A Profile of New York City's Chinatown

Beating San Francisco's and Chicago's own 'Chinatowns' as the largest Chinatown in the country, the area offers a fantastic array of cuisine and shopping choices. It all started in the late 1880's when Chinese immigrants began to arrive to the New York shore in droves. Chinatown grew in stature despite the passing of an act which disallowed Chinese immigration in 1882. After immigration quotes were removed since the 1960's, Chinatown gained its status as the largest Chinese American location in the country.

Today, Chinatown is a walker's paradise. Asian grocery and food stores line every avenue and you can find many rarely found homegrown Chinese items here as well. Discount stores are also very prominent here. One reason to come is strictly for the seafood markets. Although Chinatown has achieved a reputation in the past for being dirty and smelly, its seafood markets provide its tourists and passerby with a first eye look at fish and meat preparation. If you want Chinese architecture, look no forward. Chinatown is designed with narrow tenement buildings in a limited space, creating the congested environment found in today's Chinese neighborhoods. In addition, Chinese lettering make up storefronts and many buildings have tiled roofs. Prominent architectural works include the Mahayana Buddhist Temple and the Church of the Transfiguration.

Given that Chinatown is a cuisine enthusiast's paradise, here are some suggestions:

Ping's Seafood, 22 Mott St

Popular for its fish dishes and one of the best Dim Sum platters in the city. Has a reputation for long lines but is well worth the wait.

Oriental Garden, 14 Elizabeth Street

A Cantonese favorite with seafood dishes as its specialty. The restaurant is loaded with many fish tanks that hold the same fish that will be prepared for your dinners.

Hop Kee, 21 Mott St.

Pan fries flounder and squid make up its strong and delicious menu.

Getting to Chinatown is easy with the ...

6 Train to Canal Street

B or D to Grand Street

J, M, or Z to Canal and Chambers Street

N,R,Q or W to Canal Street

For more information while strolling through, you can check out the Explore Chinatown Info Center on Canal Street. It's a small kiosk with plenty of pamphlets on the area along with a helpful staff offering free maps. It is open from 10am to 6 m and weekends from 10 am to 7 pm.