Dragon Gate
San Francisco
The Dragon Gate is the southern entrance to Chinatown, at the corner of Grant Avenue and Bush Street. It opened in 1970 and is one of the most photographed spots in the city.
A gate dreamed of for years
As early as the 1950s, people imagined an arch at the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue. North of Bush Street, Grant Avenue was Chinatown for everyone. For the design, a competition was held among architects of Chinese descent.
The winning design
A team of three Chinese American designers won, led by an architect. They took their ideas from the gates of Chinese villages. The gate opened in 1970 with a parade through the streets of Chinatown.
Dragons, fish and virtues
Like many Chinese ceremonial gates, it has three passageways facing south. On top there are dragons, a symbol of strength, and fish, a symbol of prosperity. Chinese characters stand above each passageway: on the sides, eight virtues are written.
The Chinese neighborhood
Chinatown was born in the early 1850s, when many Chinese workers arrived for the Gold Rush. For years, laws limited the arrival of new families and the places where they could live. Today it is one of the largest Chinese neighborhoods outside Asia, with shops, temples and red lanterns.
