Chinatown’s Underground Tunnels
Fresno is known to have its little unusual and mindboggling treasures. For first time visitors, it is recommended that you take the chance to visit the famous underground tunnels in Fresno’s historic Chinatown. Fresno’s Chinatown was established in 1872, a little over a decade before the founding of the city of Fresno in 1885. Chinatown is a place of exceptionally good eating, shopping, sights, and music. The biggest mystery is the hidden underground tunnels.
Many generations of Fresno residents have speculated about the secret underground world of Fresno’s nineteenth century Chinatown. A local Chinatown resident shared how past property owners, when asked whether there were underground tunnels, adamantly feigned any knowledge about their existence. New tenants moved in and they discovered the possibility of this rumor. In 2007, a team of high speed rail archeologists, while exploring and excavating an old, abandoned building (possible a restaurant or home) in Chinatown, came across a basement. Descending down into the lower region of the ruined building, the group discovered a dark crawl space boarded up by aging plywood. It is here they made discovery of the hidden secret tunnel system dating back over a century ago.
Local Chinatown residents, holders of Chinatown’s history, explained that the tunnels were used by patrons, so they could travel across all parts of the town secretly. The tunnels is littered with openings to different parts of the streets for quick entries and exits. The underground city of burrows was a place to hide from police raids, escaping unwanted attention. In this tunnel, hidden from daylight, a society of people may have lived here way back to 1905. A team of archeologists are still studying the roots of these burrows, looking for hidden gems in these underground caverns.
One of the local tenants, an owner of his uncle’s old fish company, opened up his building to the public, allowing for the occasional tour into this historical place. Entering from the back storage room, through a door in the floor, down a case of rotting and ancient stairs, visitors can see a subterranean world. Tourists will be in for a treat on this underground tour, venturing down the tunnels that intersect, twist, and swirl around and through Chinatown.
Take part in experiencing what life was like in this secret underground world. Beyond cobwebs and broken bricks, find secret classrooms for women and children. Explore the tiny homes packed wall to wall with beds. Admire the small kitchens and bath areas with leftover buckets. There is talk about a temple or church existing within the tunnels, but it has yet to be found. The architectural walls have been carved into art over the century, displaying a history of little drawings by children, symbols of pride in their heritage, and other hidden messages.
As mentioned, archeologists are still excavating these tunnels full of sealed passages, and local Chinatown residents want to preserve the history, so tours of this place do not occur often. When there are enough handy men and archeologists on hand to ensure the safety of the tourists and the preservation of tunnels, more tours may be available in the future. There will be chances to wander through the tunnels and exit out of secret doors leading to homes, an old barbershop, markets, inns, and restaurants.
Once the research of these buildings is complete, visitors will get to fully experience the beauty of these tunnels. In October, the gracious hosts, who opened their hidden tunnel entry to the public, will be holding a Test of Courage on Fridays at midnight. Daring individuals will have the opportunity to participate in the Scavenger Hunt Challenge, where one person or a group of two will have to try to navigate their way through the dark tunnels and bring back the hidden items on their list. We hope you will be visiting Chinatown at that time.
In the meantime, visitors are more than welcome to visit and experience the history of Chinatown. The town takes pride in preserving the architectural design that their ancestors created years ago. Please enjoy venturing down the narrow streets. There is always something amazing to see from day to night. As mentioned earlier, visitors should not leave without trying the excellent food and experiencing the culture. There are plenty of secrets in this mysterious town, some secrets which will be hard to unmask from the local residents, but that is part of the charm of Fresno’s Chinatown. The trip to Chinatown will be a historical and enlightening experience.
The Existential Van 