It’s Chinese New Year!

Always part of a great spring visit to Victoria is Chinese New Year. Pronounced: Gung – Hay – Fat – Choy, February 19 is the first day of the New Year in the Year of the Sheep. The origins of Victoria’s Chinatown go back to the late 1850’s, long before there was a Chinatown on the mainland. In fact for many years, Victoria’s Chinatown was the largest north of San Francisco, and is still considered to be the oldest of its kind in Canada. At one time Victoria was an important Pacific port and many Chinese gold miners heading to the “gold rush” used Victoria as a stop-over, while at the same time many Chinese worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway which was to have its terminus in Victoria. So, just a few steps out our front door and you’re in the rich history of Chinatown, enjoy the atmosphere, have a great meal – it’s all part of our multicultural city.