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Chinatown Walking Tour: Canada's Oldest Historical Journey
4.9
34 Ratings
Victoria
Immerse yourself in the visual, auditory, and narrative richness of Canada’s most ancient Chinatown through this 1.5-hour walk. Trace the paths of pioneering gold diggers, traders, workers, and revolutionists as you navigate the primary roads of Chinatown, ultimately entering Fan Tan Alley - the city’s notorious street.
Immerse yourself in the visual, auditory, and narrative richness of Canada’s most ancient Chinatown through this 1.5-hour walk. Trace the paths of pioneering gold diggers, traders, workers, and revolutionists as you navigate the primary roads of Chinatown, ultimately entering Fan Tan Alley - the city’s notorious street.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Chinatown - Victoria was the supply center for the gold rush and grew to become British Columbia’s largest city before the birth of Vancouver in the 1880’s. Victoria’s Chinatown was the home base for thousands of Chinese. Some established their own stores, restaurants, laundries and farms. In the city, some worked as gardeners, servants and cooks…
- Chinatown - Victoria was the supply center for the gold rush and grew to become British Columbia’s largest city before the birth of Vancouver in the 1880’s. Victoria’s Chinatown was the home base for thousands of Chinese. Some established their own stores, restaurants, laundries and farms. In the city, some worked as gardeners, servants and cooks in the homes of non-Chinese. Outside the city, many worked for others in the gold fields, coal mines, logging camps and fish canneries. For many years, Victoria had the largest Chinese population in Canada. Today, its Chinese population is small in comparison to other cities, but Victoria will always have the distinction of being home to Canada’s oldest Chinatown.
What's Included
- Local guide
- Local guide
What's Not Included
- If visiting the Tam Kung Temple, an optional donation of $1/person is recommended
- Gratuities
- If visiting the Tam Kung Temple, an optional donation of $1/person is recommended
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- No health restrictions
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- No health restrictions
Location
1681 Government St
Government Street
We meet in front of the Bright Pearl Statue (big metal ball) near the corner of Fisgard and Government Streets in the heart of Chinatown.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(34 Ratings)
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1 star
Corinna_h
Aug 1, 2024
Recommended - Unique experience with in-depth behind the scenes gems from a knowledgeable guide who grew up in the area.
Review provided by Viator
W332dnkathya
Jul 29, 2024
This is a great value - We just took friends on this tour. I had been on this very tour before and really enjoyed it. Our friends liked it too. So informative. Gracious tour guide and assistant. I will continue to recommend it to alal of our guests.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Howa26
Jul 28, 2024
Very good value for money - Excellent history tour of China town and the temple. Use of headset ensured all the talk could be heard and the tour went over time. A honey bun to eat was an added extra. Very good value for money.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lorizoras
Jun 23, 2024
Excellent tour of Canada’s oldest Chinatown! - Tour was fabulous! Informative and interesting and brought Chinatown’s history to life! Appreciated the restaurant suggestions too! Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jfirkins98
Apr 7, 2024
A must do - Chinatown Walking Tour - Excellent walking tour by the knowledgeable John Adams and his grandson Oak. I took copious amounts of pictures and they are posted on Facebook. Interesting facts and stories which will ensure we spend more time in Chinatown than in the past! Thank you for a great tour. ps excellent wireless receivers used for the tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Journey45707633788
Feb 4, 2024
Excellent Tour !!!! - Would highly recommend this tour—-we both loved every minute of it!!!!!!! Enjoyed hearing about Historical Chinatown!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joann185
Oct 16, 2023
Great Historical Walk - We had a really enjoyable tour with our guide Chris. He’s an avid story teller and historian. We really appreciated the audio receiver headsets we used so that we could hear him clearly wherever we walked with him. Would highly recommend him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Judy_g
Aug 27, 2023
Well worth the time spent! - Great tour.... Took my 11 year old grand daughter on the tour and we both loved it.
We were fascinated by the tales about history and lives of the early Chinese settlers. It was a tough life for them, with open discrimination, racism, working and living conditions,. Our guide was excellent, the historical buildings interesting and the time flew by! Would definitely recommend this tour for locals and tourists alike!
Review provided by Viator
Tyiizuka
Aug 15, 2023
John Adams really knew... - John Adams really knew his stuff!...an excellent guide.
We visited the Chinese Museum the day before, and he brought everything to life
Review provided by Viator
Millertime2013
Apr 24, 2023
Fabulous experience - I had organized this tour for our CFUW Saanich Peninsula Learn and Lunch monthly excursion. 11 of us had a great experience. Chris Adams is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the history of Chinatown and having travelled extensively himself, having a university degree in history, he is able to weave in a lot of storytelling that was fascinating to learn about. His knowledge of geopolitical history added so much to the experience and all of us had a great time. After the tour we enjoyed Dim Sum at Don Mee's restaurant.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
