Enter through the Dragon archway donated by Taiwan in 1970, and you'll find yourself on the street formerly known as Dupont in its notorious red-light heyday. The pagoda-topped 'Chinatown deco' architecture beyond this gate was innovated by Chinatown merchants led by Look Tin Ely in the 1920s – a pioneering initiative to lure tourists with a distinctive modern look. It worked: dragon streetlights chased away shady characters, and now light the way to bargain souvenirs and tea shops.
![Chinatown Dragon Gate](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2019-06/GettyImages-457673547_super.jpg?auto=format&w=1920&h=640&fit=crop&crop=faces,edges&q=75)
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Dragon's Gate
North Beach & Chinatown
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
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Nearby North Beach & Chinatown attractions
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0.23 MILES
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