Chinese Stone Lions

Though parts of Chinatown are on all sides of the Gate of Harmonious Interest, the gate really marks the entrance to Chinatown proper since lower Fisgard Street is the heart of the district. Since the gate marks the entrance it is fitting that it is guarded by the two Chinese stone lions that traditionally guard the entrance to important areas. As you can see in the photos above, the two lions are not identical. They are yin and yang, female and male. On the left above is the protective female with her cub under her paws. On the right is the male with a globe (the world, the universe) in his paws. He protects the district and she protects those who live within it. Like the gate itself, these lions were a gift from Victoria's Chinese sister city, Suzhou .

Gate of Harmonious Interest

I thought it would be a nice change from beaches and parks to spend a few days looking around Victoria's Chinatown. Above is its most striking feature, the Gate of Harmonious Interest on Fisgard Street that was built in Victoria's Chinese sister city, Suzhou. The entire district is a National Historic Site of Canada. It's the oldest Chinatown in Canada and in North America only San Francisco's is older.