From Gastown to Chinatown the best way is to walk. The two neighbourhoods are next to each other, and the Chinatown Millennium Gate on West Pender Street, near Carrall Street, is an easy stroll from the Steam Clock.
Walking from the Steam Clock to the Millennium Gate
Start at the Gastown Steam Clock, on Water Street at Cambie. Head east along Water Street toward Carrall Street, then turn up Carrall toward Pender. The Millennium Gate stands over West Pender near the Carrall corner, and it marks the edge of Chinatown.
A little further along is the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. It is reached from Carrall, with the entrance a short way along beside the garden wall. If you want a different loop, walk back west on Water to Richards, climb a few blocks to West Pender and come down Pender toward the gate. That way you see more of the streets between the two areas.
Getting your bearings
Street signs are easy to read on every corner, and the gate is large enough that you will spot it once you are on Pender. If you lose track, ask in a shop or open a maps app, since both areas are busy with visitors most of the day.
Taking SkyTrain instead
You can ride, though for such a short trip it rarely saves time. Waterfront Station is a short walk from Gastown. Take the Expo Line from there and get off at Stadium-Chinatown, three stops away, then walk back toward Chinatown. The station is near BC Place and sits at the eastern end of the Dunsmuir Tunnel, so you finish with a walk of some distance.
A single TransLink fare is valid for 90 minutes across bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus. Check the TransLink website or app for current fares, service hours and alerts.
By car, bike or cab
Parking around both neighbourhoods is a mix of metered spots and lots. Rates and hours are posted on the signs and on the City of Vancouver parking pages, and they differ from block to block. Many visitors park once and walk between the two areas.
A taxi makes sense after dark or if you are carrying bags. The taxi fare estimator gives a rough cost, and Vancouver taxi covers pickups in the downtown core.