Dragon's Gate
Dragon's Gate
3.5
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Union Square
Originally home to rallies supporting the Union Army in the Civil War, this grand square has become the city's premier shopping and entertainment district containing the largest number of upscale department stores, chic boutiques, art galleries and theatres in the city. It's a large open area where tourists and locals gather, watch cable cars and crowds go by, enjoy a snack, or plan their day of shopping and sightseeing, If feeling the pulsating energy of the city is on your agenda, Union Square is the place to soak it in.
How to get there
- Powell St • 8 min walk
- Powell St • 8 min walk
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4,135 within 5 kms
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820 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
160 reviews
Excellent
33
Very good
59
Average
62
Poor
5
Terrible
1
Jholman22
Maple ridge25 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Friends
This is one of the entrances to Chinatown. It is a good photo op and a fun way to approach entering this area. It’s interesting
Written August 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BigMerk
Glasgow, UK2,274 contributions
Sep. 2022
Good photo opp. It’s the entrance to Chinatown (although we approached it from the opposite direction).
Written October 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DiverM
Jupiter, FL571 contributions
Sep. 2022 • Couples
We snapped a couple of pictures here while walking through China Town. This was s the gateway into China Town.
Written September 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly V
Charlton, NY310 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Family
Worth a drive through Chinatown. We did not get out and shop. There is a large Asian culture and history throughout California- which we read along the way from Lake Tahoe and down the southern coast.
Written August 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Africache
Grass Valley, CA484 contributions
Mar. 2022 • Friends
This is a great start to your Chinatown visit. But don’t forget there are a few other streets than Grant to visit in Chinatown. If you time your picture you can avoid cars getting in the way.
Chinatown closes down around 17:00/18:00 a few (very few) restaurants from what we saw remain open after 18:00. So go during the day.
Chinatown closes down around 17:00/18:00 a few (very few) restaurants from what we saw remain open after 18:00. So go during the day.
Written March 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joan H
San Bernardino, CA1,027 contributions
Oct. 2021
Stop and take a photo here. Our taxi driver told us that Dragon's Gate was the center of Chinatown. It is located at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Bush Street. We were the only tourists in the area. Chinatown which was once a busy tourist destination is now like a ghost town. Check out the Chinese lions on either side of Dragon's gate.
Written March 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The_Loup_Garou
Phoenix, AZ166,281 contributions
Aug. 2019
A Small, But Impressive Structure
The primary entrance to San Francisco’s Chinatown, or at least the one, which most visitors seek out, is Dragon’s Gate at Bush St and Grant Ave. Dedicated in 1970, it has become the iconic symbol of San Francisco’s Chinatown, and draws tourists from around the world.
In August, while staying near-by, I did a stroll to, and through Chinatown, and paused several times at Dragon’s Gate - mostly to photograph it, at different times of the day. I had seen it before, and several times, but actually took the time to study it, in some detail. As the “official entrance to Chinatown,” it is fairly impressive, if for its architecture, and detail, if not for its size.
I recommend that one spend some time, to study the details, as there is a great deal of symbolism involved, and a bit of a story to be told, if that story only appears in Chinese.
The structure incorporates three portals, one for vehicular traffic, up Grant Ave, and then two flanking pedestrian archways, for the sidewalks. Each of the pedestrian portals features a Chinese Lion - one male, and one female.
While one can enter Chinatown from numerous streets, this one is the entrance, that most think of, when San Francisco’s Chinatown is mentioned. All of the rest are just streets, and other than the near-by architecture, could be almost anywhere - anywhere with hills.
I would recommend a good half-hour, just to study this structure, and to take it all in.
The primary entrance to San Francisco’s Chinatown, or at least the one, which most visitors seek out, is Dragon’s Gate at Bush St and Grant Ave. Dedicated in 1970, it has become the iconic symbol of San Francisco’s Chinatown, and draws tourists from around the world.
In August, while staying near-by, I did a stroll to, and through Chinatown, and paused several times at Dragon’s Gate - mostly to photograph it, at different times of the day. I had seen it before, and several times, but actually took the time to study it, in some detail. As the “official entrance to Chinatown,” it is fairly impressive, if for its architecture, and detail, if not for its size.
I recommend that one spend some time, to study the details, as there is a great deal of symbolism involved, and a bit of a story to be told, if that story only appears in Chinese.
The structure incorporates three portals, one for vehicular traffic, up Grant Ave, and then two flanking pedestrian archways, for the sidewalks. Each of the pedestrian portals features a Chinese Lion - one male, and one female.
While one can enter Chinatown from numerous streets, this one is the entrance, that most think of, when San Francisco’s Chinatown is mentioned. All of the rest are just streets, and other than the near-by architecture, could be almost anywhere - anywhere with hills.
I would recommend a good half-hour, just to study this structure, and to take it all in.
Written May 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boutip
Gatineau, Canada751 contributions
Aug. 2019
...and that's it. Not much to see and not as impressive as you might expect. Keep walking into Chinatown where more interesting stuff waits for you.
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indiana_Jonesse
San Francisco, CA7,370 contributions
Feb. 2020
The most visible and iconic landmark to enter Chinatown; from here you know you are officially in the town. The street is where shopping begins. There are shops right in front with gigantic bronze statues where you can take photos and begin your exploration and sightseeing and pose for the picture in front of the gate.
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mini
Fremont, CA179,848 contributions
Jan. 2020
When I was on my walk in San Francisco, I entered Chinatown via Dragon's Gate. Its a good place to take a photo There was some people there handing out brochures about a Chinese political issue.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gail L
1 contribution
Hi, Gail. What would you like to know about this attraction?
aphpixels
960 contributions
Ghiradelli Square and Dragon's Gate is quite a distance from each other - you could possibly walk it, but it's a 30-40min walk with a lot of steep inclines along the way (depending which route you take), so probably not the best option.
Having said that though, walking will allow you to fit in a visit to Lombard St along the way and will take you through the back of Chinatown and you will end up at the Dragon's Gate entrance (eventually).
San Francisco being the birthplace of Uber, I would probably suggest utilizing this option as it's only a 10min ride and will only set you back $5-$15 depending on what ride option you select.
Failing that, you could always just catch a cab if you don't know how to (or want to) use Uber.
The other option would be to catch the trolley car from Ghiradelli Square and get off somewhere on Washington St and walk the rest of the way to Chinatown.
Renee M
Sunol, United States3 contributions
What is the cross street to the Dragon entrance
UNique6767
Alamosa, CO54 contributions
It is the Bush Street and Grant Street
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Claim your listingDRAGON'S GATE - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Dragon's Gate
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Dragon's Gate:
- Skip The Bus: San Francisco By Luxury Van Tour (From C$135.74)
- Chinatown Culinary Walking Tour (From C$108.18)
- Chinatown and North Beach Walking Tour (From C$116.41)
- Lucky Tuk Tuk at Night - Private Group San Francisco Sunset or Lights Tour (From C$473.03)
- San Francisco Scavenger Hunt: Where East Meets West (From C$16.88)
- Hotels near Dragon's Gate:
- (0.01 km) Golden Gate Hotel, San Francisco
- (0.03 km) The Grant Hotel
- (0.06 km) Hotel Emblem San Francisco
- (0.13 km) The Orchard Hotel
- (0.16 km) Beacon Grand, A Union Square Hotel
- Restaurants near Dragon's Gate:
- (0.04 km) Aliment
- (0.05 km) Sushi Toni
- (0.07 km) Tacorea
- (0.12 km) Akiko's Sushi Bar and Restaurant
- (0.16 km) Sears Fine Foods