You won't find a Leeann Chin here! Chinatown, Manhattan-style.

If you think you'd know what Chinatown was like without visiting it, you'd be right. And oh-so-wrong. It is a huge neighborhood that is more than one can imagine - the open air markets, glorious street vendors, Chinese signs, and residents arguing in Cantonese over live seafood that still retains their heads, to name a few visuals. The atmosphere is exotic and almost antique - you'll never feel more like you're in a movie than when you find yourself trying to manuever your way down the sidewalk.

A few places to see while you're here: you'll want your camera when you see the succession of gorgeous golden Buddhas at the Eastern States Buddhist Temple, the oldest Chinese Buddhist temple on the East Coast. Take a walk over to the Bowery Savings Bank, which was conceived in 1893 by the famous New York architechture firm, Mead & White. In 1966, it won well-deserved landmark status with its marble Corinthian columns and soaring ceilings. Too bad there isn't an award for "breathtaking". Like the saying goes, "they just don't make 'em like that anymore!" (Example of exterior on the left.)

During pleasant weather, you will find the locals playing mah-jongg (a Chinese game using up to 144 tiles and 4 people) and practicing tai chi in Columbus Park. The park was named after Christopher Columbus (of course) and was plotted by Central Park (my favorite place in the world - just wait until I write about that!) co-designer Calvert Vaux in 1897.

New York hosts many different ethnic and cultural events, but very few can compete with the extravaganza of the Chinese New Year. It is celebrated annually in February during a two-week period (the date changes slightly each year). I've heard that it is exactly like how it is portrayed in movies and other media - the firecrackers, masses of color and people, the procession with dancing dragons snake in and out and bob up and down, and of course, the food.
The Museum of the Chinese in the Americas (MoCA) is a little-known cultural attraction, but definitely one worth visiting. It is interestingly located inside of an old school building. You will find not only fantastic temporary exhibitions, but it also owns a permanent collection of letters, artifacts, and amazing photographs that document the lives of Chinese immigrants to the United States.

And above, the aptly-named statue of Confucius on Confucius Plaza. I couldn't NOT include this photo!

I wanted to focus on one aspect of Chinatown at a time, but found it to be impossible to choose the first one. And then where would I end? This is just my personal list of favorites - when you make yours, don't leave without two things: an empty stomach and a camera! (And lots of one-dollar bills, good walking shoes, a mostly-empty backpack or tote bag, sunglasses...:)