Canada’s Oldest Chinatown

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Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia

Victoria, British Columbia is home to Canada’s oldest Chinatown

Victoria, British Columbia is home to Canada’s oldest Chinatown and the second oldest in North America, after San Francisco. Today, this area north of downtown remains a colourful, lively place full of Chinese history and culture. It is also home to heritage buildings, trendy restaurants, and unique shops.

Heritage buildings at the edge of Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Colourful, historic buildings at the edge of Chinatown

Victoria was once the major port of entry for Asians into British North America. In the 1850s and 1860s, several thousand Chinese gold miners entered on their way to the Fraser River and the Cariboo. In the 1880s, about 15,000 Chinese came to help build the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Chinese named Victoria Dai Fao, which means “big port.”

Market Square in Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Market Square

The first Chinese in Victoria, mostly young men hoping to make it rich and return to China, settled in an area north of a ravine and stream which ran through what is now Market Square. It was away from the centre of town and cheaper. Over the following years Chinatown became home for many Chinese who travelled seasonally for gold mining, salmon canning, and logging.

BC Produce Building in Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia

The original buildings on Pandora Avenue, on one side of Market Square, were flimsy and made of wood. In the 1880s, they were replaced with the present day brick structures. The Tye Chong Building, also known as the B.C. Produce Company Building, was built by Tye Chong in the Italianate style on land owned by Carlo Bossi. Chinese merchants adopted prevailing architectural styles for their storefronts. The main floor housed a grocer. There was a Chinese restaurant on the second floor. For many years, this building supplied vegetables and fruit to stores around town. Many of the early Chinese were from farming areas in the Guangdong Province. They planted garden plots and sold produce door to door.

Entrance to Fan Tan Alley in Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Entrance to Fan Tan Alley

Fan Tan Alley is Canada’s narrowest street. Fan tan is a gambling game that was popular in the 1880s. It was played in six gambling dens in rooms upstairs in the Alley. Ground-floor storefronts housed opium dens, restaurants, shops, and a tofu factory. Opium was legal in Canada until 1908, but gambling was not. In order to slow down police during raids, gates were locked at each end of the Alley and there were trap doors to second floors. The gambling dens earned Chinatown the nickname “Victoria’s Forbidden City.” Today, the Alley contains shops.

Fan Tan Alley (Canada's narrowest street) in Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Fan Tan Alley

Fan Tan Alley in Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Lanterns in Fan Tan Alley

Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Fisgard Street is the heart of Chinatown today and its main business area

Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Produce for sale on Fisgard Street

Shou symbol on sidewalk in Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
The red brick pattern on the sidewalk represents the Chinese character “shou” which means long life.

Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Lanterns above Fisgard Street

Gate of Harmonious Interest in Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Gate of Harmonious Interest

The Gate of Harmonious Interest at the corner of Fisgard and Government was built in 1981 following the Chinese tradition of erecting gates to commemorate important places or events.

Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia

Dragon Alley, another narrow passageway, was once the entrance to very crowded residences for men. The dragon is a symbol of good luck and positive energy.

Victoria Chinese Public School in Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Victoria Chinese Public School

Chinese children were once banned from attending public schools unless they spoke English. In 1909, the Chinese community established the Chinese Public School where immigrants could learn the English language. Today it serves as a cultural centre and a place where children are taught the Chinese language and culture.

Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia
Dragon on the building housing the oldest Chinese temple in Canada, located on the top floor

Canada's oldest Chinatown, Victoria British Columbia

Chinatown is a several block area which can easily be explored on foot. It starts just north of Johnston Street, a few blocks north of downtown, and runs between Shore Street and Douglas Street. Discover the Past offers guided walking tours of Chinatown. Or you can do what I did and take a self-guided tour with the aid of this Mysterious Chinatown Self-Guided Heritage Walking Map. You can explore history, browse shops, sip coffee or tea, and dine. There are several Chinese restaurants, of course. This area is also home to other popular Victoria cafƩs.

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28 Comments

  1. Such a fascinating history of the Chinese migration to Canada as well as a story of the impact they had on Canada’s growth. Sounds like they played an important part in building the Canadian railway, seeking their fortunes during the gold rush and providing goods and services. I love the red brick pattern of the “shou” and the colorful lanterns.

    1. Anita, the history of the early Chinese migration to Canada is not an easy one. The Chinese provided most of the labour to build the railway. Work was hard and wages not great. A prohibitive head tax restricted immigration from 1885 to 1923, which resulted in many men coming without their families. And they faced some discrimination. Later whole families immigrated. Today, they are one of the largest ethnic groups in Canada and many cities have thriving Chinese culture centres.

  2. I love the picture of the entrance to Fan Tan Alley. You’ve really caputred its narrowness and the image fits the description so well. Despite the age of the place it seems to be meticulously maintained.

  3. OK, seeing that I’m Chinese, I think this self-guided tour would be perfect for me to do the next time I am in Victoria.

  4. Hi Donna,
    Thanks for the visit through Victoria’s Chinatown — and your great photos.
    ~Josie

    1. Jeri, maybe a trip as a treat to yourself when get through your current treatments and beat this cancer thing!

  5. I’ve heard such wonderful things about Victoria’s Chinatown, but unfortunately never got there when I was visiting. Hope to be back this summer and your post has made it a must do on my list. So much history!

  6. How is it that we’ve been to Victoria multiple times and missed Chinatown?! šŸ™‚ I enjoy exploring Chinatown in different cities and I especially eating in Chinatown! Darn, now I want some steamed pork buns, or bbq pork noodle soup. Yum!

    1. Patti, is is a pretty cool sculpture. It took me some time to get a decent photograph. There was always someone in front posing for picture!

  7. Good history and cultural lesson. This looks like an area that I would very much enjoy. I always like to see the elaborate gateways.

    1. Irene, Toronto has an interesting and vibrant Chinatown, but Canada’s oldest Chinatowns are on the west coast.

  8. Though I’ve been to many Chinatowns in my travels, and have been to Victoria several times, I didn’t even know Victoria had a Chinatown! Pleasant news to me. I will definitely visit it the next time I’m there.

    1. Carole, Victoria’s Chinatown is only a few blocks from the downtown area – it can easily be walked to. It\s worth a visit next time you’re in the city.

  9. I wonder if there is any city in the world that doesn’t have a China Town (just kidding!). The one in Victoria looks very much like the one in San Francisco. Not surprising! I actually like visiting the China towns everywhere I can find them. Like you say, they are so colorful and lively, although they smell of fish pretty bad.

    1. Anda, It’s been so many years since I visited San Francisco’s Chinatown my memories are a bit hazy, but it wouldn’t be surprising to find similarities with Victoria. I didn’t notice much of a fishy smell when wandering through Victoria’s Chinatown.

  10. Again, another detailed coverage that presents the unique features, the history, and the impact of a place. Never thought the oldest would be in Victoria. Thought it would be in Vancouver!

    1. Thanks Carol. Victoria was the main port of entry for all of British Columbia until Vancouver became bigger in the late 1890s.

  11. I love historic locations; so interesting. I appreciate you pointing out this treasure in Victoria!