Enter The Dragon(s)
Chinatown Gateway Monument
With two gold dragons soaring over the Broadway and Cesar Chavez entrance, there is no doubt that you are entering the historical neighborhood of Chinatown. The Chinatown Gateway Monument, also known as Dragon Gate, symbolizes hope, travel, and resilience. The design honors the rich ancestry, culture, and history of the community in Chinatown. Taking photos of the monument is a little tricky unless you want to run into the middle of the street, which is absolutely NOT recommended. However, it’s worth parking your vehicle safely to read the brief description on the placard on the East pillar and take a photo at an angle.
Destination
Address
Parking
Hours
Cost
Appropriate For
Learn more about the Chinatown Gateway Monument at the following sites.
Sample Itinerary – Chinatown
Date: [INSERT DATE]
Location: Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Parking
| Location | Address | Cost | Notes |
| Arrive at Union Station or Park | 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | $0-$5 | Take the Metro to Chinatown Station or find a parking lot and park for $5 cash |
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Breakfast
Have breakfast at one of the following locations
| Location | Address | Cost | Notes |
| Phoenix Bakery | 969 N Broadway, 90012 | $3+ | Enjoy a pastry or large American breakfast in Chinatown.
|
| Nick’s Cafe | 1300 N Spring St, 90012 | $7.50 | |
| Homegirl Cafe | 130 Bruno St, 90012 | $3+ |
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: LA State Historic Park
| Location | Address | Cost | Notes |
| LA State Historic Park | 1245 N Spring St, 90012 | Free | Take a self-guided tour of the monuments and artworks in the park. Parking at the Los Angeles State Historic Park is $2 per hour or $8 per day. |
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Take a Self-Guided Tour
Take a self-guided walking tour of the Chinatown Central Plaza and Chung King Road
| Location | Address | Cost | Notes |
| Chinatown Central Plaza | 943 N Broadway, 90012 | Free | Self-guided walking tours are available specifically for the Central Plaza and Chung King Road. Learn about the architecture and history of the buildings and artwork or check out where famous movies have been filmed. It is also a shopping and eating area. |
| Chung King Road | 943 N Broadway, 90012 | $7.50 |
Some other suggested self-guided tours include mural scavenger hunt, an Angels Walk LA – Chinatown historical self-guided walking trail or a GPS My City walking tour.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch
Have lunch at a restaurant or food stand.
| 5 Chinese Food Spots Under $10 | 5 Asian Spots Under $10 | 5 Non-Asian Restaurants $7-$20 |
| Foo Chow Restaurant | LAX-C: Mai Tings Coconut Cakes and BBQ Express | Little Jewel of New Orleans |
| Long Family Pastry | My Dung Sandwich Shop | Howlin’ Rays |
| ABC Seafood | Gigo’s Café and Deli | Phillippe The Original |
| Fortune Gourmet Cooking | Eat JFC | LA Brisket |
| Zen Mei Bistro | Quickly | Amboy Quality Meats |
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Explore a Temple
Visit the Thien Hau Temple
| Location | Address | Cost | Notes |
| Thien Hau Temple | 756 Yale St., Los Angeles, 90012 | Free | Experience the Thien Hau Temple and learn about this popular site for Taoist worship. |
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Take the Stairs
Walk the Ord & Yale Street Park Stairs and Visit the Los Angeles Public Library – Chinatown Branch
| Location | Address | Cost | Notes |
| Ord & Yale Street Park | 524 Ord St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Free | Get some steps in and see the city from the top. Then learn more about the history of Chinatown at the Los Angeles Public Library – Chinatown Branch. |
| Los Angeles Public Library – Chinatown Branch | 639 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Free |
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Take a Selfie (At the Gateway Monument)
Take a photo at the Gateway Monument
| Location | Address | Cost | Notes |
| Gateway Monument (Dragon Gate) | 600 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Free | Find the pillar with the Gateway Monument plaque explaining the importance of this monument. Take a photo of the monument, but be careful not to walk into traffic. |
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Eat Dinner
Have dinner at a Chinese restaurant or street food stand
There are many amazing Chinese restaurants in Chinatown. Eat an appetizer or a full dinner at a local favorite like Won Kok, Golden Dragon Restaurant, Hop Woo, or Jade Wok.
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