Vancouver's Millennium Gate sits at the entrance of Chinatown, and was built to honour the people of China and the role they have played in Vancouver's long, colourful history. The name derives from the fact that the gate was constructed in 2002 to mark the turn of the millennium. China town has gone through challenging times of late due to changes in demographics, the movement of many business to all areas of the lower mainland, anti-chinese racism due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the spill over in crime and poverty in nearby areas. This virtual cache will take you on a quick tour of the Chinatown neighborhood and as you will learn from reading some of the information boards this is not the first time that Chinatown has gone through challenging times and comunity groups, local government and provincal governments are working to help it recover once again. In the mea time please excercise both caution and compassion as you make your way through some of the more challenged areas.
The posted coordinates will take you to the Millenium Gate, the four pillar-, three story tall gate is guarded by two stone foo lions, one male with a ball under his paw on the left side, and a female with cub on the right side. Images of Chinese people adorning the gates show different styles of clothing worn across China. One interesting feature of the Millennium Gate is its colour scheme, since it's a blend of traditional Eastern and modern Western motifs. The gates feature the traditional colours of red, yellow, and gold, as well as white and blue colours that are traditionally reserved for funerals.
Waypoint 1 will bring you to the Shanghai Alley Bell Historic Alley that marks the area of Vancouver's earliest Chinese settlement. Originally comprising Canton and Shanghai alley, this neighborhood housed more than 1,000 Asian-Canadian residents, and was home to stores, restaurants, opera and other cultural activities.
Shanghai Alley was the first part of Historic Alley to be constructed and inhabited. Later, in 1904, Canton Alley was added. Eventually, this was followed by a Chinese-style courtyard surrounded with residential and commercial buildings running in two parallel, southward rows. The heart of Historic Alley was the 500-seat theater, built in 1898, surrounded by restaurants and shops. This gave residents of Chinatown a way to enjoy Chinese-language entertainment, food, and company without having to leave their Vancouver home district, and ultimately resulted in a tightly woven Chinese-Canadian community, within the boundaries of which one could spend their entire life.
Waypoint 2 will bring you to the Chinatown Memorial Monument, the creation of sculpture Arthur Shu-ren Cheng with a main column that represents a stylized form of the Chinese character 'zhong' (centre in English) which symbolizes moderation and harmony.
To log this cache:
At the Millenium Gate:
1. Near the posted coordinates you will find a number of panels depicting musical instruments, what is one of the instruments? (Look up high)
Waypoint 2 - Shanghai Alley Bell:
2. What the names of the two alleys that formed the basis of Chinatown (one originating in 1886 and the other in 1904)
3. Provide the names and birth-death dates for two of the people memorialized at this location?
Chinatown Memorial Monument:
4. Describe what the bronze statues are of that represent the sacrifices made by Chinese Canadians in building a united and prosperous Canada?
5. What Shines as bright as the sun and moon?
At any waypoint:
6. Post a photo of yourself (you do not have to show your face) or a personal item, with one or more of the locations
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.