Chinatown Imperial Arch

The Chinatown Imperial Arch stands on Faulkner Street in Manchester's Chinatown, in the city centre of north-west England. Erected in the 1980s, it is an ornate red and gold arch with decorated tiled roofs, dragons and lanterns, and it is said to be the only Imperial Chinese arch of its kind in the United Kingdom. It marks the heart of one of the largest Chinatowns in Britain, which is lined with restaurants serving Cantonese, Szechuan and other regional cuisines, dim sum cafes, bakeries and Asian supermarkets. The arch is the area's main visual landmark and a popular photo spot, particularly in the evening when lanterns and shop signs are lit and the red and gold colours stand out against the dark sky. Chinese New Year brings lion dances, parades and street stalls to the surrounding streets, and the neighbourhood is at its busiest then. The arch is free to see and always accessible, and a visit takes about 15 to 30 minutes, or longer when combined with a meal. Photographers can capture it from the street to include the lanterns overhead, or from further back to frame the whole structure with the buildings on both sides. Weekend evenings are crowded around restaurant doors, so a weekday visit is calmer. Chinatown is a short walk from Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester Art Gallery and the Metrolink at St Peter's Square, which makes it simple to add to a city centre itinerary. The streets around the arch also include Chinese supermarkets, tea shops and bakeries selling pastries and bubble tea, so a short visit can be turned into a snack stop. Many restaurants offer set lunch menus on weekdays at lower prices than evening menus, and larger groups can often book tables ahead for dim sum on weekends. Visitors should expect busy pavements around mealtimes and keep an eye on belongings in the crowd, as in any busy city centre area.