A symbol of renewal
Elegantly dressed, internationally known Chinese movie star Anna May Wong wielded a hefty shovel as she planted a willow tree. It was 1938, and the occasion was the inauguration of the Wishing Well fountain. It’s said to be a miniature replica of Seven Star Cavern, a Yosemite-like wonderland, full of watery caves, rivers, lakes and craggy mountainsides. Designed by Henry Hong K. Liu, a professor at USC, it was once a formidable art structure that has taken a beating over the decades.
Many Angelenos avoided the original Chinatown in the late 19th century. It was perceived as unhealthy and dangerous. The streets were narrow and cramped, the buildings ramshackle and dimly lit. But, there were other cultural issues at play. The Chinese Exclusion Acts of the 1880s created an institutionalized racism aimed at keeping the Chinese out of the United States. Chinese laborers were seen as competition to those who were American-born – even though Chinese immigrants were relied upon heavily just 30 years prior to build US railroads. Chinese women were at the railyards too – in hideous conditions and trapped as prostitutes. Race covenants kicked in during the early part of the 20th century. Real-estate advertisements often stated, “Whites only.” The presence of nonwhite residents was thought to bring property values down.
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Address On Gin Ling Way in the middle of the Central Plaza, 950 North Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Public Transport Metro Gold Line to the Chinatown Station, then a .5-mile walk | Getting there Metered street parking | Hours Always viewable| Tip Check out the mural Chinese Celestial Dragon, painted by Tyrus Wong, located in the Central Plaza, at the corner of Broadway and Bamboo. Wong was one of the first Chinese Americans employed by Walt Disney Studios; his artistic style was the basis for the animated feature Bambi.
It was this climate in which the Wishing Well was made. Old Chinatown had been razed, making way for Union Station and the 101 freeway. Seizing an opportunity to redefine their identity, a group of Chinese pooled their money to build the Central Plaza, a colorful outdoor retail space featuring the fountain. Nature was worshipped in classical Chinese art, and the fountain’s purpose was to be a beacon of peace and contemplation in the urban world. The new Chinatown quickly became a vibrant destination for all races and ethnicities.
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