Chinatown, Victoria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chinatown
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Neighbourhood
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Chinatown, with the Gate of Harmonious Interest in the background
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province | BC/BCE |
| City | Victoria |
| Official name: Victoria's Chinatown National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1995 |
The Chinatown in Victoria, British Columbia is a very special place. It is the oldest Chinatown in all of Canada. It's also the second oldest in North America, right after San Francisco's Chinatown.
This historic neighbourhood started in the mid-1800s. Many miners came here from California during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush in 1858. Today, Victoria's Chinatown is still a lively area. Both locals and tourists love to visit it. Many Chinese-Canadians enjoy its rich history.
Chinatown is now close to many fun places. You can easily walk to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre or the Empress Hotel. The Royal British Columbia Museum says Chinatown was once "known for its maze of alleyways and courtyards." These areas had everything from movie theaters to restaurants.
A Look Back: Chinatown's History
The discovery of gold in the Fraser Canyon in 1858 changed everything. Many people moved to British Columbia from California. About one-third of these newcomers were Chinese. Soon, people began arriving directly from China. They heard about the gold, but there were other reasons too. Things like famine, drought, or war in China also made them seek a new life.
They traveled across the Pacific Ocean to Victoria. This city was a stop on their way to the goldfields. Most of these immigrants came from South China, especially Guangdong province. Later, building the Canadian Pacific Railway brought even more Chinese workers. Most of these early immigrants were men. If they earned enough money, they would send for their families to join them.
At first, Victoria's Chinatown was just a few simple wooden huts. But it quickly grew into a busy neighbourhood. It had businesses, movie theaters, schools, churches, temples, and even a hospital. Chinatown kept growing until 1911. At its peak, it covered about six city blocks. This included parts of Herald Street, Fisgard Street, and old Cormorant Street.
In 1911, Victoria's Chinatown was home to 3,158 people. This was a very large number for the time. For many years, it was the biggest Chinese settlement in Canada.
Between the 1920s and 1970s, Chinatown became much smaller. Its population also dropped a lot. But in the 1980s, people started working to bring it back to life. A major project was building the Gate of Harmonious Interest on Fisgard Street. Over the years, new coffee shops, studios, and workshops have opened. There are also small homes in Dragon Alley.
Chinatown Today: A Vibrant Place
Victoria's Chinatown is now a popular spot for tourists. It also attracts many artists. The main part of Chinatown is the 500–600 block of Fisgard Street. This area includes the famous Fan Tan Alley. This alley is very narrow and now has offices and shops. You can also find the old Chinese School here. Many historic buildings have been saved in Chinatown.
Modern Chinatown is still a key part of Downtown Victoria. It has many tourist attractions, hotels, and restaurants. In 1995, the district was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a very important place in Canadian history.
Some of Chinatown's top attractions are Fan Tan Alley and the beautiful Gate of Harmonious Interest. The stone lions at the gate were made in Suzhou, China. Suzhou is one of Victoria's sister cities.
Many of Chinatown's most historic places are not open to the public. One example is the Tam Kung Chinese Temple. This temple is the oldest of its kind in all of Canada.
