Vancouver boasts one of the largest Chinatown’s on the continent. As one enters into this ethnic neighborhood, the sights and smells immediately impose a whole new culture, leaving one with but a vague memory of the Vancouver they might have grown used to. Chinatown streets are teeming with seafood markets, elegant restaurants and open-air shopping strips. Locals and visitors alike take advantage of the authentic cuisine and ornate architecture, with familiar pagoda-styled homes and storefronts, as well as the unique apothecaries and herb shops scattered throughout the area.

One of the neighborhood’s finest attractions (and Vancouver’s for that matter) is the tranquil grounds of Dr. Sun Yat Sen gardens. This serene refuge is the only Ming Dynasty Garden outside of China. The open-air, walled gardens, complete with fish-populated ponds and shaded hideaways, allows visitors a quiet retreat from bustling Chinatown. The gardens also provide several unique galleries collected over the years by Dr. Sun Yat Sen and his family.

Chinatown is perhaps best experienced on weekends and on foot. Be sure to explore the Saturday night market for a distinctly Asian experience. Just about every restaurant in town offers tasty authentic Asian cuisine in an atmosphere resembling Hong Kong itself.