June 28th, 11.00am – 12.30pm at Chinatown Memorial Square (135-137 Keefer Street, Vancouver)
Featuring Larry Chin
Step into the layered histories of Vancouver’s historic Chinatown through the lens of literature. Join community historian and guide Larry Chin for a literary walking tour that traces the neighbourhood’s presence in some of the most important works of Asian Canadian literature. Immersing you through the streets, stores, and gathering places of Chinatown, participants will visit key cultural sites that appear in and resonate with landmark texts such as The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy, The Concubine’s Children by Denise Chong, Disappearing Moon Café by SKY Lee, and more. These stories have shaped how generations of readers understand migration, family, resilience, and belonging in Canada.
Chin will weave you through layers of historical and cultural insights, community memories, and literary connections that illuminate how Chinatown has served not only as a physical neighbourhood but also as a powerful imaginative landscape in Asian Canadian literature. Participants will gain a deeper appreciation of how writers have transformed real streets, businesses, and community spaces into enduring literary settings. This tour offers a rare opportunity to experience Chinatown as both a living community and a literary map. Join us for this walk as we invite you to encounter Vancouver through the voices and stories that have helped shape Asian Canadian history. Wear your most comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing for this walk. The walk is approximately 1.5 hours. The walk starts at 11am at the Chinatown Memorial Square located at 135-137 Keefer Street, Vancouver.
Chinatown Memorial Square (135-137 Keefer Street, Vancouver)
We would like to acknowledge that our festival takes place on the unceded traditional territories of the Skwxwú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaɬ and xʷməθkwəy̓əm First Nations.
LiterASIAN 2026 