Chinatown Experiences

Experience Chinatown With
Judy Lam Maxwell

Chinatown Tours, Dumpling making, Team-Building & Other Social Events

Experience and learn about the history, culture, and gastronomy of Vancouver's Historical Chinatown. Judy provides walking tours, food tours and teaches masterclass dumpling lessons. Tour packages may vary in length and price depending on whether it’s a regular tour, a school field trip, a special themed tour, a cooking experience, or an outing for elders, etc. Please e-mail the tour operator at judy@chinatowngirl.ca for further details.

Special Chinatown EventS

Chinese Lunar
New Years Parade

The Chinese New Year Parade celebrates the new year of the Chinese lunar calendar and is a festive event for everyone to enjoy. As one of the three largest non-commercial annual parades in Vancouver, and one of the largest Chinese New Year Parades in North America, this parade features the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada with dozens of colourful and energetic lions from various local, fraternal, and martial arts organizations. The parade will feature some seventy entries, bringing over 3,000 participants from various community and cultural groups. The multicultural dance troupes represent the diverse segments of our Canadian cultural heritage, such as the Chinese Canadian Veterans, the Vancouver Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team, marching bands, and various community groups. This parade draws over 100,000 spectators each year.

If you are interested in viewing the 50th Chinese New Year Parade (Sun. Jan. 22nd, 2023) from the balcony of one of the heritage buildings in Chinatown, please e-mail the tour operator at judy@chinatowngirl.ca for further details.

Ching Ming
Festival
(Grave sweeping Day)

Ching Ming (Cantonese) or Qingming (Mandarin) is also known as the Clear Brightness Festival, the Festival for Tending Graves, Grave Sweeping Day and Tomb Sweeping Day. According to Chinese traditional customs, people must visit the graves of ancestors, relatives or close friends during the Festival, which is on the 104th day after the Winter Solstice (typically in early April according to the Western calendar). The festival marks the middle of Spring and, above all, it is a sacred day of the dead. The special occasion — which dates back over one thousand years — celebrates the rebirth of nature. Whatever name is given to the day, it is a time to remember and honour one’s ancestors.

Join me at the cemetery in early April to learn how the commemoration is conducted and join me for a feast afterwards with one of the clan associations.

Please e-mail the tour operator at judy@chinatowngirl.ca for further details.

For more special events offered by Historical Chinatown Tours & Masterclass Dumplings, contact Judy.