Iconic red lanterns return to San Francisco's Chinatown after being destroyed by winter storms

ITS VIBRANCY BACK. ♪ TIM: DANGLING ABOVE THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO'S CHINATOWN IS A SITE BOTH OLD AND NEW. >> THEY ARE ICONIC. IT IS PART OF US. IT IS PART OF CHINATOWN. TIM: FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, THESE LANTERNS HAVE WELCOMED LOCALS AND VISITORS ALONG GRAND AVENUE UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN THE HEAVY RAINS AND ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS OF THE WINTER DESTROYED THEM. >> THEY WERE TATTERED OR TORN. IT WAS HORRIBLE. AND YOU WOULD SEE MISSING LANTERNS BECAUSE THEY GOT BLOWN OFF. TIM: AFTER MONTHS OF FUNDRAISING, 180 NEW LANTERNS HAVE GONE UP, A WELCOME SIGHT FOR TOURISTS -- >> WHEN WE TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS AREA, WE TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS. TIM: AND LOCAL STORE OWNERS WHO SAY THE EXTRA FOOT TRAFFIC THE LANTERNS BRING MEANS EXTRA BUSINESS. >> THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WALKING THE STREETS, TAKING PICTURES WITH THEIR FAMILIES. TIM: THE LANTERNS ARE ALSO A WAY TO HELP KEEP YOU SAFE. THAT INCLUDES EVA LEE, THE COCHAIR OF THE CHINATOWN MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION. SINCE THE PANDEMIC, THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HIT BY ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES. THIS WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO WALK THE STREETS AFTER SUNSET. >> IT HAS BEEN HARD PROGRESS DURING MY LIFETIME, JUST BEYOND THE DEVASTATION OF THE PANDEMIC AND CHINATOWN BEING LIKE A GHOST TOWN. TIM: THERE WILL BE A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE LANTERNS ON TUESDAY, AND FOR LEE, SHE HOPES THAT THIS IS A BEACON OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHE LOVES AND THE ENTIRE CITY. >> WE SAW THESE LANTERNS IN SHREDS AND TATTERS, BUT THIS IS TO SHOW YOU WE CAN COME BACK. TIM:

Channel: ABC7 News Bay Area

Views: 2,799

Keywords: news, abc, abc7news, san francisco chinatown lanterns back up, chinatown red lanterns, sf chinatown visit, ribbon cutting ceremony red chinatown lanterns, san francisco places to go, sf chinatown, san francisco ca news

Id: IioD1Lv8vN4

Length: 2min 1sec (121 seconds)

Published: Tue Aug 08 2023