Shopping In Vancouver’s Chinatown

As one of Vancouver’s oldest settlements, Chinatown was established even before the lower mainland population was incorporated into the city we know and love. Now, as Canada’s largest Chinatown to date (the third largest in North America), this colourful neighbourhood is a prime example of Vancouver’s rich cultural heritage.

While it has been the center of Chinese culture in Vancouver for more than a century, it is only incidentally a tourist attraction. It doesn’t dress up for visitors, and this is part of its charm. You’ll find things here you’ll have a hard time finding anyplace else in Vancouver.

Chinatown: Getting There

The easiest way to get to Chinatown from downtown is to go east on Pender Street to Carrall Street and find parking on the street. You can also park in the International Village Parkade at the corner of Pender and Abbott and walk east on Pender and into Chinatown.

The stunning, dragon covered Vancouver’s Millennium Gate at Taylor and Pender Street welcomes visitors to a flurry of Cantonese shops dotted with scarlet red awnings, the air ripe with the scent of spice and sour fish.

Countless stores are lined with jars of herbs and bins full of natural ingredients that can be mixed into healing, calming, and revitalizing brews. One can also find a number of Chinese language book and stationery stores that sell Chinese books, magazines, greeting cards, writing supplies and calendars as well as primers for learning either English or Chinese.

Chinatown is divided into a market section and a merchandise section. The market section runs between Main Street and Gore Street and includes East Pender, Keefer, and East Georgia streets. The merchandise section runs from Columbia to Main and includes East Pender and Keefer streets.

A variety of food items, both exotic and familiar, can be purchased around the neighbourhood. It is not unusual to spot Chinese delicacies, like pig snouts, on display at local butcher shops. From street side markets to family-run restaurants, a visit to Chinatown ensures a culinary experience like no other.

The neighbourhood’s Fresh Market is located East of Main St. from Gore to Hastings. Here one can find an array of items, from sharkskin to dried scallops, to fresh produce, meats, herbs, and traditional Chinese medicine. Make time to explore the Chinatown Open-air Night Market, beginning in mid-May and running through the summer.

Looking for pressed duck or free-range chicken? The Dollar Meat Store has been a staple of Chinatown for the past 32 years (266 East Pender Street; Vancouver, 604-681-1052)

Floata Seafood Restaurant is an authentic Hong Kong restaurant offering Dim Sum, exquisite Cantonese cuisine, exotic seafood specialties and juicy Peking Duck. (400-180 Keefer Street; 604-602-0368).

Vegetarians should check out the Buddhist Vegetarian Restaurant, which serves traditional Chinese fare as well as Western influenced dishes. Many meals can be altered for special diets, including requests for no salt, soy, or oil (137 East Pender Street; 604-683-8816)

If unpretentious, home cooking fits the bill, try Foo’s Ho Ho. This relic of the past offers tasty old-style meals on the cheap (102 East Pender Street; Vancouver, 604-609-2889)

At the other end of the spectrum, Wild Rice features updated versions of Chinese favourites that blend the modern with the traditional (117 West Pender Street; 604-642.2882)

In Chinatown, countless shops sell an array of imported goods at bargain prices, from silk, woven baskets, rugs, teapots and authentic Chinese art, to fashion accessories, Hello Kitty calendars, and electronics. The best and easiest way to find what one is looking for is to explore the options on foot.

Dragons Martial Arts Supplies carries sticks, swords and clothing for different martial arts forms along with an anomalous assortment of other things (28 East Pender Street; 604-685-2187).

For books, art supplies, stationery supplies, as well an eclectic array of Chinese items, try Sino United Publishing. It’s the kind of place bound to have an unusual gift or two (78 East Pender Street; 604-688-3785)

Peking Lounge features ornate antique furniture from China, including elegant armoires, cabinets, chests, and chairs, etc (83 East Pender Street; 604-844-1559)

For a diverse selection of imported home ware and garden items, from handmade straw hats to bead curtains to planters, try Cathay Importers 2000 Ltd. (104 East Pender Street; 604-684-2632)

Tinland Cookware (260 East Pender Street; Vancouver, 604-608-0787) and Ming Wo (23 East Pender Street; 604-683.7268) sell an assortment of items for the restaurant or kitchen, including espresso machines, Dim Sum steamers, cutlery, glass and porcelain dishware, a range of house ware, and food equipment.

At Arts De Chine, one can find a selection Chinese crafts, imported tea, and traditional teapots (101 East Pender Street; Vancouver, 604-633-1322)

Looking for an array of Oriental lanterns, antique furniture, traditional Folk Art, and bamboo products? Bamboo Village Trading Co. Ltd is one of Chinatown’s most popular retailers (135 E. Pender Street; Vancouver, 604-662-3300)

Other places to check out in the area include the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden & Park (578 Carral St; Vancouver, 604-662-3207) and Chinese Cultural Centre Museum & Archives (555 Columbia Street; 604-658-8850). The Cultural Centre is a great place to find maps of the area.

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