Everyone has been there, generally in the last dozen days or so. You get off the train, you go to the game, you go to Canada Hockey Place, maybe a live site, but how many of these millions have gone to Chinatown? You know the other half of the station’s name?

Stadium Chinatown Skytrain Station

The station isn’t actually in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown, it is actually West of the Millennium Gate which marks the entrance pretty graphically to Chinatown. The Tinseltown complex and the condos around the Skytrain station are in an area of town the marketer’s have dubbed “Crosstown”. Crosstown has no historical significance. No local, no Vancouverite, says “Come on lets go to Crosstown!”

Chinatown with the exception of during the Chinese New Year’s parade is a lot less crowded than the area around False Creek. It is great for a stroll, or getting a bite of Dim Sum, or during the Olympics to take in one of many Art Installations and cultural expos going on.

Spirit of Place is now open in the Chinese Cultural Centre and the square at the entrance to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park. I wrote earlier how visiting the park or the garden might make nice break from the crowds. I also created a Do-It-Yourself Art Walk which starts in Chinatown at basically the bus stop at Main & Pender. It could easily includ Spirit of Place which is just across from Pender from the Bright Light installation.

If art and culture is not your thing and you really just want to watch hockey, Fortune Sound Club has set up a big 14ft screen and is showing the Canada VS Russia game free tonight. After that you could go for Dim Sum at Bao Bei, than maybe drinks at the Keefer Lounge before returning back to Fortune Sound Club to check out the Traveling Disco Party.

Stadium-Chinatown Skytrain Station has it’s own Wikipedia page and Translink has blogged about the changes to expect during the Olympics.

Thanks to Mike Chu for the first photo used in this posting.

The world famous Dr. Sun Yet-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown. It is lovely in all seasons, extremely picturesque, and even though it is only a few blocks East of Stadium Skytrain station, Canada Hockey Place, and what are sure to be some rowdy fans for today’s game, it will seem a world away.

The park is free and open to the public in daylight hours. The garden requires admission and during this festive season is open from 9:30 until 5pm.

Vancouver’s Chinese Garden was built in 1985-1986 using the time honored principles and techniques of the original Ming dynasty garden. Fifty-two master craftsmen from Suzhou China, working with Canadian counterparts, completed this landscape masterpiece within a year. The intricate halls and walkways are constructed with precise joinery and without the use of nails, screws or glue. The Garden opened on April 24, 1986.

Try the virtual tour, or just have a gander had some of the photos below of one of Vancouver’s hidden jewels.

Besides protests? Well I’m glad you asked. Building Opportunities with Business, the local BIAs, and many businesses and organizations have been working together to promote tourism in Vancouver’s historic inner-city and combat some of the negative stereotypes and even the urban blight that threatened to engulf Vancouver’s urban heritage.

Last weekend was the Chinatown New Year’s Parade and the first Vancouver Artwalk, both were big successes. Chinatown led by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. are inviting tourists daily learn more about Chinese culture.

Located at the Choi Hall at S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Social Service Centre (28 West Pender Street) will be open to the public as an exhibition site of Vancouver Chinatown’s services and upcoming events. We envision that through this partnership, we will create a positive image of Chinatown in the minds of the Vancouver 2010 visitors. Between February 15 (Monday) to February 20, 2010 (Saturday), six days in total, table space has been courteously reserved, free of charge, for your organization to promote your programs and services. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will be staffing the site, 9am-5pm, during this period of time. Among the tables and booths, a variety of demonstrations are planned: performances by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. membership groups, Wii Olympic games and
fun facts of Chinatown, and more…

Vancouver’s DTES is home to more artists and galleries than anywhere else in Canada. From Jeffery Boone to W2’s Perel Gallery there is always exhibits of up-and-coming local artists and even the odd world renown figure such as Herzog.

Walking tours are very popular in the historic inner-city. A Wok Around Chinatown, Sins of the City, there is a variety to suit various interests. The Police Museum is running the Sins of the City walking tour twice daily during the Olympics at 11AM and 2PM. The museum itself is open everyday and located at 240 East Cordova.

Another option would be to take a guided tour by Pedicab, Dragon Rickshaw Adventures is operating daily during the Olympics.

Vancouver is home to some of the world’s best Chinese food, staff favourites in Chinatown include Bao Bei, Foo’s Ho Ho’s, and the Jade Dynasty. The rest of the inner-city contains some great eateries as well as night time destinations. The Irish Heather was recently featured on NBC and right next door the Blarney Stone is having live music every night and giving away official Team Canada hockey jerseys every time the Canadian Men’s team plays.

If Irish or Chinese food is not what your looking for their is Mexican, French, Japanese… just stroll up or down Water Street or check Gastown.org for more information.

Fancy a guided tour of Vancouver’s historic inner-city from the backseat of a pedicab? Dragon Rickshaw Adventures one of the successes of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Cluster BOB helps facilitates will be operating throughout the Olympics. I talked to the manager and he and his veteran riders will be taking out cabs from their offices on 15 East Pender to service Gastown, Chinatown, and other high tourist traffic areas.

The pedicab service is run by the Chinatown BIA, but if you want to more information or would like to book a pedicab tour or have one pick you up, call Thomas at 604-780-9107. Remember our other tips for visitors to Chinatown during the Olympics.

Ken Lyotier, founder of probably the most successful social enterprise in Vancouver if not a much wider geographic area, and a partner with BOB on numerous initiatives most prominently the SOLEfood Urban Farm, was personally selected by Mayor Gregor Robson to light the cauldron in Yaletown.  The Olympic Torch will visit several locations in Vancouver’s historic inner-city.  BOB staff will be cheering as it passes through Chinatown’s Millennium Gate and goes down Pender Street towards our offices on February 12th.

To learn more about the Olympic Torch route, visit the official website.