Ni Hao Ma Los Angeles
Twin Dragon Gateway that welcomes visitors to Chinatown Los Angeles.
“Country town to the city heart, in every corner of the globe you'll find a Chinatown, a Chinese restaurant or an Asian grocer. From this vast and ancient culture, we credit noodles, dumplings, rice, countless spices and cooking techniques to have enriched every culture that they've landed in.” - Melissa Leong
No surprises given my greeting in Mandarin, that this week’s wandering found me back in Downtown Los Angeles this time wandering the streets that make up the oldest Chinese enclave known officially as Chinatown here in Los Angeles.
The original Chinatown established in 1870 was taken over by the city for the construction of Union Station, the rest all but died due to crime and neglect. It wasn’t till the 1930s that what we refer to as Chinatown was built as China City, a tourist destination and a film set.
The Central Plaza in Chinatown was designed as a movie prop and ultimately gifted to the Chinese community by Cecil De Mille.
While this area might not have the size and vibrancy of San Francisco or New York’s China towns the revitalization of downtown has left this a bustling metropolis serviced by its very own Metro Station well worth a visit.
The Teo Chew Assocation is one of the Chinatown family associations in Chinatown originally founded to provide social, and political support to newly arrived immigrants. In addition to civic support many of them provided spiritual support building and maintain beautiful temples.
Temple of Guan Yu (Guan the Elder), at the gateway to Chinatown which is maintained by the Teo Chew Association. It is open to visitors but is primarily staffed by people who speak little or no English.
Beautiful tile murals on a wall outside an abandoned building along Broadway as you walk from the Dragon Gate towards the Central Plaza.
The pavements are lined with all manner of stalls almost like a farmer’s market selling all manner or plants, fruits, vegetables and other goods. I am not sure if this is true for every day of the week but on a Sunday this area had a lot of foot traffic and people busily shopping.
The lucky Chinese bamboo and other plants for your home and garden.
Colorful shops selling all manner of Chinese goods and foods in addition to the variety of Chinese restaurants that did a brisk business.
The East Gate to the main plaza and the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the republic of China. The gate and the statue were sponsored by a gentleman called Y.C. Hong the first Chinese American to pass the bar.
This Central Plaza was used as film set and many movies were filmed here.
Dragon chasing pearl mural originally painted by Tyrun Wong in 1941 and restored by Fu Ding Cheng in 1984.
Statue of Bruce Lee that holds pride of place in the plaza.
The main plaza.
I was told to look for a wishing well which I did not find but I did find this little tranquil pond with its statue of Buddha dreaming in the shade.
Within the main plaza of what was known as new Chinatown. Shops and restaurants abound along with ways and means to keep children entertained.
By 2000 or so many Chinese people had left the downtown location and established themselves in Monterey Park and gradually to other areas in the San Gabriel valley. The San Gabriel Valley hosts not just Chinese but other Asian residents as well. I made a drive out there and while there are clearly strip malls that host a variety of shops and restaurants, some of them even boasting pagoda roofs but there is no consolidated town that one can refer to as Chinatown or Asia town here.
Liu Fang Yuan 流芳園, or the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, is one of the finest classical-style Chinese gardens outside of China. Filled with Chinese plants and framed by exquisite architecture, the landscape is enriched with references to literature and art.
Inspired by the gardens in Suzhou, and located inside the Huntington Library this is one of my favorite spots in Los Angeles.
A favorite moment in time captured through the lens of my camera.
In my pursuit of Chinese culture, I did have a delightful lunch in Chinatown but most importantly drove all the way to Arcadia for a taste of Chinese tea drunk in the traditional style.