Chinatown Crime and Hauntings

Two stone lions guard the base of the Dragon Gate, the green-tiled entrance to Chinatown on Grant Avenue. Beneath the central arch, the gold-leafed calligraphy reads harmony and justice. When the gate was erected in nineteen seventy, it…

Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral features a prominent, needle-like spire that rises sharply above the corner of California and Grant. Built in eighteen fifty-four using bricks brought as ballast on ships from China, it served as the first…

Cameron House features a distinctive red brick facade topped by a green, pagoda-style cornice that stands out against the surrounding Chinatown buildings. Originally established as the Occidental Mission Home in eighteen seventy-four, it…

Waverly Place runs parallel to Grant Avenue, distinguished by the brightly coloured wrought-iron balconies that overhang the narrow street. Many of these buildings date back to the reconstruction following the nineteen oh six earthquake.…

Spofford Street is a narrow, ninety-degree bent alleyway tucked between Clay and Washington streets. It is the heart of political and community life in Chinatown, defined by the balconies and red lanterns that lean over the pavement. Back…

Ross Alley is a narrow, brick-lined passage distinguished by the vibrant, expansive murals that cover its walls. It gained notoriety in the early twentieth century as the site of the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, which tucked its…

The Golden Dragon Restaurant occupies a prominent corner on Washington Street, recognisable by its vibrant, red and gold facade adorned with ornate carved wooden balconies. This space served as the setting for a chaotic shootout in…

Portsmouth Square sits on a steep slope, marked by a dense thicket of elderly men playing intense games of Chinese chess while others practise tai chi in the morning light. This patch of concrete served as the original plaza for the…