| Vancouver's Chinatown is the 2nd largest in North America (after San Francisco's) and walking its streets is like stepping into a movie set, being in another time and place with all the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of another culture. Street life is one of the reasons Chinatown is such a distinctive neighborhood; the sidewalks are bustling, noisy and often jammed with curious foodstuffs spilling out from the stores. Chinese medicine is `the norm' and knowledgeable apothecaries, armed with drawers filled with medicinal remedies, are only too pleased to balance the `water in your body' or your yin and yang energies. Watch retailers hawking trinkets, exotic foodstuffs, herbs and potions - and keep an eye open for one of the world's narrowest buildings (at the corner of Carrall and Pender) alongside some of the best examples of Chinese architecture: recessed balconies, ornamental roof lines and curved roof tiles. Authentic street signs and newspapers add to the atmosphere and might even have you believing you're in Hong Kong. Need a breather? Head over to Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens, a tranquil, walled garden built by master craftsmen that's the only Ming Dynasty garden of its kind outside of China. Need food? Try any number of the area's great restaurants. Chinatown is liveliest at the weekends, and the Saturday night market makes for a very different `night cap'. Parking is difficult and if you do find a spot you'll want to stay longer than the meter allows. Our advice is to walk, especially as it's within 20 minutes of most major hotels. |
