10 things to do in Chinatown NYC

Strolling aimlessly through the streets of Chinatown is a joy, because in every street or square you can find a surprise that makes you believe you are in China: a restaurant, a market, a souvenir store, a temple, stores and signs in Chinese ... This is undoubtedly one of the best neighborhoods in New York.

There is a very unique atmosphere here that as a traveler catches you. I leave you the must see and do in the area so you do not leave anything untracked:

The first contact with Chinatown should undoubtedly be Columbus Park. It is the largest park in the neighborhood and the usual meeting point for the older members of the Chinese community.

It is very common to see them every morning on the benches reading the newspaper, getting together to keep fit practicing taichi, to play a few games of mahjong and even to play musical instruments and sing. There you will see that the ability of the Chinese to keep their traditions alive wherever they go is immense and admirable.

Very close to Columbus Park is the Kimlau War Memorial, erected in honor of Chinese-Americans who fell in combat in defense of freedom and democracy.

New York is a multicultural city where different religions coexist (you can tour most of them in the famous tour of contrasts). In this sense, there are many temples to see such as St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Eldridge Street Synagogue, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine or attend a Gospel mass in Harlem.

But if you want to complete this mystical experience in the Big Apple you should head to 133 Canal Street in Chinatown, where the Mahayana Buddhist temple that houses the largest Buddha in the city with 5 meters high is located. It dates back to 1962 and became the first Buddhist temple on the East Coast.

It is not easy to find it, to tell the truth, because its facade does not look like that of a typical Buddhist temple. That's why you have to pay close attention not to pass by. Normally to gain access they usually ask for a donation and in return they offer you a fortune paper or incense.

When you go through the doors of the Mahayana Buddhist temple you will see that it is a true oasis of calm in the heart of Chinatown where you can escape the noise of this big city for a few moments, meditate and relax with the music in the background.

One of the things to do in Chinatown that I like the most is to browse its bazaars and markets. They sell all kinds of products at very cheap prices. For example, if you walk around the Canal and Mott Street area you will feel as if you were in a real bazaar in China.

You could say that Canal Street is the entrance to Chinatown although there is no arch that indicates it. It is the main street of the neighborhood and is somewhat chaotic and noisy by the large volume of people passing through it to be here the famous fashion knockoff stores.

However, if you want to take a break and get away from the commotion I advise you to go to Canal Street Market: (265 Canal St), a modern and orderly market that contrasts with the bustling environment that surrounds it. This market is divided into two spaces: on the right a food hall with Asian food stalls and on the left artisan stores where they sell everything from natural cosmetics and jewelry to decorative objects and artisan chocolate, among other products.

On Mott Street, on the other hand, there are plenty of vegetable, fruit, spice, mushroom and exotic food stores. In fact, many New York restaurants source fresh produce from Chinatown. You'll also find the best Chinatown souvenirs here at a cheaper price than in downtown Manhattan stores.

A very special time to visit Chinatown is during the Chinese New Year celebrations, the most important holiday in Chinese culture. The date depends on the lunar calendar but usually takes place in February and is celebrated in style.

I have been lucky enough to see it on one occasion and it is very worthwhile. Each year a different animal is welcomed and thousands of people participate in a parade of floats, dances, music and dragons.

It is a fun-filled event for all ages and is well attended by the public. That's why I recommend that if you go to see the parade, look for a street crossing from where you can watch it well and experience the atmosphere. When it ends, do not hesitate and go to a restaurant or food stall to enjoy the best Asian cuisine in the heart of Chinatown.

Speaking of temples in Chinatown, if you are interested you can visit the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration at 29 Mott Street, which is much older than the Buddhist temple since it dates back to 1801. It is attended by Chinese parishioners from the neighborhood as mass is offered in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.

In addition, you can take advantage of your visit to Chinatown to visit the Chinese in America Museum to learn about the history of this community in the United States since its beginnings. Inaugurated in 1980, this museum offers a journey through the life of its members since they landed in America through testimonies, images and videos.

An interesting retrospective that helps us to understand the most particular aspects of Chinese culture and the resulting cultural exchange between two worlds, Chinese and American, apparently so different.
The Museum of Chinese in America or MOCA is located at 215 Centre Street. Admission is $12 and they are open Tuesday through Sunday from 11AM to 6PM. However, on the first Thursday of each month access is free.

One of the most striking buildings in Chinatown, especially for its height and color, is the historic Confucius Plaza (1975) in front of which stands a statue of Confucius, the famous Chinese philosopher of the 5th century BC.

Chinese cuisine is one of the most appreciated in the world for its variety of ingredients, flavors and textures. Beyond the spring rolls and three-delicious rice that we are used to, in Chinatown you will have the opportunity to taste authentic Chinese food at very reasonable prices.

If you love to eat and you are a foodie, in this neighborhood of New York you will enjoy a lot because you will find numerous restaurants and bars where you can try some of the best Asian specialties in Manhattan. These are the best places to eat in Chinatown:

In the local stores it is quite common that you can negotiate prices, especially if you are willing to take several products. Always try to set a maximum price that you are willing to pay and arm yourself with patience to get what you want.

On the other hand, it is well known that in Chinatown you can find counterfeit luxury goods. Honestly, I don't love this practice (first because, of course, it is not legal) but mostly because the products they offer you have no guarantee.

Surely during your walk you will be approached by different peddlers with a catalog (usually they do not carry the products on them to avoid problems with the police) and they will offer you bags, watches, belts and wallets of big brands.

If you expect to find bargains, you are wrong: a luxury bag can cost up to 300 dollars. Therefore, I do not recommend you to invest your money (especially, so much money) in places with zero guarantees where you can also have problems with the authorities.

If you have enough time, I recommend that you take advantage of your walk through Chinatown to get to know the surrounding streets and neighborhoods: Little Italy. You'll realize you've crossed the "border" between Chinatown and Little Italy when you start seeing coffee shops, checkered tablecloths and a delicious smell of freshly made pizza.

You'll also find Tribeca: like so many other areas of New York, it started out as an industrial area and later became a bohemian neighborhood, with buildings that feature the typical emergency staircase on the facade and alternative storefronts and small cafes where you can stop for a break.

You will also find small art galleries where you can go in to browse and if you stumble upon a fire station that looks familiar? That's right! It's the one from Ghostbusters. New York is full of movie sets and if you want to see the best ones, I tell you about them in my article about the best movie and series locations in New York.

Chinatown is located in the southeast of Manhattan. It is surrounded by the neighborhoods of the Lower East Side (to the east), Tribeca (to the west), Civic Center (to the south) and Little Italy (to the north). However, its borders are blurred as Chinatown has grown so much in recent times that it has almost absorbed Little Italy and much of the Lower East Side.

The easiest way to get to Chinatown is by subway, although it is also possible to get there by bus.

Lured by the gold rush, thousands of immigrants from China arrived in the United States in the mid-19th century. Most settled in California but some moved to the East Coast, specifically to New York.

Historically, the Chinese community has been very hermetic and these immigrants from the beginning sought to settle in areas where their compatriots already lived. The great growth of this New York neighborhood occurred in 1960 when the restrictions on immigration, which had been applied a few decades earlier due to the economic recession of 1873, were no longer so strict and people from Hong Kong and other Cantonese-speaking regions began to arrive.

Chinatown then began to grow and massify until it became a world apart within the Big Apple, with its own internal organization both socially and culturally. In fact, many of its inhabitants barely speak English despite living in New York.

And in a way that is part of its charm, that is, the feeling that you travel from one world to another just by crossing a street. For many it is a cultural shock to suddenly see all the stores labeled in Chinese just a few steps away.

Other "Chinatowns" in New York

If after exploring Manhattan's Chinatown you want to discover more about Chinese culture, you can visit the Chinatowns of Queens and Brooklyn.

Gentrification has displaced many Manhattan neighborhood residents to the other two boroughs of New York. Many people say that the atmosphere here is more genuine than the Lower East Side but, in my opinion, it's just different. It's a matter of taste, really.