Chinatown Gate, Paifang in Chicago, United States
Chinatown Gate is a paifang on South Wentworth Avenue in Chicago, United States. Its pagoda-style roof rests on steel legs, while hand-painted tiles with Chinese characters sit along the top above the roadway.
The structure was built in 1975 and designed by Peter Fung, a Chinese American engineer and architect who took inspiration from traditional Chinese gates. At that time it was larger than a well-known gate in San Francisco, which made it a point of pride for the neighborhood.
The painted characters above the road are not just decoration; they carry the message that the world belongs to the commonwealth, a phrase tied to China’s shift from dynasty to republic. Passing below them, visitors enter a street where storefronts mix Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese signs, food and goods.
The crossing sits at a busy intersection with shops and places to eat on both sides, so it is easy to reach on foot from anywhere in the neighborhood. Flat sidewalks make the area simple to walk through, and standing back from the curb gives a clearer view of the whole structure.
Although it looks like an entrance, the gate does not stand at the edge of the neighborhood; it marks a central point from which streets and businesses fan out in different directions. Right beside it, the Pui Tak Center’s tower and colored trim show a Western interpretation of Chinese style rather than a faithful copy.
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