1. Name Origin of SF and Golden Gate
1.1. SF
The city was named by Spanish colonists in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. The full Spanish name given to the area was “La Misión de Nuestro Padre San Francisco de Asís” (The Mission of Our Father Saint Francis of Assisi), referring to the founding of the Mission San Francisco de Asís, also known as Mission Dolores, in 1776
1.2. Golden Gate
It was named in 1846 by John C. Frémont, an American explorer, who likened it to the Golden Horn in the Bosporus, a famous strait in Istanbul, Turkey. Frémont called it the “Chrysopylae” or “Golden Gate,” as he believed the harbor of San Francisco to be a strategic trading center for the Pacific.
2. Origin of Dim Sum
Associated with the Cantonese tradition of “yum cha”
- Tea house
- Imperial kitchens, variety and refinement influenced by the imperial kitchens
- Guangdong and Hong Kong
3. Why SF Chinatown Famous
- Oldest Chinatown in North America, largest Chinese enclave outside Asia
- Tourist: bustling streets, ornate temples, traditional markets, unique shops
- Restaurant: a range of authentic Chinese cuisines
4. SF Homeless Problem
- High cost of living, significant shortage of affordable housing
- Lack of comprehensive homeless services
- Tourism