The China Gate shown in the thumbnail image is the West Gate of Los Angeles Chinatown, an important cultural landmark installed in 1938 as part of the construction of Central Plaza. Chinatown features four gates in total, though the most prominent are the East Gate and the West Gate. Both are built in traditional Chinese architectural style and display Chinese characters that translate to “Cooperate to Achieve,” reflecting themes of unity and collective progress.
The gates are constructed from 150-year-old camphor wood imported from China, highlighting their historical and cultural significance. The West Gate has been designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 825. A bronze plaque placed at the site by California Governor Frank Merriam commemorates the contributions of Chinese Americans to the growth and development of California.
Central Plaza, located between Broadway (formerly Route 66) and Hill Street at 943 N Broadway, serves as the heart of Los Angeles Chinatown. The West Gate itself stands at 954 N Hill Street, directly across from Foo Chow Chinese Restaurant, which gained recognition for its appearance in the film Rush Hour, starring Jackie Chan.
As one of the earliest modern Chinatowns in the United States, Central Plaza was intentionally designed to promote Chinese culture, heritage, and community life. Within the plaza stands a commemorative statue of Bruce Lee, the legendary martial artist who once operated a kung fu studio nearby on College Street. Surrounding the plaza are numerous shops offering unique Chinese keepsakes, pottery, clothing, and other traditional items, along with the well-known Phoenix Bakery, a popular destination for both locals and visitors.
Below are pictures of the West China Gate, the picture of the wind bell hung on the building of Hong Kong Import Co. as it was placed just under the West China gate, and the Foo Chow restaurant in the background of the picture.
Picture of West China Gate on Hill Street
Picture of black bell placed at Hong Kong Import Co. left of West China Gate with Foo Chow Restaurant in the background.
Picture of Foo Chow Restaurant on Hill Street directly across from West China Gate.
Picture of entrance to Foo Chow Restaurant
Jackie Chan Rush Hour Foo Chow scene:
