With its meticulous decorations, exquisite cuisine and symbolic monuments, welcome to Chinatown.

First of all, a little history! The origins of Chinatown in Los Angeles (and San Francisco for that matter) can be traced back to the construction of the American railways in the 1860s. At that time, thousands of Chinese workers, hired on the building sites, gathered in communities in different districts of the major metropolises. The first Chinatown in Los Angeles was created in 1880, but was destroyed in 1933 when Union Station, the central station of the City of Angels, was built. It was reborn 5 years later as New Chinatown. Created by film workers, the district takes the form of real Hollywood sets. A charming place to get away from it all and immerse yourself in Chinese culture for a day.

We start our visit in the north of Chinatown, near the King Velvet car park (very practical if you have a car). Chung King Road comes into view. This charming street is home to a number of shops, restaurants and art galleries, which you can discover as you stroll along. At night, the street is sublimated with intense colours emanating from the lanterns and artistic or musical animations. A must when visiting Chinatown.

At the end of the street, we continue our discovery by turning left to reach the centre of Chinatown and its Central Plaza. It remains the oldest and most emblematic part of the district. The buildings all around were inspired by the Hollywood version of Shanghai. It's like being on a film set. In the morning, it's not unusual to come across elderly people playing chess or mahjong. This square is also the main gathering place for traditional events such as Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Around the square, there are also three curiosities, notably two sublime statues. The first, dating from 1960, depicts Sun Yat-sen, a Chinese revolutionary leader considered to be the father of modern China. The second, unveiled in 2013, features the famous Bruce Lee, who opened a martial arts school in Los Angeles' Chinatown.

Finally, the Chinese Celestial Dragon mural is also nearby. Painted in 1941 by Tyrus Wong, it depicts a huge dragon chasing a ball of fire.

We now head south of Chinatown to see the Thien Hau Temple, a Taoist temple dedicated to the ocean goddess Mazu, Guan Yu, the god of war, and Fu De, the god of earth. A very popular place both for worship and as a tourist attraction.

At Chinese New Year, the temple and its surroundings become very festive. Practitioners come to burn incense to celebrate the past year and make offerings of food and flowers. Dancers dressed as lions parade past while firecrackers explode to ward off evil spirits. If you can, take a tour inside - it's well worth the experience.

In Chinatown, there are a multitude of restaurants where you can discover or rediscover the flavours of Chinese cuisine. There's something for everyone. If we had to choose just one, we'd probably opt for the Yang Chow restaurant, right in the centre of Chinatown. This restaurant offers very hearty meals and great value for money.

📍 Location: 819 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2309

⏰ Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 11.30am to 8.30pm and Friday and Saturday 11.30am to 9.30pm.

We continue our walk south after our meal, heading for the exit (or entrance) to Chinatown: the Twin Dragons Gateway. Look up above the arch to admire two majestic golden dragons.

Leaving Chinatown, we walk for about 10 minutes to arrive in front of the Chinese American Museum, in a large red brick building. Opened in 2003, it presents visitors with the history of Chinese Americans in California through exhibitions of Chinese-American artists and historical displays.