"...a marvelous book and a great contribution to Chinatown, the
Chinese-American community, and to the world community. I am amazed at
your photography, your appreciation of color, your mastery of framing,
your adventurousness in perspectives...it all worked out
beautifully."--Ben Fong-Torres
"Impressively pairing striking imagery with an informative historical
narrative, the book transports readers right into the heart of
Chinatown's thriving streets, festivals, local flavor, and cultural
intensity. A vividly realized tribute to one of Northern California's
most revered cultural neighborhoods."--Kirkus Reviews
"The unique imprints of different eras are presented as if readers
travel through the corridor of time and read "of the many things from
ancient to modern". Evans shoots in the context of the times. Leong
introduces the history, tourism, daily life, and celebrations of the
Chinatown community through clear text descriptions."--World Journal,
the nation's #1 Chinese newspaper
"As far as I am concerned, this is the best book on Chinatown. The book
was so well written and all things Chinatown were told with such
clarity! And the photographs were stunning! Our neighborhood can be so
much prouder of its history and heritage, thanks to you two!! I can't
thank you enough for creating such an important book for our community.
It will be enjoyed for years to come!!"--Betty Louie, Advisor Chinatown
Merchants Association
"You have given us a synopsis of history, cultural, political,
personal--it's pretty amazing. And while delivering so much content, the
book yet evinces a great spirit of the place as well. I love photo books
with text--it's a great combination, two modalities of perception that
together make more than the sum of their styles."--Mary Ellen Hannibal,
author of Citizen Scientist
America's oldest Chinatown comes alive in stunning photos of its
people and places
Following his award-winning book on San Francisco's Mission District,
Dick Evans turns his attention to Chinatown, the fifth of a square mile
that attracts more tourists than the Golden Gate Bridge but where the
median household income is a quarter of the citywide average. From
delicious dim sum to wok-filled shops, from iconic red lanterns to
elaborate parade floats, from inside single-room occupancy apartments to
outdoor games of Chinese chess in Portsmouth Square, Evans captures a
place filled with diverse residents and a unique mélange of American and
Chinese architecture, cuisine, and culture. Vibrant images are
interspersed with sidebars highlighting particular people and
institutions, deepening viewers' immersion into this community. Kathy
Chin Leong's lucid text introduces readers to the history of the
neighborhood, as well as to themes of tourism, daily life, and
celebrations. At the heart of the book is a tight-knit community and a
thriving neighborhood, which welcomes immigrants with supportive
institutions and entices tourists to experience a wide array of Chinese
traditions. Evans's photos highlight a place undergoing visible progress
but, unlike other San Francisco neighborhoods that are gentrifying,
maintaining its unique character and authenticity.
