The Chinatown Gate is finally completed in Seattle’s International District. This is the first one of the two that were planned (the other will be in a different location a couple of blocks away). I always found it odd that Seattle, which has one of the biggest Chinatowns in the United States, never had a traditional gate found in other cities such as New York, Boston and San Francisco. After years of rallying, the Historic Chinatown Gates Foundation, pulled the community together, and were able to raise enough money to build two gates.
Paul Wu, designer and architect of the gate, says the gate brackets will follow a traditional Chinese design but, because of seismic requirements, they are ornamental rather than functional. The gate will be festooned with four creatures from Chinese mythology thought to bring good fortune: a fairy riding a bird, a dragon, a phoenix and a lion. The gate also will be covered in colorful ceramic panels to reduce maintenance. (PSBJ)
Seattle’s Chinatown is growing rapidly, so it is no surprise that a second one is being planned for construction soon. These type of gates are a strong tradition in China and it is great to see that this tradition is now being honored and passed down in Seattle.
A 10 a.m. ceremony to unveil the Chinatown Gate at South King Street and Fifth Avenue South will be held Saturday, Feb. 9. Lunar New Year events will be held the same day starting at noon at Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St. (SeattlePI)
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