From Sam Wo, continue east on Clay and cross Kearny into Portsmouth Square, the birthplace of San Francisco. Captain John B. Montgomery raised the American flag here in 1846, claiming the settlement from Mexico. Two years later, gold was announced in this very square, and the city exploded overnight.
Today the square is Chinatown’s living room. On any given morning, dozens of elderly residents practice tai chi, play chess, and deal cards. A replica of the “Goddess of Democracy” from the Tiananmen Square protests stands in the upper level. The square sits atop the Portsmouth Square Garage if you drove.
The tour ends here. For dinner, Mister Jiu’s on Waverly Place is a block away (book ahead). The Financial District and the Transamerica Pyramid are five minutes east on Clay. Or walk north on Grant to Broadway and Columbus to pick up the North Beach walking tour at City Lights.