All About Chinatown San Francisco

Our guides set us apart from other tours. We don’t tell ourselves this; our repeat customers continue to make this claim. Knowledgeable, experienced, fun-loving and passionate about what we do, we hope that our enthusiasm will create memories that remain with you for a lifetime.

Linda Lee

Linda Lee is the owner of All About Chinatown Tours, now in its 25th year.

Linda’s career in travel started at age four when she helped stamp brochures for her family’s travel and tour business in Chinatown, established in l957. Born and raised in Chinatown, extensive experiences as travel agency owner, tour leader to Asia, airlines sales rep, and director and executive officer of the Chinese Historical Society of America inspired Linda to create tours that allow visitors an insider’s view most people never see or hear about.

Tish Borden

Tish Borden’s love of the outdoors finds her pounding the pavements to share her passion of all things Chinese. Formerly a ski instructor and now director of swim programs, this active mother of three lived in Taiwan and speaks Mandarin.

Scot Butts

Scot was born in Hawaii, so you’ll understand why he is full of good cheer and maintains humor and composure in any situation. Scot has been a tour guide for over 20 years and has lived in San Francisco for over 35 years. Scot does local tours of San Francisco and the Bay Area, so if you have questions about Chinatown and beyond, tap this expert for information.

Caroline Cabading

Caroline Cabading worked as a docent for the world renown Exploratorium Science Museum and the Academy of Sciences. She is a jazz singer, accomplished musician and dancer of the classical arts of the Philippines. She brings to our tours knowledge of many Asian cultures, not just Chinese.

John Doyle

John Doyle is a professional stand-up comic. A graduate of the International Tour Management Institute, John conducts student tours and make appearances at comedy gigs around the country. Fun and witty, you can count on John to try to make you laugh at every turn.

Lynn Eichinger

Lynn's interest in the Chinese in America goes back decades, inspiring her to lead tours of Chinatown and Angel Island State Park, where she is a docent. Previous professions include working for IBM and McKesson Corporation as an information technology manager, as well as having taught in public schools for 9 years.

Alan Fong

Alan Fong started conducting tours in Chinatown since 1970, making him the most experienced leader on our team. Alan trained tour guides for Grayline Sightseeing for 13 years. His extensive experience and deep roots in the community give a true insider’s perspective of Chinatown.

Stan Gee

Stan Gee, or “Uncle Gee,” continues to enthrall guests of all ages with his stories of growing up in Chinatown. His mantra of “education”, “respect”, “family” and “I can do” inspire our student groups as well as seniors. Stan retired as a vice president of an international communications conglomerate to start Gee Consultants, a consulting firm for corporations interested in doing business in China.

Beth Graubart

Beth has been leading groups around San Francisco and the Bay Area for over twenty years, first as an elementary school teacher and now as a professional tour guide. She is a graduate of the International Tour Management Institute and a member of the San Francisco Tour Guide Guild. Her tours combine history, culture, and literature, with a spirit of adventure and a sense of humor and fun. She enjoys sharing the wonders of Chinatown with visitors of all ages.

Janice Hom

Janice Hom, a native San Franciscan, has been a community volunteer for over 20 years. Involved with the Asian Art Museum, Chinese Culture Center, Asian Business League, and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, her extensive knowledge of Asian arts makes her a true “walking encyclopedia.”

Ed Igarashi

Ed Igarashi (alias Jack Soo) brings enthusiasm, warmth, and humor to every tour he conducts. A graduate of the International Tour Management Institute, Ed has led tours throughout the U.S. with a specialty in national parks for over 20 years. He resembles Jack Soo from the movie “Flower Drum Song,” so call him Jack.

Carlos Lopez

Carlos Lopez speaks Spanish, French, and even a little German and Italian with our international visitors. We’re waiting for him to add Chinese to this list. An honors graduate of the International Tour Management Institute, Carlos conducts city tours of San Francisco as a driver/guide. When he’s tired of driving, he walks with us.

Harvey Louie

Harvey Louie, born and raised in Chinatown, has extensive historical and insightful cultural knowledge of Chinatown. His active insurance business as well as his leadership in many community organizations keep him in touch with the business and political affairs of Chinatown. Harvey is an avid boater and races annually in the Dragon Boat Festival of the Bay Area.

Don McNab

Don McNab brings tremendous study of the Chinese language and culture to his tour. Fluent in Spanish and Hebrew, Don is working on adding Mandarin Chinese to his multi-lingual tours. Don’s diverse work in teaching, the travel industry, and as associate producer for Fox News helps him enjoy people of all backgrounds.

Bea Mitchell

Bea Mitchell comes to us with 14 years of tour leading experience throughout the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, and the East Coast. A graduate of the International Tour Management Institute, she specializes in conducting tours throughout California and welcomes Chinatown as a microcosm of Chinese history and culture in California. When Bea is not leading tours, she is an avid worldwide traveler herself.

Vicky Northridge

Vicky Northridge is arguably the true Chinese scholar of the team. She is an accomplished foreign language teacher, fluent and literate in Mandarin and French, and has worked as a consultant and cultural liaison for businesses and government agencies from China. Vicky has led specialized groups to China and maintains homes in San Francisco, China and Tibet.

Rick Spear

Rick Spear has been conducting walking tours in San Francisco for over 13 years. He loves to share the history and culture of his adopted home with visitors, taking guests to those off the beaten track places that only locals know. Rick also has extensive experience working with community organizations in Chinatown that help immigrants and refugees from Asia adjust to their new lives in the Bay Area. Rick was trained by the National Park Service and the International Tour Management Institute.

Madelon Van Lier

Madelon Van Lier, fluent in Dutch and Hebrew, is a graduate of the International Tour Management Institute and a Certified Guide in the San Francisco Tour Guide Guild. She has been conducting tours throughout California and Europe since 1996. We are blessed with her attention to detail, respect of other cultures, and her worldwide travel experiences, which even includes participating in a dig at Beit Shean, Israel.

Frank Yee

Frank Yee is an English as a Second Language instructor for adults. Flawless in spoken Cantonese and Mandarin and literate as well, Frank’s family goes back 5 generations in Chinatown. In his own words, “I want to share my knowledge of the longest continuous human civilization in history and the integral role Chinatown played in the founding of San Francisco.”