Chinatown's "Friendship Archway", as seen looking west on H St.

Looking north up 7th St. The buildings on the west side of the street sport stylized Chinese characters on hanging banners—the only remaining signs of the original character of this now fully gentrified corridor.

Chinatown in Washington, DC is a small, historic neighborhood east of downtown, in the present day consisting of a handful of ethnic Chinese and other Asian restaurants and small businesses along H and I Streets between 6th and 8th Streets, Northwest. It is known for its annual Chinese New Year festival and parade and the Friendship Arch, a Chinese gate built over H Street at 7th Street; however, its most prominent landmark is the MCI Center, a sports and entertainment arena. The neighborhood is served by the Gallery Place-Chinatown station of the Washington Metro. Friendship Arch in Chinatown (Washington, DC); photo taken by User:Postdlf, 12-13-04. ... Friendship Arch in Chinatown (Washington, DC); photo taken by User:Postdlf, 12-13-04. ... View up 7th St in Chinatown (Washington, DC); photo taken by User:Postdlf 12-13-04. ... View up 7th St in Chinatown (Washington, DC); photo taken by User:Postdlf 12-13-04. ... New York City is home to one of the largest Chinatowns in North America, and is centered around Canal Street in the borough of Manhattan. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Color-enhanced USGS satellite image of Washington, DC, taken April 26, 2002. ... A banner of the celebration of Chinese New Year. ... The MCI Center, view to the southeast across 7th St. ... The 7th and H St station entrance. ... Red Line train at Metro Center, hub of the system The Washington Metro is the public transportation system of Washington, D.C., and neighboring suburban communities in Maryland and Virginia, both inside and outside the Capital Beltway. ...

History

The Chinatown area was formerly populated by German immigrants; it is coincidentally the modern home of the Washington branch of the Goethe-Institut. Chinese immigrants began to populate the area in the 1930s, having been displaced from Washington's original Chinatown along Pennsylvania Avenue by the development of Federal Triangle government office complex. The newcomers marked it with decorative metal latticework and railings as well as Chinese signage. At its peak, Chinatown was deemed to extend from G Street north to Massachusetts Avenue, and from 9th Street east to 5th Street. Goethe in der Campagna The Goethe-Institut (GI) is a German non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote German language and culture outside of the German-speaking countries. ... // Events and trends The 1930s were spent struggling for a solution to the global depression. ...

Like other Washington neighborhoods, Chinatown declined sharply after the 1968 riots. Ethnic Chinese residents, as well as many others, left for suburban areas, spurred further by the city's rising crime and taxes, and deteriorating business climate. When the Washington Metro station serving the neighborhood opened in 1976, it was named simply "Gallery Place," ignoring Chinatown altogether. 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Red Line train at Metro Center, hub of the system The Washington Metro is the public transportation system of Washington, D.C., and neighboring suburban communities in Maryland and Virginia, both inside and outside the Capital Beltway. ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1986, the city dedicated the Friendship Archway, a traditional Chinese gate designed by local architect Alfred H. Liu. The colorful, $1 million work of public art includes 7 roofs up to 60 feet high, 7000 tiles, and 272 painted dragons in the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Erected to celebrate friendship with Washington's sister city of Beijing, it was hoped the arch would reinforce the neighborhood's Chinese character. 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Public art is art that is exposed in a public space, either an outdoor location or in a publicly accessible building. ... The Ming Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; pinyin: qÄ«ng cháo; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of Inner Asia, establishing... This article is about partnerships between towns distant from each other; see Twin cities for the different concept of physically neighbouring cities. ...   Beijing? (Chinese: 北京; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Pei-ching; Postal System Pinyin: Peking) is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ...

In 1986 the Metro station was given its present name, Gallery Place-Chinatown. By then, however, most of the neighborhood's eponymous population had already moved to the suburbs. A peripheral section was torn down for the construction of the old Washington Convention Center at 900 9th St NW; the city constructed the Wah Luck House at 6th and H Sts. NW to accommodate the displaced residents in 1982. The core of the neighborhood was demolished to make way for the MCI Center, completed in 1997. Since then, high real estate costs and other effects of gentrification have priced family businesses out of the area. In 2004, Chinatown went under a $200 Million renovation transforming the area into a bustling scene for nightlife, shopping and entertainment with high-end restaurants, a deluxe movie theater and exclusive department stores. 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that Suburbia be merged into this article or section. ... 1982 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The MCI Center, view to the southeast across 7th St. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This once impoverished part of Jersey Citys historic downtown is quickly becoming gentrified. ... 2004(MMIV) is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Renovation is the process of restoring or improving a structure. ... A typical restaurant in uptown Manhattan A restaurant is an establishment that serves prepared food and beverages to be consumed on the premises. ... A typical megaplex (AMC Ontario Mills 30 in Ontario, California). ...

External link

Building a Mystery - Washington City Paper article on D.C.'s Chinatown area.