Chinatown is an important neighbourhood that reflects Vancouver’s history and heritage through continual interactions between culture and place in day-to-day life. It is a unique historic urban landscape that is increasingly at risk of losing its unique area character and special cultural/social life. Chinatown has been a part of our annual Watch List for the past two years and was included in the National Trust for Canada's Top 10 Endangered Places in 2016.

On the tour, we will examine some of the background of the planning in Chinatown, the need for additional perspectives in Chinatown planning, what a Historic Urban Landscape is and how it relates to these additional perspectives. Additionally, we will learn about the BC Artscape Sun Wah project and what type of work is being done there to try to capture the neighbourhood values that are important in Chinatown. Finally, we will learn about intangible cultural heritage in Chinatown, an important component of a Historic Urban Landscape, and experience some examples of that at events that day at the Keefer Triangle.

The tour will begin in the courtyard at the Chinese Cultural Centre. Please bring comfortable shoes and be prepared for rain.

If you are a neighbourhood member wanting to join the tour but are unable to pay the full rate, please write to info@heritagevancouver.org.

Unfortunately, at this time for this tour, Cantonese translation will be unavailable. We may have this as an option in the future.