Chinatown

No need for a master’s degree to know you’ve arrived in Chinatown! The striking mural and traditional arch mark the northern entrance to Montreal’s Chinese district. Compact yet full of character, this neighborhood in the Ville-Marie borough is framed on all sides by large paifang—the ornate gates that traditionally signal the threshold of a Chinese city. Montreal’s Chinatown dates back to the 1860s, when Chinese immigrants arrived in Canada to work in the mines and help build the railways. It’s one of the oldest Asian enclaves in North America. In January 2022, its historic heart was officially added to Quebec’s Cultural Heritage Register. Craving a cultural escape? You’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll find the Wing Building—the oldest structure in the neighborhood—as well as Sun Yat-Sen Square, built by eight artisans from Shanghai. And of course, this is the perfect place to enjoy some delicious dim sum—bite-sized steamed or stir-fried dishes that literally mean “touch the heart”—or dive into the bold, spicy flavors of Sichuan cuisine. For food lovers and curious minds alike, this is where Asia truly comes alive in Montreal.