Curated Guide
Vancouver’s Chinatown
We appreciate community input and understand that not all historical and current locations are fully represented in this guide. We’re working to expand the information and welcome your feedback and contributions!
The first devastation was the Great Vancouver fire of 1886, but several other huge challenges have shaken the community.
Chinatown started in Vancouver right at the beginning and has grown alongside the city. Always together, but also remaining separate.
Forever a dynamic part of the body and soul of the city. Battered & bruised but not broken, the neighbourhood rallied and survived.
The Early 20th Century
Vancouver’s Chinatown developed as a distinctive and self-contained neighbourhood that grew with the city.”
By 1900, Chinatown had 60 businesses; by 1901, its population was almost 2,900. During the 1910s and 1920s, many of the neighbourhood’s remaining historic buildings were constructed, including commercial buildings built by Chinese merchants and various hotels and rooming houses.
After 1923, when immigration was severely limited, the neighbourhood underwent a period of stagnation. Most Chinese immigrants were single men, so the community of largely aging bachelor men could not grow without new immigration. The Great Depression also further devastated Chinatown.
Photo credit: Yucho Chow Studio, 1930 City of Vancouver Archives – AM1688-S2-F7-: 2021-034.644
Nellie Yip Quong House
783 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1V8
Nellie Yip Quong was a pioneering figure in Vancouver’s Chinatown, known for her role as an advocate, translator, and midwife within the Chinese Canadian community.
A Caucasian woman married to a Chinese herbalist, she defied social norms of the early 20th century, bridging cultural divides and offering medical and social support to Chinese families who often faced discrimination. Her contributions helped countless women and families in Chinatown, and her legacy stands as a testament to her compassion, resilience, and dedication to the community.
Photo credit: Douglas & McIntyre, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Walter and Mary Lee Chan House
658 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Y4
Walter and Mary Lee Chan were the driving force behind the campaign to stop urban renewal in Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood in the 1960s.
Walter, Mary and friends organized the neighbourhood into the Strathcona Property Owners and Tenants Association (SPOTA) which halted the “wholesale destruction of older housing” and advocated that urban renewal funds be redirected to repair neighbourhood homes, an idea that soon became a national program.
Photo credit: Tony Westman
Kuomintang Building
529 Gore Ave, Vancouver, BC V6A 2Z6
This building by W.E. Sproat for the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist League of Canada) may seem orphaned on the corner but the other side of Gore Avenue was once the site of society buildings and wholesale grocers, and businesses ran the length of Pender Street into the residential neighbourhood.
Much of this area was expropriated as part of the plan for urban renewal and was demolished in preparation to build a freeway in the 1960s. The design once featured an open balcony on the Gore Avenue façade, and a corner pagoda on the roof. The balconies were closed in during a restoration in the 1980s.
Photo credit: Bobanny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Ming Wo Building (1913)
23 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1S9
Constructed in 1913, the Ming Wo Building was the first building with street frontage known to have been designed by W.H. Chow, the only identified Chinese-Canadian architect practicing at the time.
Ming Wo Hardware has been located here since 1917. It is one of the longest operating businesses in Chinatown.
Photo credit: Xiao23, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sam Kee Building (Jack Chow Building)
8 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1R3
The Sam Kee Building (Chinese: 三記號大樓), also known as the Jack Chow Building, is a two-storey commercial building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, located near the entrance to the city’s Chinatown.
It is noted for its narrow depth, which varies by floor. The ground floor is 4 feet 11 inches (1.50 m) wide, while the upper floor spans 6 feet (1.8 m) because of its overhanging bay windows.
Photo credit: Lee Yuet-man – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chinese Times Building (1901)
1 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1S9
The Chinese Times Building at 1 East Pender Street is a two-storey brick building on the northeast corner of Pender and Carrall Streets. It comprises a row of retail stores with accommodation above, a gateway to Vancouver’s historic Chinatown.
The heritage value of the Chinese Times Building lies in its important place in the history of the physical development of Chinatown, the role of leading businessman Yip Sang in its construction and his retention of leading designers for its construction and subsequent alteration, and finally, its enduring use by organizations and individuals who played important roles in Chinatown for many years.
Photo credit: Hinto, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Societies
As more Chinese came to Vancouver, clan associations were formed to help the newcomers assimilate in their adopted homeland and to provide friendship and support.
Often, they were formed around a shared lineage, location or other identity feature.
Photo credit: Michael Chu, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Fong Leun Tong Society
432 E. Hastings St. Vancouver BC V6A1P7
Before incorporating in 1959, the Gao Lun Tong (with membership of only Setos) was first established in 1916. With the addition of the Sits in 1921, it quickly evolved into the Fong Lun Tong.
The Fong Lun Tong was established as a non-profit association to promote and safeguard the welfare of the Setos and Sits in Canada. This function was especially critical in the early 1900s, when the government provided few social welfare safety nets.
Photo credit: 718 E Pender. 1974 – City of Vancouver Archives COV-S644-: CVA 1095-02537
Lim Sai Hor (Kow Mok) Benevolent Association (1903)
531 Carrall St #525, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K2
Completed in 1903, this historic heritage building was originally the headquarters of the Qing Dynasty-era Chinese Empire Reform Association.
It is the oldest of the twelve Heritage Society Buildings in Vancouver’s Historic Chinatown and the only One with double-fronting façades facing Carrall Street Greenway and Historic Shanghai Alley.
Photo credit: Lee Yuet-man, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Wong’s Benevolent Association
29 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1S9
The Wongs’ Benevolent Association is dedicated to preserving the rich history and stories of early Chinese Canadian immigrants from the Wong clan.
The Hon Hsing Athletic Club of Vancouver is a volunteer organization committed to passing Chinese culture and traditions on to the next generation of Canadian youth and guiding them to become the leaders of tomorrow so that they may continue to contribute to the community and country.
The Hon Hsing Athletic Club of Vancouver was officially founded in 1939 by the Wongs’ Benevolent Association of Canada as a lion dance troupe for charitable fundraising during the Second World War.
Photo credit: Lee Yuet-man, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver
108 E Pender St #104, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T3
The Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver (CBA) is a Chinese Canadian organization headquartered in Vancouver.
It serves as a federation of various Vancouver-based Chinese organizations.
Photo credit: Lee Yuet-man, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Wong’s Benevolent Association (Mon Keang School)
121 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T6
Mon Keang School (Chinese: 文彊學校) is a Chinese school located inside the Wongs’ Benevolent Association Building at 123A East Pender Street. Classes have historically been taught in Cantonese.
The school closed in 2011 due to low enrolment but reopened in 2024 following renewed interest in the language.
Photo credit: Lee Yuet-man, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mah Society of Canada
139 E Pender St #137, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T5
The Mah Society was informally established in Vancouver in 1919 and purchased its building two years thereafter.
In 2017 the building was completely rehabilitated and stabilized. It is the first fully restored Chinese Society Heritage Building in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
Photo credit: City of Vancouver Archives CVA 790-2382 – 137-139 East Pender Street
Chin Wing Chun Tong Society of Canada
160 E Pender St #158, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T3
Smaller Clans sometimes joined forces to build a headquarters for their society. This enabled them to build a substantial structure that would show their importance in the community.
This building, erected in 1925, is a perfect example of this type of co-operation. It is also a demonstration of the blending of influences in Chinatown’s architecture.
Photo credit: City of Vancouver Archives CVA 1095-09323 – [158-160 East Pender – Wayen Chinese Cuisine and Chin Wing Chun Society]
Chinese Freemasons Building
9 W Pender St #3, Vancouver, BC V6B 1R3
The Chi Kung Tong, later the Chinese Freemasons, purchased this building in 1907. It included meeting rooms, a male dormitory and a Chinese school – uses common to Chinese Society Buildings.
The Chi Kung Tong assisted early immigrants from China who took part in the Cariboo gold rush. The Freemasons were also intensively involved in the politics of China, including Dr. Sun-Yat Sen’s efforts to bring democracy to his native country.
Photo credit: Mike from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Yue Shan Society
39 E Pender St #33, Vancouver, BC V6A 1S9
The Yue Shan Society provides aid to immigrants from Pan Yu (Yu Shan) County, near Guangzhou, China.
This place-based society represents one of the ways in which Chinese immigrants organized to support each other.
Photo credit: Lee Yuet-man, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chinatown's Cultural Heritage Today
Chinese cultural heritage is alive today through historic landmarks, traditional markets, and community spaces.
Visitors can experience this heritage by exploring iconic sites like the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, sampling authentic cuisine at traditional eateries, shopping at family-run grocers, and attending festivals and events at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, all of which celebrate and preserve the neighbourhood’s rich cultural legacy.
Photo credit: “Chinese New Year 2013 – 26” by SqueakyMarmot licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver
50 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 3V6
The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver is a community hub dedicated to preserving Chinese heritage through cultural programs, educational workshops, and language classes.
Its museum and archives showcase the history and contributions of early Chinese immigrants, fostering pride and appreciation for Vancouver’s Chinese cultural legacy.
Photo credit: William Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall St. Vancouver BC V6B 5K2
This classical Chinese garden is a serene oasis inspired by 15th-century Ming Dynasty garden design.
It offers an immersive cultural experience. Crafted with traditional materials and techniques, it’s the first of its kind built outside of China, celebrating Chinese cultural heritage through art, architecture, and landscaping.
Photo credit: viajeacanada is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Chinese Canadian Museum
51 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1S9
The Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver’s Chinatown celebrates and preserves the history, resilience, and contributions of Chinese Canadians.
Located in the heritage Wing Sang Building, it features exhibits that explore Chinese immigration, community life, and the impact of Chinese Canadians on Vancouver and beyond. Through its immersive displays and educational programs, the museum fosters an understanding of the challenges and achievements that have shaped the Chinese Canadian experience.
Photo credit: Ann Marie Fleming, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Traditional groceries and supplies
Georgia St.
The traditional grocery and supply stores along Main, Keefer, and Gore Streets are vibrant staples of Chinatown.
They offer authentic Chinese ingredients, herbs, and specialty items that have served the community for generations. These shops preserve cultural traditions, with shelves stocked with everything from dried seafood to teas and specialty cooking tools.
Photo credit: Ted McGrath, Vancouver – Chinatown – Hang Loong Herbal Products Inc. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
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Other Resources
Explore other resources on Chinatown’s culture and history:
- The Chinese Canadian Museum – chinesecanadianmuseum.ca
- Vancouver Chinatown BIA – www.vancouver-chinatown.com
- Vancouver Chinatown Foundation – chinatownfoundation.org
- Chinatown Society Heritage Buildings Association – chinatownsocieties.org