288 DAYSSan Francisco · 1915
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The Zone · The Zone

Chinese Pagoda and Village

A tall pagoda and walled village at the Laguna bend whose 'Underground Chinatown' drug-horror show outdrew its Chinese culture.

The Chinese Pagoda and Tea Garden Company, headed by Jim Wong, built a tall and sprawling piece of construction at the Zone's bend at Laguna Street. Together with the Submarines and Toyland it gave that corner its broken, picturesque skyline. The ground-breaking on July 17, 1914, was a pageant. Dignitaries rode out from the hall of the Chinese Six Companies with the New Cathay Boys' Band. A choir of Chinese girls sang 'I Love You, California', and Jim Wong's daughter Mary turned the first shovel of earth.

The village held quarters for two downtown clubs and a chamber of horrors first called Underground Chinatown, which gave visitors lurid warnings about opium smokers and drug addicts. China's Commissioner-General objected to the name. Under the rules of the Berlin convention on expositions the Exposition backed him, and the show was renamed 'Underground Slumming' with the Chinese characters removed. Todd noted that the Chinese parts of the village did poorly while the un-Chinese parts did well. Within two months of closing a spectacle called 'Heaven and Hell' was built inside the village's space.

China's official presence at the fair was elsewhere: the Forbidden City pavilion on the Esplanade.

At a glance

  • Ground broken July 17, 1914; Jim Wong was president of the concession company.
  • The Official Guide calls it 'a great Chinese City'; Todd calls it the Chinese Pagoda and Village.
  • 'Underground Chinatown' was renamed 'Underground Slumming' after the Chinese Commissioner-General protested.
  • An early concession list of July 1913 includes 'a Chinese pagoda' paying $5,000.

Afterward

Demolished with the Zone in 1916; the site is Marina District housing near Laguna Street.

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