Chinatown Walk (Self Guided), New York

Vivid, bright, lively, colorful and with beautiful aromas swirling through the area. These are some of the things that make a visit to Chinatown in Manhattan a pure delight. If you love eating out and eating well, eagerly embrace new shopping experiences and delight in cultural attractions, then this is where you need to be.

Chinatown Manhattan is the oldest, largest and most established Chinatown outside of Asia. There is so much to see and do here. Try an exotic new dish in a restaurant, buy some traditional Asian sweets and candies, shop for spices and herbal remedies and take part in any number of cultural activities that occur during the year.

Don’t miss out on some of Chinatown’s must-see destinations. Stop by the Museum of Chinese in America to view exhibits that tell the sometimes turbulent story of Chinese communities in the United States. There are thousands of artifacts in its collections, from the early 19th-century to the present day. They include photographs, memorabilia, documents and oral histories.

After your visit, see if there are any amateur troupes of Chinese-opera performers in Columbus Park. Then observe the 16-foot (5-meter) high golden Buddha statue at the Mahayana Buddhist Temple. Finally, rest tired limbs by savoring a refreshing cup of tea in a tea parlor.