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What is Chinatown like in Philly?

What's life like in Chinatown?

  • What's life like in Chinatown, San Francisco, especially compared to an ABC living in a more suburban area. I'm half Chinese and I was born and raised and have lived all of my 18 years in Santa Rosa, an hour north of SF. There aren't a whole lot of Chinese here, or that many Asians in general, so whenever I'm in SF it's so different. I was wondering, what's it really like living in Chinatown? Being born and raised there, or just having spent at least a year there? I always visit it and I find it an interesting place but kind of unfortunate because it definitely is a rather ow income place. Me being half Asian I'd like to live in San Francisco where there's a large Asian community but I just wonder what it's like to really live in Chinatown. If anybody here who's ever lived there, what is it really like? Do you get sick of it and are some of the Chinese people there happy with their life in Chinatown? Thank you!

  • Answer:

    I was born and raised in San Francisco and still live there. I also spent the first 11 years of my life in Chinatown. For me, it felt normal because I spent almost all my time there. I went to school, Chinese school, the library, restaurants, and all the shopping there. I spent time at the parks and went to friends' houses that were still in the area. I had no problem interacting with the people around Chinatown since I was very fluent in Cantonese and understand Mandarin and the Toisan dialect. In my view, folks in Chinatown hold strong traditions especially the older population. Over the years, they are more open to foreigners and understand that the younger population are assimilating into the American culture. The area is very dense and people know each other. Everything is within a block away. I can easily get food or groceries or even a broom. It was convenient. I was also able to walk everywhere but there was transit to talk you around town. The downside is that most apartments were older and not very spacious. There was always some sort of loud noise nearby. I moved to a residential area away from Chinatown at age 12. It was away from all the conveniences I was used to. I really missed being in Chinatown because it was so convenient. My grandparents still had an apartment there so I would always be back. I still go there very often for cheap grocery, Asian products not found anywhere else, fresh seafood and meats, and all the snack food that you would want. There is are multiple dim sum houses, Asian restaurants, produce stands at every storefront, etc. On Stockton Street specifically, you need to squeeze your way through the streets. On Grant Avenue, that's where the tourist browse the souvenir stores and goods. The seniors in town do feel superior but we come from a culture where the elderly is to be respected. They can also be mean if you're in their way. People tend to seem rude but that's because that's how the culture is in Asia. Even though I did mention that the folks in Chinatown more accepting to foreigners and the younger generation, some older folks still feel ashamed when the young ones have been too Americanized. Hope this gives you an idea. I can't nearly explain my whole experience without writing a short story.

tim c at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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I love it, there are some tourist shops, but there are still many Chinese living there. I love the restaurants and shopping. It is a great place to get your pants tailored. Dang now I want a pork bun in the worst way.

cyn1066

The poster Twitty has provided excellent information as to what is life like in Chinatown. I am Chinese, born and raised in San Francisco. I have lived two blocks from Chinatown for most of my 46 years on this planet. I attended a Chinese-language school in Chinatown for several years, and my fluency in Cantonese and the Toisan dialect is comparable to my English. I've always shopped for groceries in Chinatown, which are generally much cheaper than what can be found in supermarkets. I've lived elsewhere in San Francisco, and during that time whenever I would visit Chinatown it was always like a homecoming for me. Sort of like what Dorothy said on the "Wizard of Oz:" There's no place like home.

Winston Chau

= San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside Asia Since its establishment in the 1840s,[9] it has been highly important and influential in the history and culture of ethnic Chinese immigrants to the United States and North America. Chinatown is an active enclave that continues to retain its own customs, languages, places of worship, social clubs, and identity

Gorgeous

San Francisco's Chinatown is a vibrant community of colorful streets and alleyways, strange smells and tacky souvenirs. However, on this particular day, a power outage left most of the businesses in the dark. But I forged ahead, determined to overcome Murphy and his sadistic law for the good of future travelers.

horrible

My first response: dense. If you want to live in a large Asian community, I'd look at areas in the Avenues (Richmond and Sunset). They have a new term for more suburban, upscale areas such as these: ethnoburbs.

tonalc2

You post often. You have questions. Do you speak a Chinese dialect?

Chris H

After being called Chinese your whole life, you will be shocked to find out that the Chinese from China in Chinatown will call you American. And the rude ones call English the "devil language." Anyway, the ppl who speak the devil language pay the taxes that allow a shocking number of immigrants (of all kinds, not just from China) to live in America for FREE (free housing, free medical care, food stamps, etc.). Sorry to vent, but most of the ppl you see shopping on Stockton Street on weekdays are lifelong welfare recipients. You will soon realize that Asians are not some monolithic block. Those ppl from China may have cosmetic similarities to Americans of Asn descent, but their way of thinking is completely different. Believe it or not, you are more likely to have more cultural similarities with Caucasian ppl from middle America (than with ppl born and raised in Asia). Most ppl don't live in Chinatown because there aren't that many apts. and most of the property is commercial. Though Chinatown is known for dim sum places, restaurants, etc., you can also get really good, cheaper (than Safeway) fresh produce including stuff that ppl from China don't usually eat (carrots, tomatoes, etc.). You can also buy reasonably priced household goods, hardware and see a dr. or dentist. Most of the drs. and dentists are of Chinese descent, but most are grads of US medical/dental schools (not China). Some do not speak Chinese (a major sin in Chinatown). haha There is a second Chinatown on Clement St. and it is said that the food and service is better there (more polite bc they don't want customers to get upset and never come back). The restaurant owners on Clement St are aware that fewer ppl visit the 2nd Chinatown so they value the customers more. You can always live in SF, but outside of Chinatown. The city is compact so getting to Chinatown by bus is easy.

Rudolph's Owner

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