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Please view the Chinatown Reimagined Virtual Exhibition
through your computer web browser for an optimal experience!
Click on the transformation buttons to view the before and after of each heritage site.
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On each image, you will find a set of interactive icons that you can click on to display further details.
Traditional herbal shops are one of the defining features of not just Vancouver’s Chinatown, but Chinatown’s everywhere. These sidewalk-sprawling storefronts makeup Chinatown’s signature scent, one that brings you back to when your grandmother would make you her special “tong” (湯), or soup. Like other businesses in Chinatown, these herbal stalls carry familiar sounds of their own...
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
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Qingming (清明節), also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese holiday honouring one’s ancestors. Common activities include cleaning family graves, offering food, and burning incense. The community celebrating Qingming at the Memorial Monument is significant in that it honours the many Chinese Canadians who worked and died on the Canadian Pacific Railway and in war, dreaming of a better life for themselves and future generations.
[Left: Photo by Christina Lee. Right: Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
105 Keefer was the site of a condo development proposal. The proposal sparked a wave of community activism--people both young and old, Chinese and non-Chinese fought the proposal to protect the heritage and lower-income nature of the neighbourhood while asking a simple question: ‘What can Chinatown be?’
An example of this community activism is the formation of Chinatown Today, an initiative which looks at Chinatown’s heritage importance through an on-the-ground, story-based lens. Ultimately in 2017, the 105 Keefer proposal was rejected by City Council. In this clip, listen to UBC Associate Professor of History Dr. Henry Yu speak as to why 105 Keefer was felt so passionately amongst so many people.
Mahjong is an important cultural game, and its history within the Chinese community showcases its natural ability to bring people together. One cannot pass through Chinatown without hearing the shuffling of tiles and the cheerful quips of Chinese seniors playing in clan associations, building upon long-lasting social connections and memories that mahjong has helped create.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
The Youth Collaborative for Chinatown is an organization dedicated to culturally-centered public space activation within Chinatown. Invested in reinstating the iconic “noisy” bustle of Vancouver Chinatown, they created a series of “Hot + Noisy Mahjong Socials” to bring spirit and life into the Memorial Plaza. Proving to be popular amongst young and old, these YCC events showcased the endless possibilities of how spaces within Chinatown can be used to make a difference.
Learn more about their other initiatives such as Saturday Cantonese School.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
In 2018, San Francisco-based @ChinatownPretty joined in on the Mahjong Social fun to take pictures of the seniors enjoying their games. Created by Andria Lo (@aweilo) and Valerie Luu (@valerieluu), the Instagram account focuses on the unique fashion sense amongst seniors in Chinatowns all over North America, and documenting the priceless stories that accompany these elders.
In 2020, they released their hardcover table-top book “Chinatown Pretty”, which included portraits and stories of seniors from Vancouver’s Chinatown. To learn about other Chinatown’s, including San Francisco’s please visit the Book Store in Chinatown Reimagined.
These shops provide the necessary ingredients for traditional herbal medicine, dried goods for hearty soups and stews, and relaxing teas. Here, we see the Chinese belief that “food is medicine” and vice versa. You can learn more about this holistic concept here on the Chinese Canadian Stories Instagram. The inviting nature of these shops allow for the lively banter indicative of a Chinatown business to take place.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Traditional herbal shops are one of the defining features of not just Vancouver’s Chinatown, but Chinatown’s everywhere. These sidewalk-sprawling storefronts makeup Chinatown’s signature scent, one that brings you back to when your grandmother would make you her special “tong” (湯), or soup. Like other businesses in Chinatown, these herbal stalls carry familiar sounds of their own...
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
During the pandemic, seniors across Vancouver lacked access to food services. In collaboration with other organizations, the hua foundation started the Chinatown Cares project, a grocery delivery program which supplied Chinese speaking seniors in the Chinatown area with a weekly box of culturally appropriate grocery items that they knew how to cook and prepare. This program offered them relief and cultural safety in an uncertain time, as well as illustrated the importance of the availability of economical groceries in Chinatown.
A common sound in these shops, many of these stores are still cash-based, and remain financially accessible to the community. Many of these grocers are “legacy businesses”--long running businesses that act as recognizable cultural “anchors”--and therefore provide important support to the community with how reliable, affordable and approachable they are.
A typical sound of these shops is the lively banter amongst the customers and vendors, adding to the welcoming nature we all know and love of the businesses in Chinatown.
What you are hearing is the shuffling of the produce at the grocery stall. Popular produce at these stores include bok choy, lo bak/daikon, sui choy/napa cabbage, gai lan, and Asian pears to name a few. While it’s becoming easier to find these ingredients at mainstream grocery marts throughout the city, very few provide the same atmosphere and bargain prices.
These shops provide the necessary ingredients for traditional herbal medicine, dried goods for hearty soups and stews, and relaxing teas. Here, we see the Chinese belief that “food is medicine” and vice versa. You can learn more about this holistic concept here on the Chinese Canadian Stories Instagram. The inviting nature of these shops allow for the lively banter indicative of a Chinatown business to take place.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Traditional herbal shops are one of the defining features of not just Vancouver’s Chinatown, but Chinatown’s everywhere. These sidewalk-sprawling storefronts makeup Chinatown’s signature scent, one that brings you back to when your grandmother would make you her special “tong” (湯), or soup. Like other businesses in Chinatown, these herbal stalls carry familiar sounds of their own...
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
What you are hearing in this sound is wun yee (雲耳), also known as black fungus: a popular ingredient for Chinese herbal medicine. Used in soups and stir fries, it is said to regulate blood flow and treat sore throats. Like black fungus, each and every one of the thousands of ingredients sold in herbal shops have a deeper meaning that is important in Chinese culture.
A counterpart of the grocery stalls, herbal stores offer up the same comforting environment, with some fun classic Chinese tunes as well. Letting the familiar scent of the store envelop you, you can find yourself wandering around wrapped up in a certain feeling of nostalgia.
Herbal markets such as the ones in Chinatown have been used for generations to pass down cultural knowledge. Many people, when asked about their memories of Chinatown, evoke the images of shopping with their mom, dad, or grandparents, taking in the wonder of the special ingredients and quality time with their loved ones. While on the outside it could be seen as just a “shop”, in reality they are valuable pieces of people’s practices and memories of Chinatown. [Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Looking to make your own stews, stir fries, and soups using Chinese ingredients? The Hua Foundation’s illustrated “Dried Goods Guide” is available to help you get started. Whether you are looking to replicate your family’s herbal soup or you’re a complete beginner, this guide is for you.
These shops provide the necessary ingredients for traditional herbal medicine, dried goods for hearty soups and stews, and relaxing teas. Here, we see the Chinese belief that “food is medicine” and vice versa. You can learn more about this holistic concept here on the Chinese Canadian Stories Instagram. The inviting nature of these shops allow for the lively banter indicative of a Chinatown business to take place.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Traditional herbal shops are one of the defining features of not just Vancouver’s Chinatown, but Chinatown’s everywhere. These sidewalk-sprawling storefronts makeup Chinatown’s signature scent, one that brings you back to when your grandmother would make you her special “tong” (湯), or soup. Like other businesses in Chinatown, these herbal stalls carry familiar sounds of their own...
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
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It is hard to imagine Chinatown and not have the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden come to mind. A Vancouver staple, the garden provides a beautiful place to learn about Ming Dynasty architecture and Chinese culture. It is not just a garden, but a space which centers around educational and historical cultural programming, events, and exhibitions. Learn more about their community initiatives here. [Photos courtesy of the City of Vancouver]
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Connected to the courtyard is the Chinese Cultural Centre (CCC), a cornerstone of Chinatown. Founded in 1973, the CCC has provided invaluable support to the community through their recreation and wellness classes, Chinese language school, and museum and archives. Unfortunately due to COVID-19, they have had to suspend many of their services, but we can’t wait for them to open again. To find out more, visit them here.
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Pictured here is the courtyard in 2002, right before it was renovated and turned into the place we know and love today. Instilling a Chinese Zodiac motif within the pavement, the space was upgraded into a more culturally appropriate, community friendly area with chairs, tables, and lots of room for people to gather with friends and family.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
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Other successful events held in the courtyard include Chinatown Movie Night, in which ~500 people gathered to enjoy music, lion dancing, and the Chinese Canadian film Meditation Park. These family-oriented events worked to demonstrate that Chinatown could be just as vibrant at night.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
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The Chinatown Summer Events Committee reported that events like Shape the Courtyard and Chinatown Movie Night increased community, economic, and cultural engagement within Chinatown. This report demonstrated the importance of culturally specific events within the historic context of Chinatown and what it can do for the area’s future.
[Photos courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Vendors of Shape the Courtyard expressed their delight at what the event did for the courtyard space and Chinatown as a whole, saying:
‘the best part has definitely been seeing all the different components come together to create a whole, hearing about all these different pop-ups and seeing them come to life, and seeing people come through and interact and make it a place. And usually when I walk through this space, it has been completely empty, and I think this really shows what this place could be in the future, so it's great to see.’
These shops provide the necessary ingredients for traditional herbal medicine, dried goods for hearty soups and stews, and relaxing teas. Here, we see the Chinese belief that “food is medicine” and vice versa. You can learn more about this holistic concept here on the Chinese Canadian Stories Instagram. The inviting nature of these shops allow for the lively banter indicative of a Chinatown business to take place.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Traditional herbal shops are one of the defining features of not just Vancouver’s Chinatown, but Chinatown’s everywhere. These sidewalk-sprawling storefronts makeup Chinatown’s signature scent, one that brings you back to when your grandmother would make you her special “tong” (湯), or soup. Like other businesses in Chinatown, these herbal stalls carry familiar sounds of their own...
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
The common space is not only used by Chau Luen Society members for lion dance and kung fu practice, but also for seniors to socialize, watch TV, or play mahjong together.
Listen to Vancouver Chinatown Legacy Stewardship Group Co-Chair Michael Tan speak on the importance of the tower.
“I’ve been running around that building actually, probably since I was like five years old, because my great aunt lived there. Also eventually my grandmother and grandfather lived there. So very deep ties to society. Also going through, learned Kung Fu and lion dance at the society in that building. There actually are classes run in the common space where we're doing lion dance and Kung Fu in the hall and 10 feet away you've got seniors, either watching TV, the Chinese news or playing Mahjong or reading a newspaper, like literally 10 feet from us. Eventually I've gotten involved with them as a director.”
The music accompanying the lion dance is powerful and exciting in nature. The lion dance is supposed to bring about joy and happiness to the audience watching, as well as bring good luck.
Here we see the lion dancing team, along with another visit to a tenant.
[Photos courtesy of Michael Tan.]
These shops provide the necessary ingredients for traditional herbal medicine, dried goods for hearty soups and stews, and relaxing teas. Here, we see the Chinese belief that “food is medicine” and vice versa. You can learn more about this holistic concept here on the Chinese Canadian Stories Instagram. The inviting nature of these shops allow for the lively banter indicative of a Chinatown business to take place.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Traditional herbal shops are one of the defining features of not just Vancouver’s Chinatown, but Chinatown’s everywhere. These sidewalk-sprawling storefronts makeup Chinatown’s signature scent, one that brings you back to when your grandmother would make you her special “tong” (湯), or soup. Like other businesses in Chinatown, these herbal stalls carry familiar sounds of their own...
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
New Town is well-known for their steamed buns and apple tarts. Sometimes, customers form a long queue outside the restaurant as they wait in anticipation of delicious delights. Check out #newtownbakery on Instagram to see more of the items they offer!
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Always bustling and busy, this is the what New Town sounds like most of the time.
Hear Susanna Ng, owner of New Town Bakery, talk about the impact of legacy businesses such as her own and how they integral to the cultural heritage of Chinatown.
These shops provide the necessary ingredients for traditional herbal medicine, dried goods for hearty soups and stews, and relaxing teas. Here, we see the Chinese belief that “food is medicine” and vice versa. You can learn more about this holistic concept here on the Chinese Canadian Stories Instagram. The inviting nature of these shops allow for the lively banter indicative of a Chinatown business to take place.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Traditional herbal shops are one of the defining features of not just Vancouver’s Chinatown, but Chinatown’s everywhere. These sidewalk-sprawling storefronts makeup Chinatown’s signature scent, one that brings you back to when your grandmother would make you her special “tong” (湯), or soup. Like other businesses in Chinatown, these herbal stalls carry familiar sounds of their own...
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
On Pender Street, you will find Chinatown staples: restaurants, cultural shops, markets, and society buildings that can be up to 100 years old! Pender, and Chinatown as a whole, have not been without struggle over the years with a higher than average vacancy rate, but as we know, Chinatown is resilient.
In 2000 the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Association (VCBIA) was created, a non-profit meant to revitalize and promote Chinatown’s business sector. To see more of their work (such as the famous Lunar New Year festival) and a handy store directory to use for your next visit to Chinatown, click here.
[Photo by Kristy Lin]
Pender Street is a site for community activism. For example, this 1972 image shows Chinatown and Strathcona residents marching on Pender against the establishment of a firehall near Lord Strathcona Elementary School. Ultimately, Fire Hall No. 1 was built at a location that was less disruptive due to their efforts.
[Photo courtesy of Hayne Wai.]
Pender Street comes to life at major Chinese festivities and events. These 3 images show the exciting street atmosphere during Lunar New Year celebrations, alongside the traditional dragon dance and firecrackers.
[Photos courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]
Click the image above to open a mini-gallery to show the exciting atmosphere during Lunar New Year celebrations, alongside the traditional dragon dance and firecrackers. Below are the exhilarating sounds that accompany these celebrations each year.
The Lunar New Year Parade has created priceless memories for people throughout Vancouver. Here we see an excerpt of a personal story by Larry Wong, posted at the intersection of Main and Pender Street, describing the awe and wonder he felt witnessing the parade first hand as a child. [Photo by Stanley Chia.]
The day I turned seven was unforgettable. My father roused me up from bed... I washed, gulped my breakfast, and ran to the front door. I could hear a band playing and saw people gathering at the sidewalk. The crowd was all smiles and animated. Streetcars ran up and down Main Street clanging their bells. Flags and banners moved through the streets. The band got closer, the crowd cheered, my sister dashed through the front door, all flushed. She was holding a box by the strings."What's that?"My sister smiled. "Happy birthday.""Gee," I said, pointing to the street. "How did everyone know?” (Source: “Happy Parade Day” by Larry Wong through The City of Vancouver Millennium Project and Vancouver Museum)
In September 2021, the Vancouver Fire Dragon Festival and Noodlecious occurred on Pender street. The 3-day event coincided with the mid-Autumn festival. It brought the Chinatown community together through food, cultural activities, and heritage appreciation. This marked the first time the Fire Dragon Festival has been held since 1975.
Learn more about the Vancouver Fire Dragon Festival and Noodlecious.
[Photo courtesy of Catherine Clement, colourized by Larry Chin.]
These shops provide the necessary ingredients for traditional herbal medicine, dried goods for hearty soups and stews, and relaxing teas. Here, we see the Chinese belief that “food is medicine” and vice versa. You can learn more about this holistic concept here on the Chinese Canadian Stories Instagram. The inviting nature of these shops allow for the lively banter indicative of a Chinatown business to take place.
[Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver.]