The Charming Alleyway

Dua Junaid

As a newcomer to Victoria, I'm not familiar with a lot of the city yet, but I loved exploring the oldest Chinatown in Canada- especially Fan Tan Alley!

I didn't actually know about it before going there, and was already in awe at the design of the street and restaurants lined up past the auspicious gate entry into Chinatown. I stumbled upon the alley as I was leaving, and my curiosity was aroused when I saw the lights hanging between the crevice of two buildings, the tight circulation space inviting me to step through. After walking for a bit there is an opening with more shops and a museum of the history of Chinatown which was free to enter! I explored everything, it was so fun!

This alley is a staple of good design as there's a feeling of compression and release between the buildings, which naturally ignites people's curiosity and encourages them to explore.

Although it's technically well-known, it felt like I was discovering a hidden gem, which made my experience there so memorable.