Handy Guide to San Francisco Chinatown
San Francisco Chinatown-A Guide to its History and Architecture by Philip P. Choy, City Lights Publishing (citylights.com)
Book Review By C. MacDonald
San Francisco’s Chinatown has always been a tourist attraction, a fascinating place of unusual sights, sounds and tastes. Since Gold Rush Days, it has been known for delicious food, amazing entertainment, interesting architecture, unique dress and captivating culture.
Philip P. Choy, 86, who was born and raised there, peels back the facade in Chinatown so outsiders can peek inside, learn its true identity and its amazing history—a heritage involving pride, hard work, creativity and a can-do attitude of pro-actively overcoming many obstacles, including discrimination and misunderstanding.
You’ll learn about old Chinatown being burned down in the devastating 1906 Earthquake and Fire and how a subcommittee of San Francisco’s leading citizens recommended it be relocated to Hunters Point. But the Chinese had plans of their own and started rebuilding Chinatown as an “Oriental City” which would attract tourists, a project endorsed by the San Francisco Real Estate Board. And attract tourists it did, and still does! Read more…>
City Lights Publishers present a San Francisco travel guide in a handy, easy-carrying format that every tourist should have when visiting Chinatown.
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