The San Francisco Chinatown is the oldest and one of the largest Chinese-American neighborhood in the US, originating from the 1850s when Chinese immigrants first came to northern California in search for jobs. Although their immigration was banned in 1882, the Chinatown survived and its population was swelled by newcomers after World War II. The visitor is struck by the dominance of Chinese signs, images, even newspapers in this small area right in the middle of downtown San Francisco.