In the downtown area of Boston rests the well established area called Chinatown, which is centered on Beach Street near the city's South Station.
The area hosts many Chinese, Japanese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese restaurants and markets. The area was once settled by Irish, Italian, Jewish, and Syrian immigrants taking advantage of the low housing cost and plentiful job opportunities. Chinatown was established in 1890The Syrians had gradually leaving the area and were gone by the 1940's being slowly replaced by Chinese Immigrants. In the years from 1960 through the 1980's Chinatown was bordered by Boston's Red light district which threatened its prosperity. Today, Chinatown is threatened by gentrification policies with large luxury residential towers being built around it.
The traditional Chinatown Gate (paifang) marks the entrance into the area at Beach Street and Surface Road with the traditional lions resting on either side. The gate is visible from the South Station Bus Terminal and features a beautiful garden currently being built to replace a run-down area that needed restoration.
