Chinatown

This is an all-day self-guided trip. Start around 9 am. Also bring an empty backpack for stuff. A fun way to see Chinatown and Union Square is by taking my Cable Car/Chinatown Self-Guided Tour. You catch the Cable Car about five blocks from Pier 39, the corner of Hyde and Beach Street. You will walk past all the Fisherman’s Wharf souvenir shops and the Wax Museum on your way.

Get your souvenirs when you come back so you don’t carry them all day. There is a Kiosk at Hyde and Beach Street to buy your tickets, or if you are “App” Savvy you can buy them online by going to the MuniMobile App. You will want to buy the One-Day Visitor Pass for $13. That will get you on the cable car and the trolley car (F-line) for your return trip.

If no one is standing on the running boards of the trolley car, it is not full. I always try to stand on the left-side running boards, hang on tight, that’s the best thrill. If you are on the left side of the cable car you need to tuck in the tummy as you will pass the oncoming cable car somewhere down the road and at close range.

The cable car will continue up a steep hill and eventually turn left on Washington Street and then continue five more blocks to Powell Street. Watch and listen carefully. As soon as the cable car stops at Powell Street, get off quickly. The driver should ring his bell and announce, “POWELL STREET, CHINATOWN”.

Continue walking downhill on Washington Street. The first street you pass will be Stockton Street which is the authentic produce section on Chinatown. The next small alleyway on your left is Ross Alley (For a side trip, go up that alley to 56 Ross Alley, the famous Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company) or continue down Washington one more block and turn right on Grant Street.

You are now in China Town. Walk the length of Chinatown (downhill), shopping all the way. As you exit the Chinatown Gate, or “Dragon Gate” find your way to Union Square. (Down two more blocks and right two blocks). There is good shopping, hotels, and restaurants around Union Square.

When you are finished at Union Square, make your way to Market Street & 4th Street, outside Old Navy to catch the historic “F” line trolley car (Muni) back to Fisherman’s Wharf. The trolley comes by every 12-20 minutes. Total walking about 2 miles including some hills, but a full day.