

804 reviews

Old Town Trolley Tours Washington DC 4.2

Whether you’re in the mood for authentic Chinese delicacies or a stroll through one of Washington DC’s historic neighborhoods , Chinatown offers a unique experience for all who visit. This small DC area is marked by an enormous Friendship Arch, created by local artist Alfred H. Liu. It stands 60 feet high and is a recognizable Chinese Gate with colorful dragons, Chinese Roofs, tiles and designs.

The area is known for its wonderful restaurants and shops and its annual Chinese New Year Celebration which attracts many visitors ­ locals and tourists alike.

7 Things to Do in Chinatown, D.C.

quickwhittravel

Updated July 20, 2020.

Chinatown is one of D.C.’s most well-known neighborhoods, thanks in no small part to the amazing food, Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, and CapitalOne Arena! Plan to spend a few hours here to see (and eat!) everything!

7. See the Mary Surratt House

Who’s Mary Surratt? She’s the first woman every hanged in the United States. Why? She may have been in on the conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln! Her former boarding house is now an Asian-fusion restaurant and karaoke bar, right in the heart of Chinatown’s H Street Corridor.

6. Go to an Event at CapitalOne Arena

Formerly the Verizon Center, formerly the MCI Center… the CapitalOne Arena is home to the Washington Capitals NHL team, the Washington Wizards NBA team, the Washington Mystics WNBA team, concerts (I’ve seen Michael Buble here and it was amazing! ), Disney on Ice, and more! It’s one of Chinatown’s main draws, and it helps that it’s literally attached to the Green, Yellow, and Red Metro lines!

5. Visit the U.S. Mint

Most of the U.S. Mint Headquarters in D.C. is closed to the public, but anyone can visit the coin store! It’s open Monday-Friday from 10:00am-5:30pm; closed on weekends and federal holidays. This is a fun store to visit, especially if you’ve already taken the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Tour or the Treasury Department Tour !

4. Visit the 6th and I Synagogue

This is more than just a house of worship. It’s also a place to find out more about Jewish life and an event venue for religious and secular purposes. I visited once and was encouraged to see how much they do for the community and how they welcome all people of all walks of life. As a Christian for example, the more I understand about Judaism, the more I understand about Jesus. Check out their calendar of events !

Read on: Religious Sites in D.C.

3. eat amazing food.

Chinatown is in the running for the best food in D.C.! There are tons of restaurants to choose from, and every cuisine to try: Mediterranean, pizza, all-American, Spanish, and of course, every variety of Asian!

Stay tuned for What to Eat in Chinatown, coming to the blog soon!

2. visit the national portrait gallery.

The Smithsonian’s Portrait Gallery is one of my favorite Smithsonian museums. It’s not on the National Mall, so it’s usually a bit less crowded, and it stays open late every day! I am admittedly not much of an art person, but the America’s Presidents exhibit it one of the most interesting to me. I like to see how things have changed over the course of my country’s history, like clothing styles and artistic styles. George Washington’s portrait is different from Teddy Roosevelt’s, and FDR’s is different from Nixon’s!

Read on: Your Ultimate Guide to the Smithsonian Museums

1. find the chinatown friendship archway.

I say find… but it’s not hard to find! It crosses H Street, NW, at Seventh Street, and you really can’t miss it! It’s officially called the Chinatown Friendship Archway, and it was completed in November 1986.

Want more D.C. recommendations, tips, and insider info? You’ll find everything on my Washington, D.C. Page !

Love this post? Pin it for later!

Share this:

2 responses to “7 things to do in chinatown, d.c.”.

President portrait exhibit was fantastic. Number 2 is a great attraction

Thanks! Yeah, definitely love those!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Discover more from quick whit travel.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Top ways to experience Chinatown and nearby attractions

• Eastern Market • 5 min walk

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Chinatown - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

• Washington DC Delicious Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour (From ₹ 5,803.35)
• Private 4-hour Best of Washington Tour at night with private driver and guide (From ₹ 63,234.12)
• Private Half-Day Tour of Washington DC with a driver-guide (From ₹ 44,704.86)
• Half-Day Private Washington DC Tour with Airport Pick Up (From ₹ 85,091.20)
• Best of DC: Big Bus 2-hr Day Tour & 2-hr Panoramic Sunset Tour (From ₹ 5,720.44)
• (0.48 km) Sonder Callisto
• (0.34 km) Duo Nomad
• (0.47 km) Sonder Europa
• (0.89 km) Capitol Hill Hotel
• (0.99 km) Thompson Washington D.C.
• (0.03 km) Call Your Mother
• (0.04 km) Souk
• (0.04 km) Lavagna
• (0.05 km) Lola's Barracks Bar & Grill
• (0.09 km) Ambar Capitol Hill

11 Best & Fun Things to Do in Chinatown, DC

Small and historically significant, Chinatown is home to a number of tourist & local alike cultural sites and establishments.

Chinatown is a convenient stop that is close to the National Mall & Penn Quarter, whether you’re seeking a great and authentic dinner or want to understand the origins of such a city’s Chinese and American population.

• 35 Things Dubai is Known for: Attractions & Things to Do
• 20 Best & Fun Things to Do in Ardmore, OK
• 20 Best & Fun Things to Do in Modesto
• 20 Best & Fun Things to Do in Fredericksburg, VA
• 30 Best & Fun Things to Do in Temple, TX

When the MCI Center, currently called the Capital One Arena, was constructed in the 1990s, it boosted the area by bringing in new eateries and shops, but it also forced out many old enterprises in the way.

Chinatown is still one of the top favorite tourist spots in the country’s capital, despite gentrification.

Below are some fun things you can do in Chinatown, DC.

Table of Contents

Things to Do in Chinatown, DC

1. the chinatown friendship archway can be located..

Chinatown in Washington, DC, is heavily symbolic. The community is tiny, vulnerable, and perpetually on the verge of extinction.

The eateries (of usual), the red & green light poles, and the Chinese writings on the street signs all contribute to the area’s distinctiveness.

The magnificent Friendship Archway, built-in 1986 near 7th & H Streets northwest and reportedly the biggest worldwide as of when it was built, is without question the most remarkable and enduring emblem of all.

Ironically, this project, which stands as a brazen symbol of Chinese identity, used to be dogged by the debate over the type of China it actually represented. But that doesn’t diminish the allure and beauty it offers.

Address: 728-730 7th Street NorthWest, Washington, DC 20001, US

2. National Gallery of Portraits.

Congress authorized and established the Gallery in 1962 with the goal of collecting and exhibiting pictures of persons who have contributed significantly to the past, progress, and heritage of Americans.

The Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution still tells the complex and dynamic tale of the U. S through the eyes of the people who have influenced its culture.

The Gallery showcases poets & presidents, visionaries & villains, and actors & activists, among whom lives have shaped our sense of national identity through its visual arts, theatrical performances, & new media.

The exhibition of “America’s Presidents” is crucial to the Gallery’s goal of telling the nation’s history via the people who shaped it since it is the only comprehensive collection with presidential portraits just outside the White House.

This exhibition’s grand opening image is Gilbert Stuart’s “Lansdowne” painting of George H.W. Bush. When the painting’s owner chose to sell it in the year 2000, the Gallery was at threat of losing the piece, which had been on lease since the Gallery’sgallery’s founding in 1968.

The “Lansdowne” picture could be given to the country thanks to a kind donation from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

Every successive president’s portrait, including those of paintings, sculptures, pictures, caricatures, videos, and time-driven media, is added to “America’s Presidents” over time.

The collections, at first only including printing, engravings, paintings, and drawings, have expanded over time to include more than twenty-three thousand artifacts in every media form, from daguerreotypes to digital.

The Gallerygallery started ordering presidential portraits in the late 1990s, starting with George Washington. Bush. Its first Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, currently a distinguished triennial competition that also adds commissioned pieces to the collection, was held at the Portrait Gallery in 2006.

Bo Gehring, the 2013 winner, captured jazz singer Esperanza Spalding in a close-up video & audio portrait that has garnered praise and admiration from viewers.

Address: 8th Street NorthWest and G Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001, US

3. Enjoy delicious food at Daikaya Restaurant.

If the queue of customers trying to enter Daikaya hadn’t drawn notice to the door, it might be rather simple to stroll right past the building’s equally straightforward yet detailed front.

This well-known Chinatown eatery has two distinct levels, the lower of which has a ramen business. Izakaya, a Japanese bar that also provides food to go along with drinks, is located at the top.

Casual eating is ideal for social gatherings, family meals, and business meetings because it offers savory and flavorful Japanese home cooking in a versatile setting.

Address: 705 6th Street NorthWest, Washington, DC 20001, US

4. 6th and I Synagogue

Sixth and I reinvents how heritage, society, as well as Jewish life could improve people’s daily lives. It is housed in a restored historic synagogue that dates back to 1908 in the center of the Nation’s Capital.

They highlight the surprising connections with culture & spirituality through various inclusive, thought-provoking, approachable events, and by doing so, they broaden our understanding of what may be sacred.

Our lectures, performances, entertainment shows, & live podcast interviews serve as a heritage of hub for the city and provide uncommon access to distinguished thinkers, celebrated artists, and influential figures in pop culture.

These workshops foster inquiry, promote fresh viewpoints and inspire creativity against the breathtaking backdrop of our ancient sanctuary.

Our Jewish programming, which includes awareness, Shabbat services, festivities, as well as social justice work, offers engaging ways for people in their twenties and thirties to take part in Jewish beliefs, concepts, and customs on their own accord and without judgment.

It also provides a framework through which they can explore life’s big questions. Sixth and I offers a place for persons in a similar stage of life to connect with each other and learn about the importance Judaism may give to their lives also as a multi-denominational, non-membership spiritual home.

5. Visit United States Mint

The United States Mint was established in 1792 and has had several locations over the years. Currently, there are four divisions operating in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver, as well as West Point.

Although its headquarters are in the capital city, they do not serve as a minting plant or give public tours in person, unlike other United States branches of the mint.

Visitors will find themselves standing underneath a relief roof depicting historical and contemporary designs with American coins and medals as the store’s oak shelves & glass cases carefully showcase scores of gleaming pieces, giving off an immaculate, almost opulent vibe. Even those who are not extremely keen on its inventory should gaze at the wide, museum-like variety.

6. CapitalOne Arena

The NHL’s 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, and also the NCAA’s Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team all call this Arena home.

On average, hosting two hundred and twenty events annually is the focal point of a $9.2 billion reconstruction that started twenty-two years ago, on December 2, 1997, when the centre was constructed and opened.

Since then, forty-seven million individuals and over four thousand events have occurred in the privately funded arena.

Address: 601 F Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20004, US

7. Mary Surratt House

From September 1864 to April 1865, Mary Surratt ran a boarding house out of the Mary E. Surratt Boarding House, a vernacular Greek Revival home built in 1843. John W. Booth frequented the boarding home during this time to socialize and meet with other conspirators as he prepared to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln.

The first female to be put to death by the feds was Mary Surratt, sparking an ongoing discussion about her culpability. Subsequent proprietors kept up the boarding house operation after she was put to death for her role in the assassination plot.

Irvan Schwartzman, the property’s then-owner, built show windows at street level and turned the 1st floor of the building into a retail property in 1925.

Yow Chin Teas first occupied the space in 1931, and High Wah and Co. was among its later occupants. Sie Que Co., importers import, and the grocery is owned by Suey Sang Lung Co. The Wok and Roll series of Chinese restaurants currently occupy the structure.

Address : 9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735, US

8. Penn Quarter

Every taste is catered to at Penn Quarter, which offers everything from casual dining to Michelin-starred dinners.

With restaurants like the 2 Michelin-starred Minibar, the more laid-back Jaleo, the Mexican-inspired Oyamel Cucina Mexicana, and the Greek-inspired Zaytinya, beloved local José Andres have a variety of options in this thriving neighborhood.

Hometown top picks Teaism or Chaia are great for a fast snack, and RPM offers a contemporary twist on traditional Italian fare for a more sophisticated evening out.

Undoubtedly, a trip to Chinatown will be incomplete without trying some real Chinese cuisine. Locals adore New Big Wong, China Boy & Tony Cheng since each restaurant has its own specialties.

9. Alleyway Tours

Experience one of its educational Alleyway Tours to learn about Chinatown’s whole history. The C. C. D. C created these tours with input from the local young volunteers, rigorous research, and oral histories collected from interviews with longtime residents.

10. Parade for Chinese New Year

The Lunar New Year celebrations are, without a doubt, the most thrilling season to visit Chinatown. Depending on the year, New Year is celebrated toward January end or the beginning of February.

During the neighborhood’s yearly parade, you can look forward to seeing lion dancing, fireworks, mythical creatures, and more.

11. Drink & Dine at Reren Lamen and Bar

The highlight at Reren is lamen bowls, which are similar to ramen but include handcrafted or locally produced traditional Chinese ingredients. Some appetizers to sample include the beef & scallion pancake, Sichuan hot wontons, and Nanking duck, so ensure you come hungry.

Address: 817 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States

Related Posts

20 best shopping spots in punta cana, 22 best & fun things to do in logan, oh, 10 best & fun things to do in sturgeon bay, wi.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Unveil the mysteries of one of the most alluring cultural enclaves in New York City

A Tight Knit Community

Immerse yourself in this 90 minute walking tour that will pull the curtain back and give you a glimpse into the magic that makes this neighborhood so unique.  In partnership with Two Bridges Neighborhood Council and the Chinatown Little Italy Historic District Association,  We now has exclusive access to places in this community that are normally off-limits to the public.  We tour the southern portion of the Historic District from Canal Street to Kimlau Square; the infamous Doyers Street ‘aka’ the bloody angle, Confucius Plaza, a Taoist Temple and we’ll see the largest Buddhist statue in NYC.  The grand finale in a peek inside the CCBA (Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association)

A Living Tapestry of Culture

Within the borders of this Historic District is a living breathing tapestry of Chinese American Culture.  In addition, there are also enclaves of Taiwanese, Thai and Vietnamese.    As you wind your way through Chinatown you will find it to be an epicenter of fashion, food, technology and culture.  A well greased machine, you’ll be sure to encounter members of the Chinatown Business Improvement District keeping the streets cleaned.  The parks within the district are always filled with neighborhood residence engaging in social activities like group dancing and tai chi, or playing cards and majhong.  You will always find a very strong sense of community here.

We bring the History Alive

Today’s Manhattan Chinatown in lower Manhattan is a thriving community of Chinese American immigrants that first started taking root here in the late 1860’s.  Restricted in size as a result of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, this community did not see substantial growth until after 1965 when the Immigration and Nationality Act was finally passed.  Today, the Manhattan Chinatown in Lower Manhattan is 1 of over 9 different Chinese American Communities throughout the 5 boroughs of New York City.  Combined they represent the largest representation of Chinese outside of China.  And it all began right here on Mott Street in what was once known as Little Hong Kong.

In partnership with the Chinatown Little Italy Historic District and Two Bridges Neighborhood Council

Book Public Tour

Click here to buy tickets for one of our daily time-slots Monday to Friday at 11:30am.  This Tour is 90 minutes long and under 2 miles of walking.  We operate rain or shine so please come prepared for the weather.

Passholder Reservations

If you  have a Go City Pass or New York Pass then click here to make your pass reservations.

Private and Corporate Chinatown Tours

We offer Private and Corporate Group Tours of the Chinatown Official Historic District Tour.  Click here to learn more.

CHINATOWN CHECK-IN LOCATION

CHECK-IN AND STARTING POINT

Please check-in for the Chinatown Official Historic District Tour at the red pin on the map above. We are located at Chinatown Little Italy Information Kiosk in-between Canal, Baxter and Walker streets. See the photo of the Kiosk where we will be.

CHECK-IN HERE

Chinatown Little Italy Information Kiosk

Corner of Baxter, Canal & Hester Streets

UnFinished Objects (UFO) Craft Circle

Craft circle.

Join us for the UnFinished Objects (UFO) Craft Circle at the DAR Museum! Bring your half-done projects, abandoned crafts, and unfinished masterpieces, and spend a cozy afternoon with fellow craft enthusiasts. Whether it's knitting, crocheting, painting, or any other craft, this event is a perfect opportunity to get inspired, share ideas, and finally complete those lingering projects. The UFO Craft Circle is an in-person event, so come prepared with your supplies and a positive attitude.

Let's turn those unfinished objects into beautiful creations together!

Registration is requested but not required.

1776 D St NW Washington , DC 20006 United States

(202) 879-3241, [email protected].

View Gallery

Nearby Favorites

YOTEL Washington DC, Capitol Hill

The Escape Game DC, Downtown

Can you escape? DC's best escape rooms on F St. in Penn Quarter.

National Postal Museum

Smithsonian National Postal Museum

Top ways to experience Chinatown and nearby attractions

• Eastern Market • 5 min walk

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

CHINATOWN: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Washington DC Delicious Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour (From £56.23)
• Private 4-hour Best of Washington Tour at night with private driver and guide (From £612.69)
• Private Half-Day Tour of Washington DC with a driver-guide (From £433.15)
• Half-Day Private Washington DC Tour with Airport Pick Up (From £824.46)
• Best of DC: Big Bus 2-hr Day Tour & 2-hr Panoramic Sunset Tour (From £55.43)
• (0.30 mi) Sonder Callisto
• (0.21 mi) Duo Nomad
• (0.30 mi) Sonder Europa
• (0.56 mi) Capitol Hill Hotel
• (0.62 mi) Thompson Washington D.C.
• (0.02 mi) Call Your Mother
• (0.02 mi) Souk
• (0.02 mi) Lavagna
• (0.03 mi) Lola's Barracks Bar & Grill
• (0.06 mi) Ambar Capitol Hill

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Chinatown Food Tour

Tour Information

Chinatown food tour highlights.

Take a step back in time and explore on of Manhattan's best preserved neighborhoods! 

NYC's Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in the western hemisphere. 

The neighborhood is home to an eclectic mix of people from all over Asia and is one of the most vibrant and exciting neighborhoods in the city. 

With hundreds of restaurants and historical sites there is no shortage of things to do. On this tour we explore ethnic, historical sites and sample foods that give this area its unique texture.

The narrow, tenement-lined streets of Chinatown tell the story of Manhattan's former dark side. 

See how this area, once filled with gambling dens, opium dens, and notorious gangsters became Manhattan's fastest growing neighborhood.

We'll discuss the original Gangs of New York and the Chinese Tong wars of the 20th Century. We even make stops in the 1st Buddhist Temple on the East Coast and a store that sells $300 chopsticks!

We'll wind through the tiny streets and sample unique foods that can only be found in this neighborhood like fresh beef jerky that is so tender it literally melts in your mouth. 

We'll try Chinatown staples like fresh roasted pork buns right out of the oven. 

If you're a foodie this tour offers several stops that have lit the food blogs on fire including soup dumplings and Thai style ice cream. 

Sample an array of dried fruits and dried fish and visit the most notorious dumpling house in the city!

Be sure to check out our self-guided tour of Chinatown to learn more about the district and our tour stops. Also, check out our daily SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown Tour .

At every stop, you choose what treats you would like to taste. Try them all or none at all (don't forget, this is also a history and culture tour).

Unlike other tours that charge around $45, with some excluding food, on this tour YOU choose what to eat and how much to spend.

Suggested amount to bring for snacks is $7-10 , depending on your appetite! Vegetarian options available at several shops.

Tour information

Reservations:  REQUIRED.  Click here to reserve . Groups of 5 or more should visit our  groups page .

Where:  Tour begins from the  Chinatown Information Booth  on Canal between Baxter and Mulberry Streets. Look for your guide with the Free Tours by Foot logo.

Please use our Google map for  directions to the tour starting point .

Duration:  Approximately 2 hours. Tour distance is approximately 1 mile (1.6K)

When:  Currently only available as a  private tour .   View Complete Tour Calendar .

Cost:  This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done.

A  name-your-own-price tour  is a tour for anyone's budget. Suggested amount to bring for snacks is $7-10, depending on your appetite.

Save more money with a  tourist discount pass  and our  Guide to NYC on a Budget .

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS IN CHINATOWN

New York City’s Chinatown is home to one of the largest enclaves of Asians in the Western Hemisphere.

This neighborhood is one of the cheapest neighborhoods to dine in the city; meals range in price from around $5 to $10 per person.

Of course, if you’re looking to drop some dough while you’re here, there’s a restaurant for that, too.

Check out some of the most popular Chinatown NYC restaurants that won’t break your budget.

1.  Nom Wah Tea Parlor  13 Doyers St. 

The oldest restaurant in Chinatown, the Nom Wah Tea Parlor caters to both the Chinese and Caucasian communities.

Wally Tang became the manager of the Nom Wah Tea Parlor after working at this Doyers Street mainstay for only four years.

The owners, Ed and May Choy, sold Nom Wah to Tang in 1974. Though the décor has changed slightly over the years to keep up with the times, the lunch counter, Formica tables, and overstuffed booths remain reminiscent of a 1950s diner—a carefully crafted marketing ploy to attract customers from outside of Chinatown. 

The menu offers plenty of dim sum favorites—though you won’t see a dim sum cart in the joint.

Simply check off the boxes next to your desired menu items. Popular eats include the steamed shrimp dumplings, scallion pancakes, pork fried dumplings and soup dumplings (though we’ll talk more about soup dumplings later).

2.   Golden Unicorn  18 East Broadway 

If you’re looking for a traditional dim sum dining room, replete with two floors filled with white table-clothed tables, golden chairs, and a denizen of food carts circling around, look no further than the Golden Unicorn.

Opened in 1989, this East Broadway mainstay still gets pretty crowded on the weekends and in the summer.

You can expect to see all your dim sum favorites, including steamed rolls, soup rolls, and piglet buns.

The Golden Unicorn claims to be the first high-class Cantonese-style restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown, but it was actually the first since the old-school high-class restaurants closed after World War II.

Golden Unicorn has been recognized by Food and Wine Magazine as one of the five best restaurants in NYC.

It was also recognized as a top small restaurant by Restaurant Insider and  named one of the world’s best Chinese restaurants by La Chaine des Rotisseurs.

3.   Mei Li Wah  64 Bayard St.  

Lauded as one of the favorite hole-in-the-wall dim sum shops in Chinatown, Mei Li Wah is probably best known for its baked roast pork buns.

The price has gone up minimally in the past few years (from a mere to $0.80 to a whopping $1), but the quality remains the same.

The exterior shell is soft, spongy, and a little sweet; finely diced onions lend just the right amount of sweetness to the otherwise savory minced barbecued pork inside.

Pair with a hot cup of tea, and walk over to nearby Columbus Park to enjoy the sounds of the rhythmic slapping of playing cards and the slow melodies of harmonicas.

4.   Shanghai Asian Manor  21 Mott St.  

This place isn’t as big or as popular as Joe’s Shanghai around the corner, but New Yorkers might want to keep it that way.

The big-ticket item on the menu is the xio long bao —better known as soup dumplings.

In case you’ve never heard of them, these little dumplings are filled with fatty pork or crab (and sometimes even both) as well as a cube of gelatinous soup.

The dumplings are steamed, and the soup melts into the pork. Nip the wrapper with your teeth, and slurp out the creamy clear broth.

Once all the liquid has been spoken for, you can get to work on the dumpling itself. Steep it in the black vinegar while you get to work inhaling the broth from the next xio long bao .

5.   Joe’s Shanghai  9 Pell St.

The first thing you notice about Joe’s will probably be the line snaking around the block.

This place gets super crowded in the summer and on the weekends. The best time to come is before or after the lunch hour on a weekday.

You can expect to share your table with plenty of strangers, and you’ll encounter everyone from politicians to neighborhood residents to tourists here. 

Joe’s specializes in the ever-popular soup dumplings, pan-fried noodles, soups, and Shanghai-style spare ribs. You can even order an entire fried fish (eyes and all) covered in a thick, brown gravy.

Joe’s has been named “Best Restaurant” by the likes of Gourmet Magazine, Travel and Leisure, and New York Magazine.

6.   Yaya Tea Garden  51 Chrystie St. 

One of the few Japanese restaurants in Manhattan’s Chinatown can be found at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge.

Here, you can snack on Japanese-inspired small bites including rice balls, sandwiches, rice, and noodles.

Wash it all down with one of their many variations of bubble tea—a hot or cold tea served with tapioca pearls (also known as Boba) or jellies that can be sucked up with an over-sized straw.

All you need to do first is make a few choices regarding Boba flavor, texture and shape.

Choose your tea flavor and let them know if you want milk tea or black tea. Then, choose the level of sweetness.

You can also pick up plenty of prepackaged Asian cookies, candies, crackers and snacks here.

7.   Kung Fu Tea 73 Chrystie St.

Kung Fu Tea was started by two brothers in Queens who were sick of seeing people line up outside mediocre bubble tea shops because there were so few choices back in the mid-2000s.

They now own a small chain in New York City as well as outposts in other major United States cities and Taiwan.

Space is limited in Kung Fu Tea, so plan on taking it to the park across the street to enjoy.

Hipsters love the bright lights, colorful tables and trendy atmosphere. The deal here is the same at Ya Ya; simply choose your flavor, Boba, and level of sweetness.

All the tea is imported directly from Taiwan and is brewed every three hours to ensure freshness.

8.   Vanessa’s Dumplings  118A Eldridge St.

With both C&C Prosperity Dumpling’s outposts closing in in 2016, the neighborhood’s hole-in-the-wall dumpling counters are fewer and further between.

Luckily, Vanessa’s Dumplings is one shop that is not only sticking around the hood—it’s expanded into Union Square and Williamsburg.

$1.50 gets you four pork and chive dumplings, and $4 gets you eight veggie dumplings.

The wrapper is soft and chewy and a little crunchy on the outside. Submerge these bad boys in some vinegary soy sauce and top with a shot of sriracha. 

While you wait, you can peer over the counter to watch workers assembling sesame pancakes; more the consistency of a fluffy bread, these “pancakes” are stuffed with shredded carrots, daikon, and crispy duck.

9.  Tasty Dumpling  42 Mulberry St. 

One of the last of the hole-in-the-wall dumpling spots in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Tasty Dumpling lives up to its name.

What the name doesn’t give away is how amazingly cheap these dumplings are. You can snag five dumplings for a meager $1.25.

The pork and chive fried dumplings and the boiled vegetable dumplings are the stars of the menu here. (Don’t bother ordering the shrimp or chicken dumplings as cooking times are known to take up to 45 minutes on a good day.)

Dowse those bad boys in some black vinegar or some watered-down sriracha, and you’ve got the perfect budget meal. Who says you can’t get a good meal for cheap in NYC?

10.   Xi’an Famous Foods  67 Bayard St. 

Most visitors don’t expect to see a curried lamb burger heading up a menu in Chinatown; yet, Xi’an is an area of China on the spice route that was known to see plenty of Middle Eastern ingredients including—you guessed it—lamb and curry.

The lamb burger has raised in price over the years but is currently only $5.

Ground lamb sits atop a bun that resembles an English muffin or a crumpet. If you are afraid of spice, opt for the ground pork burger instead of the spicy lamb. 

Xi’an Famous Foods first opened in Queens in 2005 and gained famed after Anthony Bourdain filmed an episode of his Travel Channel show, “No Reservations”, there.

Critics have lauded this hipster hot spot for its hand-pulled noodles, soups, and dumplings in addition to the famously cheap burger.

11.   Chinatown Ice Cream Factory  65 Bayard St. 

If you’re not stuffed to the brim at the end of your journey, head over to the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.

Ice cream (which was invented by the Chinese thousands of years ago,) comes in flavors here ranging in traditional to exotic.

You can snag a scoop of cookies and cream as easily and you can order a cone of durian (a fruit from Southeast Asia that ferments while it grows on the tree, giving it a pungent odor).

Prices are surprisingly steep for Chinatown ($4.50 for one scoop), but the quality sure beats the Häagen-dazs down the street.

And much, much more

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Shakira's 2024 tour coming to DC: See when and where

By nbc new york staff • published april 18, 2024 • updated on april 18, 2024 at 10:53 am.

Grammy-winning Colombian superstar Shakira is bringing her world tour through Washington, D.C. later this year.

Shakira announced Tuesday the 12 U.S. cities and two Canadian cities being visited on the first leg of her world tour, which begins in North America on Nov. 2 in California and ends Dec. 15 in Detroit.

The tour will make just one stop in the city, on Nov. 25 when she comes to Capital One Arena. Here's a full list of stops on the tour.

Shakira 2024 tour dates

We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.

• Nov. 2 - Palm Desert, California -- Acrisure Arena
• Nov. 7 - Phoenix, Arizona -- Footprint Center
• Nov. 9 - Los Angeles, California -- KIA Forum
• Nov. 16 - San Antonio, Texas -- Frost Bank Center
• Nov. 17 - Dallas, Texas -- American Airlines Center
• Nov. 20 - Miami, Florida -- Kaseya Center
• Nov. 23 - Charlotte, North Carolina -- Spectrum Center
• Nov. 25 - Washington, D.C. -- Capital One Arena
• Nov. 30 - Toronto, Ontario -- Scotiabank Arena
• Dec. 5 - Brooklyn, NY, Barclays Center
• Dec. 8 - Boston, Massachusetts -- TD Garden
• Dec. 10 - Montreal, Quebec -- Bell Centre
• Dec. 14 - Chicago, Illinois -- United Center
• Dec. 15 - Detroit, Michigan -- Little Caesars Arena

The tour is built around the March 22 release of Shakira's 12th album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women No Longer Cry). The 17-track album is the singer-songwriter's first studio album in seven years.

International tour dates are expected to be announced soon.

Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information

Arlington after-school employee accused of showing pornography to students

‘Last the test of time': New Digz clothing store focuses on sustainability

Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on April 22 . Shakira's Wolfpack members who join before Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. can access a pre-sale beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 19.

On April 12, Shakira performed at the  Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival  in California  with DJ Bizarrap .

This article tagged under: