One glance confirms why Sunset and Los Angeles magazines tout this locale as a hot destination for urban adventures. It's hip, it's distinctive and it allows visitors to partake in an energetic, thriving quarter of 24 square blocks.

North Broadway delineates the entrance into a parallel universe. Crossing under the enormous golden dragons atop the "Gateway to Chinatown" transports visitors to a foreign land. Chinese lettering adorns signs, unfamiliar aromas emanate from crowded restaurants; jade, 22-karat gold and crimson silk are lavishly displayed in storefronts.

Guided walking tours of L.A.'s Chinatown are available the first Saturday of every month. The 2 1/2 hour jaunt, led by Holly Barnhill, Chinatown's marketing consultant, is ideal for familiarizing newcomers with the area. "The tour is very popular, and shopping is a big part of the attraction. Many people make a day of it: tour, lunch and an afternoon of shopping," said Barnhill. Participants visit a temple, antique shops, boutiques that are all the rage, and super-cool art galleries. Once you have the lay of the land, venture out on your own. Angels Walk LA brochures are available at most businesses to help navigate.

Central Plaza is the nucleus of Chinatown. Although its history dates back to 1938, the plaza is proof that the march of progress hasn't waned in the region. Trendy shops have emerged beside kitschy stores from yesteryear. A perfect example is Realm, an uber-cool boutique with Asian-influenced housewares, books and gifts. Silver fortune cookie place-card holders are a steal at $10 a set. Funky plastic trays with images of the Last Emperor sell for $17. Glass tumblers with colorful swirl designs are $5 apiece.

Chung King Road, located directly across from Central Plaza, has morphed into an art haven. This locale houses a few dozen galleries. Works range from performance art and paintings to sculptures and ceramics. Flux Ceramic Gallery, owned by Delane Hamik and Lilith Rockett, personifies the objective of the area. "We wanted beautiful handmade objects that people can use," said Hamik. Their studio showcases the work of artisans who have inspired them; tea sets, vases, jewelry. Prices are $10 to $500.

In the mood to barter? Head over to Dynasty Center on North Broadway. Shoes, hats, toys, prom dresses and children's clothing fill the 225 kiosks inside the court. State your price; if it's reasonable, it's accepted. Saigon Plaza, a few doors down, offers a labyrinth of outdoor stalls offering more deals. Luggage, lingerie and clothes spill into the aisles, pleading to be purchased.

Submerge yourself in the culture at Wing Hop Fungs, the largest store in L.A.'s Chinatown. A pastiche of peculiarities fill the two-story building in the Far East Plaza. The first floor hosts barrels of ginseng, dried seafood products and a Chinese pharmacy. A doctor of Chinese medicine is available for consultations. For $15, he will evaluate your health by looking at the color of your eyes and tongue, as well as taking your pulse. Packages of medicinal herbs are prescribed, yielding a concoction that is to be boiled in water or chicken broth. Commonly, boiled ginseng, fish maw, mushrooms and fungus result in an energy-boosting elixir. Thirty percent of Hop Fung's clients are not Asian. Celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal purchase herbs here.