Chinatown has a distinctive character unlike anywhere else in Manhattan. It’s the kind of neighborhood best discovered on a leisurely and meandering stroll, though cyclists will find it bike friendly, as well. Fishmongers, bakeries, greengrocers, jewelers, and more than 300 Chinese restaurants and noodle shops contribute to its lively street life. Cultural festivals, historical sites, and even the vendors of knock-off handbags and watches along Canal Street, help attract visitors to this increasingly eclectic part of the city.

Although best known for its concentration of people of Chinese descent (the largest such community in the Western Hemisphere), Chinatown has started to attract new residents—particularly affluent professionals—as upmarket condos have begun spilling over from neighboring SoHo. Small businesses looking for cheaper rents have also seen Chinatown as a land of opportunity. One of the city’s most accessible areas, it boasts two subway stations, is linked to Brooklyn by the Manhattan Bridge, and to Uptown Manhattan by FDR Drive.