Art lovers, culture connoisseurs or history buffs will feel at home in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region.
Throughout the region – from the Fraser Valley, New Westminster, Port Moody and Chilliwack in the south to Bowen Island, the Sunshine Coast, Britannia Beach and Squamish in the north – there is a diverse selection of exceptional art galleries, wonderful museums, captivating Aboriginal experiences and fascinating historic sites that are enriching, informing and inspiring.
Metro Vancouver's Asian Communities
More than half of Vancouver's population is composed of visible minorities, with significant Chinese and Indian communities lending the city its famous Asian feel.
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Vancouver's Chinatown – the second biggest in North America – boasts the largest classical Chinese garden outside China, while the suburb of Richmond's Golden Village district is home to hundreds of East Asian shops and restaurants. Visitors to Richmond are also welcome to tour the International Buddhist Temple, perhaps the most exquisite example of traditional Chinese architecture in Canada.
In summer, outdoor Chinese night markets are held every weekend in both Vancouver and Richmond. Vendors sell food, clothing and other wares at great prices.
In June, the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival attracts thousands of visitors to Vancouver's False Creek for traditional Chinese longboat races and live entertainment.
Metro Vancouver is also home to a large South Asian community. In Vancouver's Little India district, dine on authentic cuisine and shop for jewellery and fabrics. Pick up traditional sweets each fall during Diwali, the South Asian festival of light, or attend a Vancouver or Surrey Vaisakhi parade held each spring – Surrey's celebration of this Sikh holiday attracts well over a hundred thousand parade-goers every year.
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