Do those upturned eaves catch your eye? That is no accident. Welcome to the Historic Chinatown Gate. This archway marks the west end of Seattle’s Chinatown neighborhood. It stands tall over South King Street.
The Historic Chinatown Gate is a modern paifang archway. You will find it in the Chinatown-International District. The gate is a symbol of the neighborhood’s rich heritage. It stands 45 feet tall. That is about 14 meters. The gate sits east of 5th Avenue South. Look toward the International District/Chinatown light rail station.
The Historic Chinatown Gate’s story began long before its dedication. In 2002, volunteers formed the Historic Chinatown Gate Foundation. They had a dream. They wanted to build a gate. This gate would honor the Chinese community. They started planning and fundraising.
The foundation raised $500,000. Chinatown residents contributed. So did the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The South Downtown Foundation also helped. The City of Seattle and King County pitched in too. MulvannyG2 Architecture contributed as well.
Paul Wu of MulvannyG2 Architecture designed the gate. He collaborated with Ming Zhang. Wu traveled to southern China. He studied traditional gates. These gates marked city entrances. He worked with a design institute in China. Together, they created the design for Seattle’s gate.
Construction took several months in late 2007. The gate is made of steel and ceramic ornaments. Over 8000 ceramic tiles adorn the structure. These tiles were crafted in southern China. According to Wu, most elements could not be obtained anywhere else.
An expert in traditional Chinese gate construction came from China. He worked with the local construction crew. The crew worked hard for five months. They dedicated nine hours a day, six days a week. The construction crew consisted of six full-time workers and two part-time workers.
The Historic Chinatown Gate was dedicated on February 9, 2008. Local officials attended the ceremony. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels was there. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire also attended.
The gate features bright colors. You will see lucky red, yellow, gold, and blue. Dragons and a phoenix decorate the roof. These animals keep out bad luck. An orb sits at the top. It represents a fireball from heaven. This fireball brings good luck.
According to Wu, the upturned eaves soften strong energy. Some Chinese believe straight lines shoot strong energy. The curves soften this effect.
The Historic Chinatown Gate Foundation continues to raise money. They hope to build an eastern gate. It would be located at S King Street and 12th Avenue S. Tuk Eng, the foundation president, said the gate is for the whole Pacific Northwest. It represents the roots of the Chinese in Seattle.
Take a moment to appreciate this gate. It symbolizes the strength and resilience of Seattle’s Chinese community. The Historic Chinatown Gate stands as a testament to their rich culture and history.