Historic Shanghai Alley, Vancouver

Historic Shanghai Alley, Vancouver

Historic Alley marks the area of Vancouver's earliest Chinese settlement. Originally comprising Canton and Shanghai alley, this neighborhood housed more than 1,000 Asian-Canadian residents, and was home to stores, restaurants, opera and other cultural activities.

Shanghai Alley was the first part of Historic Alley to be constructed and inhabited. Later, in 1904, Canton Alley was added. Eventually, this was followed by a Chinese-style courtyard surrounded with residential and commercial buildings running in two parallel, southward rows. The heart of Historic Alley was the 500-seat theater, built in 1898, surrounded by restaurants and shops. This gave residents of Chinatown a way to enjoy Chinese-language entertainment, food, and company without having to leave their Vancouver home district, and ultimately resulted in a tightly woven Chinese-Canadian community, within the boundaries of which one could spend their entire life.

The end result of Historical Alley is a Chinatown that is the second largest in all of North America, and one of the most visited by ethnic Chinese from outside of Vancouver. People of all races and nationalities come to Historical Alley for food, shopping, entertainment, and cultural events, as well as to view the Millennium Gate which crowns the Chinatown entrance.

Another key sight to behold here, set in the centre of Shanghai Alley, is the Western Han Dynasty Bell. This bell is a replica of the one unearthed in 1983 during an excavation in Guangzhou, China, and was gifted to the people of Vancouver from the city of Guangzhou on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the two cities twinning. While the original bell dates back over two millennia and symbolizes the age of settlement in the Pearl River delta in Guangzhou, its replica marks the spot of the first Chinese settlement in the lower mainland of British Columbia.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vancouver. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Download 'GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities' app for IOS   Download 'GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities' app for Android

Historic Shanghai Alley on Map

Sight Name: Historic Shanghai Alley
Sight Location: Vancouver, Canada (See walking tours in Vancouver)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Vancouver, Canada

Create Your Own Walk in Vancouver

Create Your Own Walk in Vancouver

Creating your own self-guided walk in Vancouver is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Vancouver Yaletown Walking Tour

Vancouver Yaletown Walking Tour

For many years Yaletown neighbourhood has been the thriving industrial heart of Vancouver. This historic part of the city looks unlike any other and is considered to be the home of Vancouver's "elite" society. This self-guided walking tour will take you to the most significant Yaletown spots.

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Vancouver Chinatown Walking Tour

Vancouver Chinatown Walking Tour

Vancouver's Chinatown is North America's second largest Chinese-centered area, and it has long attracted hordes of tourists with its expressive culture, inexpensive but delicious food, and fabulous traditional architecture. Take this self-guided walking tour to explore some of the most magnificent attractions of Vancouver's Chinatown.

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Gastown Walking Tour

Gastown Walking Tour

To get the feel of authentic Vancouver, head for the Gastown district. This is where the city was born: an ex-sailor turned gold prospector built an inn here in the late 19th century and a small settlement, mostly of mill workers, dockhands and merchants, sprang up around it. Many of the streets in Gastown are still cobblestoned and you will find lovely examples of Victorian buildings that have...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Vancouver Downtown Walking Tour

Vancouver Downtown Walking Tour

Numerous historic and otherwise notable landmarks scattered around downtown Vancouver make it a hot traveler's destination. Each such landmark is unique in itself and has a great deal of story to tell their visitors, be it cultural history or simple amusement. Take this self-guided walking tour to enjoy some of the top sights of downtown Vancouver!

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Vancouver Introduction Walking Tour

Vancouver Introduction Walking Tour

A bustling seaport on the west coast of Canada, Vancouver is among the country's densest and most ethnically diverse cities. It is also one of British Columbia's youngest cities. Prior to the Europeans, the Vancouver area had been inhabited – for almost 10,000 years – by Aboriginal tribes: Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh (Burrard). The explorer Simon Fraser and his crew were...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Granville Island Walking Tour

Granville Island Walking Tour

Successfully transformed from an industrial wasteland to one of the most beloved public spaces in Vancouver back in the 1970s, Granville Island is now viewed as a premier artistic and cultural hub, famous for its balance of functionality and flare, much as for being a popular shopping destination with plethora of attractions, such as galleries, markets and a brewery. Don’t miss the chance to...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


16 Distinctively Canadian Things to Buy in Vancouver

16 Distinctively Canadian Things to Buy in Vancouver

British Columbia, in general, and Vancouver, in particular, are among the top Canadian destinations worth being explored. The amalgam of aboriginal and western cultures, Vancouver is a treasure trove of distinctively Canadian delights that are not found anywhere else. Most of these items make for an...