Chinatown is one of the best places in Chicago to arrive by boat. The Chicago Water Taxi drops you at Ping Tom Memorial Park, right on the river, and from there the neighborhood's restaurants, bakeries, tea shops, and souvenir stores are a short walk away. This guide is about what to do once you get there: where to start, which landmarks to see, how to structure a food-and-shopping afternoon, and how to plan the ride back. For the step-by-step on getting there, see how to get to Chinatown by water taxi.
Arriving at Ping Tom Memorial Park
The Chinatown dock is at Ping Tom Park East, 1700 S Wentworth Avenue, on the South Branch of the river. You'll land by the park's pagoda, which makes it an easy landmark to meet at and to find again for the ride home. The park itself is worth a few minutes: riverfront green space, pagoda-style architecture, and a playground, which is handy if you're traveling with kids.
The ride from Michigan Avenue or Ogilvie/Union is direct on the Main Branch, with no transfer. It's $10 one-way, and the full route runs about 25 to 45 minutes end to end. That makes a Chinatown visit easy to pair with a morning downtown: ride south for lunch, spend the afternoon, ride back.
Landmarks Worth Walking To
The Chinatown Gate
The gate spanning Wentworth Avenue just south of Cermak Road is the neighborhood's best-known symbol. Designed by architect Peter Fung and dedicated in 1975, it has a traditional pagoda-style roof, and the four characters across it translate roughly to "the world belongs to the commonwealth." It's the classic photo stop and a natural starting point for a walk down Wentworth, the heart of the old neighborhood.
The Nine-Dragon Wall
Near the Cermak-Chinatown station, the Nine-Dragon Wall is a colorful ceramic wall modeled on the famous dragon walls of China, and another favorite for photos. Read more about the Nine-Dragon Wall.
Wentworth Avenue
Between Cermak and 24th Place, Wentworth is lined with restaurants, bakeries, herbal shops, and gift stores in buildings with Chinese architectural details. Even without a plan, a slow walk down Wentworth is most of the Chinatown experience.
Planning a Food and Souvenir Afternoon
Chinatown rewards grazing more than one big sit-down meal. A practical way to structure the afternoon:
- Start with dim sum or a sit-down lunch near Wentworth or in the Chinatown Square area. Weekends are busiest, so go earlier if you want to avoid a wait.
- Walk it off down Wentworth and through the gate.
- Stop at a bakery for egg tarts, buns, or mooncakes to take home.
- Pick up a bubble tea for the walk back to the dock.
- Browse gift and specialty shops for tea, snacks, ceramics, and small souvenirs.
Restaurants and shops change, so check current hours and reviews for specific places before you go. If you're bringing shopping bags back on the boat, luggage and bags are allowed, subject to inspection.
Planning the Ride Back
This is the part people forget. Chinatown is the end of the Main Branch, and the water taxi runs on a seasonal schedule, so check the return departures before you sit down to eat, not after. If you miss the last boat that fits your evening, you'll need another way back. The Red Line's Cermak-Chinatown station is nearby as a backup.
A one-way ticket covers one direction only, so buy a second one for the return, or use the 10-Ride Commuter Pass (an effective $3 per ride, online only) if you'll ride often. The service is cashless.
Practical Tips
- Season: the water taxi generally runs March through the end of December.
- Bikes are welcome between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM, and there's a Divvy station at 19th and Wells by the park.
- Strollers must be folded and carried across the boarding plank, with children taken out first.
- Kids 3 and under ride free.
- Accessibility: accessible rides are weekday-only, subject to availability, reserved at least 5 days ahead at (312) 337-1446, and operate as round trips from Michigan Avenue. Confirm before building a Chinatown day around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Chicago Water Taxi stop in Chinatown?
At Ping Tom Park East, 1700 S Wentworth Avenue, by the pagoda in Ping Tom Memorial Park. The neighborhood's restaurants and shops are a short walk away.
What is there to do in Chinatown Chicago?
Walk Wentworth Avenue, see the Chinatown Gate and the Nine-Dragon Wall, eat dim sum, stop at bakeries and bubble tea shops, browse gift and specialty stores, and spend time in Ping Tom Memorial Park on the river.
When was the Chinatown Gate built?
The Chinatown Gate on Wentworth Avenue was designed by architect Peter Fung and dedicated in 1975.
Can I ride directly from Michigan Avenue to Chinatown?
Yes. Both are Main Branch stops, so you can ride straight there with no transfer. The full route takes about 25 to 45 minutes.
How do I get back from Chinatown?
Take the water taxi back north on the Main Branch, with a second one-way ticket. Check the return departures before your meal, since the schedule is seasonal. The Red Line's Cermak-Chinatown station is a nearby backup.
Can I bring shopping bags or a stroller on the boat?
Yes. Bags, luggage, and strollers are allowed subject to inspection. Strollers must be folded and carried across the boarding plank, with children taken out first.
Related Reading
- How to Get to Chinatown by Water Taxi - the step-by-step route
- Chinatown Dock - directions and map
- Nine-Dragon Wall
- Fares
