Boston's Chinatown and
Leather District neighborhoods are a hotbed of change where old meets new. The traditional Chinatown Gate (paifang) juxtaposed with the recently erected
Chinatown Parks symbolizes the neighborhood's reverence for the past while embracing the future.
Home of a slew of
top-notch restaurants, the Leather District has also served as the location for several big-budget movies including the Disney sci-fi film "The Surrogates" starring Bruce Willis and "Bride Wars" featuring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway.
Explore and discover Chinatown:
Boston's Chinatown is the third largest Chinese neighborhood in the country, only after San Francisco and New York City. Located between the city's
Financial District and
Theatre District, Chinatown is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Boston. Locals and tourists alike are drawn to the area's large selection of Asian restaurants, such as
China Pearl and
Shabu-Zen. Chinatown also has an array of bakeries, like
Eldo Cake House, where you can sample everything from curried puff pastries to almond cookies.
During the popular August Moon Festival, children carry brightly colored lanterns and revelers eat sweet cakes known as Moon Cakes, each containing a secret message. The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, which opened in 1969, is a tremendous resource for the community, providing residents with English-language classes, childcare and social and recreational opportunities.
Located between Chinatown and
South Station, in recent years the Leather District has emerged as a distinct Boston neighborhood. Made up of old leather factories transformed into residential and commercial uses, the Leather District boasts a historic appeal while offering 21-century amenities. Residents cherish the "loft living" options that characterize this community.
Locals do not have to travel far to sample some great restaurants, cafés and shopping destinations. The Leather District will also experience the splendor of the
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway as this innovative project nears completion.
New England’s only historically Chinese area, Boston’s Chinatown became a haven for immigrants fleeing anti-Asian biases in California in the 1880s. Garment manufacturing plants soon moved into the area and became a vital aspect of the neighborhood until the early ‘90s.
Construction of the Southeast Expressway gutted the neighborhood in the 1950s and the city’s burgeoning red-light district, The Combat Zone, ran adjacent to the neighborhood. With the recent revitalization of the area and the redevelopment of the
Theatre District, Chinatown has undergone gentrification with ultra-chic condos and high-rise apartments.
In addition to the
Chinatown and the
New England Medical Center orange-line T stops, the Chinese-owned bus service called
Fung Wah provides hourly connections with New York's Chinatown.
