2. Location
Michael
The Chinatown neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, is on the
South Side of the city. Chinatown is located in the Armour
Square community area, and it is centered on Cermak and
Wentworth Avenues.
3. How to get to Chinatown
Board Red Line at Loyola stop
towards 95th/Dan Ryan and get off at
the Cermak-Chinatown stop.
Travel Time: 40 minutes
2 Bus Routes:
62 Archer
24 Wentworth
(both can be accessed downtown)
4. History
● Early settlement of Chinese
immigrants in chicago can be
traced to 1870s after the
continental railroad was built.
● Due to the Great Depression,
many people lost their jobs,
and the Chinese, who were
80% of the labor force, were
targeted and beat on by the
Americans
5. History
In the 1870s there was a lot of anti-Chinese sentiment on the west
coast of the United States, so many Chinese moved to Chicago. As
the population grew, they began to start their own businesses
including small shops, restaurants, and laundries. Because
Chinese were being discriminated in California, the Chinese
boycotted US trade in China. Hearing this news, landlords
increased the price of rent for Chinese in Chicago, making living in
those areas unaffordable. The Chinese then relocated to the
southern part of the city. When a new detention center had to be
built in the 1970s, Chinatown was relocated to its current location
by Argyle and Broadway.
8. Activities
Giulia
● Double Li Restaurant
● Ten Ren Tea and
Ginseng Co. of Chicago
Ltd.
● Taste of Chinese
Cuisine Cruise
9. Activities and Attractions
Giulia
● Wendella Boats
and Chicago Water
Taxi
● Chinatown New
Year Festival
● Autumn Moon
Festival
Nine Dragon Wall
10. Our Experience
Austin
Upon exiting the Red Line station there was no mistaking
where we were. The Nine Dragon Wall greeted us with a kind
“Welcome to Chicago’s Chinatown” that left no doubt in anyones
mind. Following a few photo opportunities it was time to dive in.
The sidewalks were lined with shops looking to sell some rather
interesting merchandise; this ranged from posters, to nunchuks,
to traditional clothing, to Pikachu banks (this made Michael very
happy). After perusing a few of the different stores we were
hungry for more so we decided to try some of the local cuisine.
Things got interesting when the pork tongue and fried pork
intestine was brought out- they were not exactly what our palates
were used to- but they did certainly satisfy our taste for
adventure.
11. Reflection
Austin
Overall the trip to Chinatown would be rated as a
success. Our group enjoyed plenty of laughs and
some quality time in a new environment. The
escape from campus was relieving and provided a
great release from the stresses of a tough
midterms week. Because of our experiences we’ve
afforded new insights into life inside the city of
Chicago with this trip to Chinatown as we were
able to take a look inside a very culturally specific
area of the extremely diverse city. Now we have
one more notch on our exploring Chicago belts
and know exactly where to go if we ever get the
hankering for some pork tongue.
12. Works Cited
"Chicago Chinatown." Attractions and Festivals. Chicago Chinatown, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.chicago-chinatown.info/chinatown-attractions.html>.
"Chinatown History." History. Chicago Chinatown, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.chicago-chinatown.info/chinatown-history.html>.
"Chinatown Neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois (IL), 60616 Detailed Profile." Chinatown Neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois (IL),
60616 Subdivision Profile. Urban Mapping, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Chinatown-Chicago-IL.html>.
"Transportation." Chicago Chinatown Chamber. Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://chicagochinatown.org/transportation/>
