Vancouver's Chinatown is a cultural experience unto itself. Every nook and cranny hides something interesting, whether it is a piece of Vancouver history, or a store filled with ancient herbal remedies. Mandarin and Cantonese are the mother tongues in so many Vancouver homes that Chinese has become the dominant "minority" ethnic group. A broad spectrum of the culture is found here.
Walk through the hustle and bustle and browse the stores of Chinatown for food, clothing, household items and much more — there are amazing deals to be found. Be sure to be at Keefer and Pender Streets on weekend evenings (6$1-11$2) when the avenues are blocked off for a busy open-air market. Keep your eyes peeled for unique architecture, including the Millennium Gate or, for a change of pace, find your way into the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens, a traditional Chinese garden designed with peace in mind. Chinatown is a true Vancouver experience.
Click here for a map to Vancouver Chinatown
Peking Lounge
83 E. Pender St.
604.844.1559
www.pekinglounge.com
Antique Chinese furniture & accessories for modern living. Hand carved stone Buddha Figures, house designed silks and linens, lanterns, lamps and architectural items. Great gift and design ideas!
Artistic Arts & Craft Ltd.
107 E. Pender St.
604.682.7118
Jewelry & gift products. Specialized in Burmese jade, semi-precious stone. Wood & stone statues, figurine and carvings: Gold & silver jewelry: healing stone & feng-shui products.
Cathay Importers 2000 Ltd.
104 E. Pender St.
604-684-2632
Home and garden decor accessories, picnic baskets, wicker planters, basket wares, window blinds, body cares, bead curtain, floor mat, paper lanterns, floor screen, arts & crafts, novelties, oriental china wares.
Chi Shing Trading Co. Ltd.
255 Union St.,
604-683-0978
Ladies clothes, children clothes, ladies', men's and children traditional Chinese clothes, slippers, bags, brasier, school bags, traditional wedding accessories, stationary, baby shoes.
Chinese Arts & Crafts
72 E. Pender St.
604.323.2078
www.18k.ca
Wholesale / Retail Feng Shui, worship supplies, silk embroidered paintings, Chinese water painting, ancient silver & copper coins, tai chi swords, Japanese warrior swords, granite fogdogs-lions, yak bone, brass god and goddess statue, jade urns, shell products.
Ten Lee Tea and Ginseng
500 Main Street
604.733.5874
http://www.tenrenstea.com
Ten Ren's Tea is the largest, best known tea manufacturer in the Far East with over five tea factories and more than 100 stores in Asia and North America.
Dragons Martial Arts Supplies
28 East Pender Street
604.685.2187
This store carries sticks and swords and clothing for different martial arts forms along with an anomalous assortment of other things. It's fun to visit the store not only because of the exotic wares but also because the owner is so friendly.
Ming Wo
23 East Pender Street
604.683.7268
Ming WO carries an excellent assortment of cooking equipment. Now there are Ming WO stores all around the city, but this is the first and still the head office of the company.
Bamboo Village
135 East Pender Street
604.662.3300
Some locals believe the Bamboo Village is the best store in Chinatown. It has beautiful furniture and lanterns and metal work as well as antiques and a huge assortment of incense.