AsiaTown - Take a Hike Summer Series tour

The interactive walking tours are led by knowledgeable guides that will share fascinating facts about historical assets and key figures that helped make Cleveland a special place. You'll learn about architecture, cultural and neighborhood development, historic preservation, and Cleveland's role in American history. Along the way, you'll meet important figures from Cleveland’s past, portrayed by actors and actresses, who will share with you their stories.

AsiaTown Tour meets up outside of Li Wah Restaurant in . Please arrive 15 minutes early as the tour starts promptly.

About the Tour: AsiaTown’s early history reflects its roots as a European immigrant and industrial hub (late 1800s–1940s), home to Lithuanian, Polish, Croatian, and Slovenian communities.

Chinese Americans, escaping hostility and seeking economic opportunity, began arriving in Cleveland in the 1860s, establishing the city’s first small Chinatown near Ontario Street. By the 1940s, Chinese families had moved east to the Rockwell Avenue and East 22nd Street area, forming a more established Chinatown.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the neighborhood continued to evolve, welcoming Japanese Americans from the West Coast along with immigrants from Vietnam, Korea, and Thailand—broadening its cultural landscape.

Today, AsiaTown thrives as a vibrant cultural hub, business district, and residential neighborhood. Known for its diverse dining, shopping, and community events, it celebrates Asian American heritage while continuing to welcome new generations who contribute to its dynamic character.

RESERVATIONS are requested but not required, walk-ups the day of tour are welcomed.

TAKE A HIKE® is a program of Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation with generous support from Ohio & Erie Canalway and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

TAKE A HIKE® offers 45 unique in-person guided tours from May through December. Learn more at takeahikecle.com

- TAKE A HIKE® tours are free, however, donations to support the program are always appreciated.

Group Reservations - If you have a group larger than 8 people, please email Eileen at [email protected] in advance to reserve your tickets.

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About the Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation - Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation (HGNC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting historic, cultural, and heritage preservation through advocacy, education, and programs that support the ongoing revitalization of Cleveland’s unique historic district. For more information, visit www.ClevelandGatewayDistrict.com.

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Host or Publisher Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation