Chicago's Chinatown

Chicago's Chinatown



Chinese are the largest Asian group in the United States and Chicago has the 4th largest Chinatown in the United States.

The Chinatown in Manhatten is known for having the highest concentration of Chinese people outside of Asia. San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest and the second largest in the US. Boston's Chinatown is third largest. Chicago's Chinatown is fourth lagest in the US.

Places of interest in Chicago's Chinatown

Chicago's Chinatown / The Nine Dragon Wall

Chicago's Chinatown / Nine Dragon Wall

The Nine Dragon Wall

Installed: 2004

The tiles were made in China and construction was by specialists from that country.

Sponsored by the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce

The Nine Dragon Wall is a shortened version of a famous glazed tile wall in Beijing's Forbidden City. It is one of the only three such replicas outside of China

Chicago's Chinatown / Chinatown Gateway

Chinatown Gateway

Chinatown Gateway 

Designed by Peter Fung

Completed: 1975

Location: Across Wentworth at its junction with Cermak 

It marked Chinatown's revival in the 1970s after three decades of slow decline.  The gateway marks the entrace to the heart of Chicago's Chinatown with its numerous shops, restaurants, churches, grocers and bakeries.

There is lack of ornamental detailing that is usually common in Chinatown gateways. The four large characters near the top of the gate translates into - "The World Belongs to the Commonwealth" - which was the famous saying in early 1900's and reflects the spirit and determination of Chinese people.

Chicago's Chinatown / Pui Tak Building [former On Leong Building]

Pui Tak building

Pui Tak Building [formerly On Leong Building]

Address: 2216 S Wentworth Avenue

Completed: 1926

Architects: Michaelson and Rognstad

Designated a Chicago Landmark: December 1, 1993

Chicago's Chinatown / Chinese Christian Union Church

Chinese Christian Union Church

Chinese Christian Union Church

Location: 2301 S. Wentworth Avenue

CCUC owns the Pui Tak Center and uses the facility to conduct classes for Sunday school, immigration orientation center, and other social services.

Chicago's Chinatown / Chinatown Square

Chinatown Square

Chinatown Square

Location: North of the main Wentworth Ave District [the main Chinatown Street]

The Chinatown Square a 2-stories outdoor mall on 45 acres of reclaim land from a former railroad yard. The mall opened in 1993.  It was designed by Harry Weese and Associates. There is a small courtyard in the center of the mall, which creates the ambiance of a traditional village center.

Chicago's Chinatown / Mural "Chinese in America"

Mural "Chinese in America"

Mural "Chinese in America"

The mural was designed by the Chinese Artists Zhaou Ping and Yan Dong

It measures 8 feet high by 38 feet wide, 

and is comprised of approximately 100,000 separate small mosaics tiles. 

Dedicated Jan 23, 1993

Production by Tang Shan Art and Industry Factory in Tang Shan. PRC took three months to complete. The Mural was then dismantled and shipped to Chinatown Square, where it was reassembled on site before being transferred to the Mural Wall. 

The Chinese American Development Corporation expresses most sincere gratitude to Zhou Ping and Yan Dong who donated their services to design and assemble this mural in Chinatown Square.

Chicago's Chinatown / Chinatown Square Zodiacs

Chinatown Square Zodiacs

Chinatown Square Zodiacs

Installed: 1993

Location: 2100 South Wentworth Avenue

Chinatown Square is a two-story outdoor mall. In the heart of it is the Pan-Asian Cultural Center and 12 beautiful Chinese zodiac statues.

Chinatown Square Zodiac Statues - There are 12 statues, one for every animal in the Chinese zodiac calender. Unlike the Greek zodiacs, that are determined by the month of birth; Chinese zodiacs are determined by the year of birth.

Chicago's Chinatown: Ping Tom Memorial Park

Ping Tom

Sculptor: Liao Huilan

Dedicated by Chinese American Development Corporation

October 22, 2005

Chicago's Chinatown: St. Therese Church

St. Therese Church 

Location: 218 West Alexander Street just west of Wentworth Avenue

The church building was originally consecrated as Santa Maria Incoronata Church and had a largely Italian-American congregation, many of whose ancestors came from Ricigliano near Salerno. In the 1950s the church began to attract more and more Chinese Catholic worshipers while the Italian congregation declined in numbers. In 1963 the building was passed on to St. Therese Chinese Mission, founded in 1940 and at first based in a rented store on Wentworth Avenue ...