The fun and easy two hour walking tour of New York Manhattan Chinatown that will introduce you to the magic of recognizing and reading Chinese characters.


The next tour:

WHEN:      Saturday, Feb. 3rd 2007 at 11:30 AM
WHERE:    Meets at Chinatown Information Kiosk (Canal Street & Baxter Street) 
               [Map]    [How to get there]

Please RSVP by clicking here or by phoning 718 760 4809.  The cost of the tour is $16 without reservations and $14 with reservations. 




The Walk and Learn tour assumes no prior familiarity with Chinese writing or the Chinese language; just a curiosity and a willingness to learn.  During the course of this walking tour through Chinatown you will:

   Learn to recognize many of the most common Chinese characters;

   Be introduced to the rich history of the Chinese language and its unique writing system;

   Learn the difference between the “traditional” characters used in Hong Kong and Taiwan and the “simplified” characters used in mainland China. 

This walking tour is interactive and takes advantage of the visual context of Chinatown.  As you learn new characters, you will be encouraged to spot them on signs and identify them yourself.  Learning becomes a game, as you learn to pick out the words for “bakery,” “pharmacy,” “Shanghai,” etc.  Chinese writing will never seem as mysterious to you again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Where and when does the tour meet?

A:  On Saturday, July 22 at 11:30 AM at the Chinatown Information Kiosk at Canal Street at Walker Street and Baxter Street.  Please be prompt, since once we start moving it will be hard to catch up with the group.

Q:  Are reservations necessary?

A:  All are welcome, but reservations are strongly encouraged.  By reserving in advance you not only allow us to gauge the size of the turnout, but allow us to contact you with any last minute updates.  As a thank you, we are offering a $2 discount to anyone who has made a reservation.  No payment is required in advance.


Q:  Will “Walk and Learn Chinese” be offered again?

A:  We hope that we will eventually be able to offer this unique walking tour on a regular basis.  We encourage you to come to our session on July 22, but if you cannot make this date, you can put yourself on our mailing list by clicking [HERE] and signing up for emails regarding future events. 

Q:  Are there discounts available?

A:  Yes.  You can save $2 per person by making a reservation in advance by  clicking here  or leaving a message at 718-760-4809.  $2 discount is also offered to full time students and seniors;

Please RSVP by or by phoning 718 760 4809. 

Q:  How is Walk and Learn different from other walking tours on the market?

A:  One of the joys of living in or visiting New York is the wonderful variety of walking tours available.  There are some truly outstanding tours offered by other companies.  Their focus, however, tends to be on local history and architecture.  Walk and Learn Chinese is unique that it uses the city around us as a classroom to introduce you to the Chinese language – surely one of the most important languages in the world today. 

Q:  What if my calendar doesn’t work with the scheduled time for Walk and Learn Chinese?  Is it possible to schedule a custom tour?

A:  Of course.  We will be happy to arrange a private walking tour for your group, your family, or even for yourself.  We can customize the date, time, and itinerary.  The rates are for private walking tours are negotiable.  If you are interested, please contact us by clicking here.


Q:  Isn’t the Chinese writing system very difficult to master?

A:  Complete mastery of any subject takes time and effort, however, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to grasp a few of the basics.  It is much easier to learn to recognize some common characters than it is to learn to write them.


Q:  What if I would like a more in-depth introduction to the Chinese language, including Chinese conversation? 

A:  We would recommend that you consider Yao Mandarin’s Mandarin Quick Learn course, a program designed to teach the fundamentals of Mandarin Chinese conversation in about 30 hours of classroom time.  Our classes are conveniently located in the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan.  Yao Mandarin also offers translation services at reasonable rates.  Please check the Yao Mandarin website for more details about learning Chinese.


Q:  What is Yao Mandarin?

A:  Yao Mandarin was founded by Mr. Yao Zhang to make the teaching of the Chinese language as painless and efficient as possible.   Yao has taught Chinese in Shanghai, France and New York.  His students have hailed from the United States, France, Canada, Jamaica, Denmark, Nigeria, Japan and Australia. 


If you have more questions, please send us an e-mail at: yao@quickmandarin.com.