V A N C O U V E R ,   B R I T I S H   C O L U M B I A

I arrive back at English Bay Beach and wait for the sun to set. Being so close to all the nightlife action, literally a block away, many people have gathered at the beach and are waiting and watching as well.

After the sun passes well below the horizon I high-tail it up Denman Street then on over to Nelson Street to check out the area's nightlife action. It's nearing 11 pm but it's Friday night so the streets are full with people, things are in full party swing.

My tour of Vancouver continues. Today I'll be visiting Vancouver's Chinatown. After a short bike ride I soon meet up with the ornate entry to Chinatown. Along the streets all the light poles are dressed with various banners heralding the area's charm and uniqueness. The character of the place certainly gives me the impression that indeed I am in China.

Vancouver's Chinatown is the largest in Canada and second largest in North America, coming in a close second to San Francisco's Chinatown. Chinese immigration to Vancouver started in the late 19th century in support of road and railroad building. There is a sad history of racist descrimination against the Chinese, however, so much so that in 1923 a new immigration act disallowing Chinese immigration to Canada was enacted. It wasn't until 44 years later that the act was reversed and immigration from China was allowed once again. The 1986 World Expo again attracted new Chinese immigration, mainly from Hongkong, leading to one of the city's nicknames, "Hongkouver."