Chinatown East and West Gates
| Chinatown East and West Gate | |
|---|---|
West Gate (top) and East Gate (bottom) | |
Interactive map of the Chinatown East and West Gate area | |
| General information | |
| Location | Gin Ling Way, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 34°3′55.2″N 118°14′13.2″W / 34.065333°N 118.237000°W |
| Completed | 1938 (West Gate) 1939 (East Gate) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architects | Adrian Wilson, Erle Webster |
| Designated | November 2, 2005 |
| Reference no. | 825 (West Gate) 826 (East Gate) |
Chinatown East Gate (also known as Gate of Maternal Virtues and Broadway Gate) and Chinatown West Gate are historic entrance gates located in Los Angeles's Chinatown neighborhood in California. Built in the late 1930s, they were declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in 2005.
History
Chinatown West Gate was unveiled at 954 N. Hill Street[1] in 1938, while Chinatown East Gate was unveiled at 945 N. Broadway[1] one year later. The gates, located on each end of Gin Ling Way, mark the entrances to Central Plaza, the heart of Chinatown.[2] East Gate was commissioned by Y. C. Hong to commemorate his mother; it is also known as Gate of Maternal Virtues[2] and Broadway Gate.[3] Both gates were built as part of the community's migration from Old Chinatown.[4]
In 2005, Chinatown West and East Gates were designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments No. 825 and 826, respectively.[1][2]
Design
The gates are traditional in design, equally elaborate, and feature 150 year old camphor wood from China.[2][5] “Cooperate to Achieve”, the motto of Chinese Consul of 1938 T. K. Chang,[6] is written in Chinese on the west gate.[2] Both gates' red color is meant to symbolize good fortune and happiness.[5]
A bronze tablet that commemorates Chinese-American contributions to California's growth was placed by California Governor Frank Merriam at West Gate,[7] and two other plaques play tribute to architects Adrian Wilson and Erle Webster.[5]
See also
- Chinese architecture
- Chinatown Gateway Monument
- History of Chinese Americans in Los Angeles
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in Downtown Los Angeles
References
- ^ a b c "Historical Cultural Monuments List" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Exploring Chinatown: Past and Present" (PDF). Los Angeles Conservancy. 2016.
- ^ "Broadway Gate and Ginling Gifts, New Chinatown". Los Angeles Public Library digital collections. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
- ^ Luong, Annie. "Introduction to New Chinatown". Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
- ^ a b c de Louraille, Claire (March 10, 2015). "How L.A. Works: Chinatown's Grand Entrance". Los Angeles Magazine.
- ^ "Hidden Gems of Los Angeles: Chinatown in Focus". FilmLA. February 10, 2025.
- ^ Atkinson, Janet I. (1988). Los Angeles County Historical Directory. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-89950-301-1. OCLC 18106218.
External links
- Media related to Chinatown West Gate, Los Angeles at Wikimedia Commons
- Media related to Chinatown East Gate, Los Angeles at Wikimedia Commons