East Meets Best
Sure-you've probably been to Chinatown's most popular thoroughfare, Canal Street, but don't stop there--Chinatown has so much more to offer! The whole neighborhood is a history-rich hotspot where remnants of the neighborhood's European-American ancestry stand side-by-side with more recent Asian-inspired monuments.

Getting oriented
Chinatown New York City is the biggest in the United States, with the largest concentration of Chinese in the Western Hemisphere. Since the 1800's the area has been home to the highest number of immigrants in New York, representing a variety of ethnic groups. In the mid-1800's, the Irish, Germans, and freed slaves resided in Chinatown and by the late 1880's and into the early 1900's the next wave of immigrants brought Eastern European Jews, Chinese, and Italians. Today, the majority of Chinatown's inhabitants are from the Guangdong, Toisan and Fujian Providences in China as well as Hong Kong. The Cantonese community today is well established in this area whereas the Fujianese people, who come from the Fujian Province on the southern coast of mainland China, are considered "new immigrants".

Stroll down Mott Street, the oldest Chinese-inhabited street in New York, and you'll find fine restaurants, interesting markets, tea shops and unique shopping opportunities. Mott Street also has an historic site that visitors will probably miss unless they look up - the large white building at 41 Mott Street has the only remaining wooden pagoda roof in Chinatown. To witness Chinatown's more recent changes, check out East Broadway, the heart of the new Fujianese community. Slightly northeast of the traditional borders of Chinatown, this three-block area near the Manhattan Bridge is lined with authentic Fujianese rice-noodle shops, herbal medicine shops and fresh markets.

Notable Landmarks
Don't miss notable landmarks like Kim Lau Square, which is the site of the Kim Lau Memorial Arch. The arch was erected in 1962 in memory of the American-Chinese who died in World War II and is named for Lt. Benjamin Kim Lau, an aircraft commander in the Second World War. Just east of the square, on Division Street, lies Confucius Plaza, where a statue of Confucius, the famous philosopher stands.

Hardly anyone interested in New York history hasn't heard of the infamous Five Points. Located on a corner of present-day Columbus Park, the site marked the intersection of five streets whose neighborhood became Manhattan's first true slum. It was here where over 40,000 residents - almost all of them living in poverty - dwelled in less than half a square mile. These desperate living conditions gave rise to dangerous gangs including the Plug Uglies and the Dead Rabbits, both of whom were immortalized in Martin Scorsese's 2002 film Gangs of New York.

Getting Here:
Subway Subway: 6, Q, W, J, M, Z trains: Canal St between Lafayette and Baxter Streets
N, R trains: Canal St. at Broadway
B, D trains: Grand St at Chrystie St.
F train: East Broadway at Rutgers St.
J, M, Z trains: Chambers St. Station at Centre Street between Pearl and Worth St.
4, 5, 6 trains: Chambers St. at Centre St.
Bus: M1, M6, M9, M15, M22, M103, B39, B51
Parking Rapid Park - 44 Elizabeth Street
Regent Garage Corp. - 38 Bowery
Champion Parking - 62 Mulberry Street
MTP Operating Corp. - 89-93 Chrystie Street
Parking Lot - 2 Division Street