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Chinatown, Chicago, IL

Photo: Han Zheng, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingFoodie FavoriteFreeLocal Gem

Chinatown

Wentworth Ave and Cermak Rd · Chicago, IL

Why you should go…

Chicago's Chinatown grew up around Wentworth Avenue and Cermak Road starting in 1912, and the Chinatown Gate has spanned Wentworth since 1975. You can browse shops for teas and handmade ceramics, eat dim sum, admire the ornate 1928 Pui Tak Center, and see the jewel-toned Nine Dragon Wall. Chinatown Square has 12 zodiac statues, and Ping Tom Memorial Park has a Chinese-style pavilion on the Chicago River.

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  • #dim sum
  • #neighborhood
  • #shopping
  • #nine dragon wall

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Chinatown, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Eat & Drink
    Date Night

    Chicago Oyster House

    $50+

    South Loop seafood and steak restaurant near McCormick Place known for fresh oysters and prime steaks.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Soldier Field

    Under $25

    See the lakefront stadium with Doric colonnades where the Chicago Bears play, on game day or on a behind-the-scenes tour.

    1.0 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Field Museum

    $25–$50

    Meet SUE the T. rex and roam ancient Egypt in one of the world's great natural history museums.

    1.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Shedd Aquarium

    $25–$50

    Belugas, dolphins, and 32,000 aquatic animals on the Museum Campus lakefront.

    1.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Buckingham Fountain

    Free

    Grant Park's grand 1927 fountain fires its center jet skyward every hour, with music-and-lights shows after dusk.

    1.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Free

    Chicago Cultural Center

    Free

    You look up at a Tiffany stained-glass dome and catch free art shows, concerts and tours in the Loop's 1897 People's Palace.

    2.2 mi awayMore like this