Chinatown, Oldtown and Government Street

Victoria's Chinatown is a testament to the resiliency of the culture and traditions brought to Canada by Chinese immigrants more than 150 years ago. These days, Chinatown proudly stands out in the downtown landscape of BC’s capital. As one gets closer to the Gate of Harmonious Interest, the ornately decorated arch marking the entrance to Chinatown’s centre on Fisgard Street, the neighbourhood’s presence is revealed: bold colours of lucky red and gold, distinct architecture, and business names written in Chinese on shop windows.

Victoria's Chinatown is not big - one or two blocks organized around a main street, but it's a unique, authentic, and full of local life. Lose yourself in the mazes of its narrow alleys and sample some of the great restaurants and enjoy a cultural experience.

Fan Tan Alley—the narrowest street in the country and a side door to Canada’s oldest Chinatown!

Comprised of more than a dozen locally owned shops, they offer a diverse and exciting shopping experience.  At its narrowest, a child can place a hand on the brick walls on either side of a mere 1.2-metre gap.

The alley takes its name from the Fan Tan Guan, the gambling dens that once shared this space with opium dens. The latter was a legal pleasure until banned under the Opium Act 99 years ago.

These days, even cigarette smoke is a rarity in the alley, where dens of iniquity have been replaced by a barber shop, an art gallery, a yoga studio, a used record store, a used clothing store, a kitchenware store and a musical instrument store.

The alley can be crowded on weekend as families and tourists gather in Chinatown to eat dim sum and mark Chinese New Year for example. The celebrations have been a part of the history of the city since the first Chinese immigrants arrived almost 150 years ago in 1858.

Enjoy all this as you stroll through fascinating heritage architecture formed by a unique cultural history. 

Brightly-painted Victorian-era shopfronts flank both sides of busy Lower Johnson and Yates Streets. Once home to hotels and stores during the Gold Rushes (1850s & 1890s), today the area is known for its funky local boutiques and restaurants. 

Maintaining the special character of Old Town for present and future generations requires the ongoing conservation and enhancement of its unique character. When new buildings are constructed or additions are made to existing buildings, it’s important that they are designed to complement and enhance the heritage character and historical significance of this special area of downtown Victoria.