The Montreal Chinatown is located in the area surrounding De la Gauchetière Street to north to Rene Levesque Boulevard and south to Viger Avenue in Downtown Montreal north of the Old Port of Montreal. Its two main north south arteries are St. Laurent street in the east and St Urbain street to the west.
The neighbourhood contains many Asian restaurants from various countries and cultures, food markets selling exotic foods, shops selling traditional crafts, natural medicines and herbs, and convenience stores. As well Montreal’s Chinatown is also home to many of Montreal’s East Asian community centres, such as the Montreal Chinese Hospital and the Montreal Chinese Community and Cultural Centre.
Chinatown in Montreal began to develop in the late 1800’s when Chinese immigrants came to Canada to work on the railroads and in the mines. They settled mainly along De La Gauchetière Street near Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Today the district is primarily commercial and has kept its Asian flavour. The Chinese community continues to shop and celebrate its traditional festivals and holidays here.