Commuting to Manila Chinatown


Manila Chinatown is formed by a series of small roads. So the best way to get around is either by walking, taking a sidecar, or a kalesa. This community is mostly home to the immigrant Chinese and the Filipino-Chinese. As a result, Chinatown contains serveral Chinese restaurants, shops, and cultural landmarks.

Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch
Manila Chinatown - Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch
(Photo taken from: http://www.tropicalisland.de)

Fast Facts:

Nearest Train Station: LRT1-Carriedo
Bus Routes: North Avenue-Sta. Cruz
FX Routes: Divisoria-Roxas Blvd./Baclaran; Divisoria-Taft/Buendia/Baclaran
Jeepney Routes: Cubao-Divisoria; Divisoria-Roxas Blvd./Baclaran; Divisoria-Taft/Buendia/Baclaran; Espana-Divisoria; Morayta-Divisoria; North Avenue-Sta. Cruz; San Juan-Divisoria; Sta. Cruz-Binondo/Divisoria; Sta. Cruz-Taft/Buendia/Baclaran

Commuting Routes:

From Caloocan:

  1. Take the LRT1 to Carriedo station.
  2. Exit the station.
  3. Turn left at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  4. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.

From Las Pinas:

Route 1: FX-Jeep
  1. From Alabang-Zapote Road, ride an FX to Lawton, and get off in front of the Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office).
  2. Ride a jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Ongpin corner Q. Paredes. Landmark is Binondo Church.
Route 2: FX-Jeep
  1. From Alabang-Zapote Road, ride an FX to Lawton, and get off in front of the Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office).
  2. Ride a jeep to Sta. Cruz, and get off at Sta. Cruz Church.
  3. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  4. Turn right at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  5. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.

From Makati:

Route 1: Jeep-FX/Jeep
  1. From Guadalupe/Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia), ride a jeep to Cartimar, and get off at Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia) corner Taft Ave.
  2. Go to the side across Atrium Suites and EGI Mall.
  3. Ride an FX/jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Ongpin corner Q. Paredes. Landmark is Binondo Church.
Route 2: Jeep
  1. From Guadalupe/Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia), ride a jeep to Cartimar, and get off at Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia) corner Taft Ave.
  2. Go to the side across Atrium Suites and EGI Mall.
  3. Ride a jeep to Sta. Cruz, and get off at Sta. Cruz Church.
  4. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  5. Turn right at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  6. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.
Route 3: MRT-LRT1
  1. Take the MRT to Taft terminal station.
  2. Walk through the connecting foot bridge towards LRT1-EDSA station.
  3. Take the LRT1 to Carriedo station.
  4. Exit the station.
  5. Turn left at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  6. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.

From Mandaluyong/Pasig:

  1. Take the MRT to Taft terminal station.
  2. Walk through the connecting foot bridge towards LRT1-EDSA station.
  3. Take the LRT1 to Carriedo station.
  4. Exit the station.
  5. Turn left at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  6. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.

From Manila:

Route 1: FX/Jeep
  1. From Taft Avenue, ride an FX/jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Ongpin corner Q. Paredes. Landmark is Binondo Church.
Route 2: LRT1
  1. Take the LRT1 to Carriedo station.
  2. Exit the station.
  3. Walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  4. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.
Route 3: Jeep
  1. From Taft Avenue, ride a jeep to Sta. Cruz, and get off at Sta. Cruz Church.
  2. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  3. Turn right at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  4. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.
Route 4: Jeep
  1. From Morayta, ride a jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Arranque Market.
  2. Cross Claro M. Recto Avenue.
  3. Walk towards Soler (behind Arranque Market).
  4. Turn left at Soler, and walk until you get to T. Mapua.
  5. Turn right at T. Mapua, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin.
Route 5: LRT2
  1. Take the LRT2 to Recto terminal station.
  2. Take the South Exit.
  3. Turn left at Claro M. Recto, and walk about 1 block, past Calero, Oroquieta, and the Phil. Rabbit Terminal, until you get to Rizal Avenue.
  4. Turn left at Rizal Avenue, and walk about 4 blocks, past Soler, Germina, Katubusan, G. Puyat, and Ronquillo, until you get to LRT1-Carriedo station.
  5. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  6. Turn right, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  7. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.

From Marikina:

Route 1: LRT2
  1. Take the LRT2 to Recto terminal station.
  2. Take the South Exit.
  3. Turn left at Claro M. Recto, and walk about 1 block, past Calero, Oroquieta, and the Phil. Rabbit Terminal, until you get to Rizal Avenue.
  4. Turn left at Rizal Avenue, and walk about 4 blocks, past Soler, Germina, Katubusan, G. Puyat, and Ronquillo, until you get to LRT1-Carriedo station.
  5. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  6. Turn right, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  7. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.
Route 2: Jeep
  1. From SSS, ride a jeep to Cubao.
  2. From Cubao, ride a jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Arranque Market.
  3. Cross Claro M. Recto Avenue.
  4. Walk towards Soler (behind Arranque Market).
  5. Turn left at Soler, and walk until you get to T. Mapua.
  6. Turn right at T. Mapua, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin.

From Muntinlupa:

Route 1: Bus-Jeep
  1. From Manuela Metropolis Alabang (Metropolis Mall), ride a bus to Lawton, and get off in front of the Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office).
  2. Ride a jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Ongpin corner Q. Paredes. Landmark is Binondo Church.
Route 2: Bus-Jeep
  1. From Manuela Metropolis Alabang (Metropolis Mall), ride a bus to Lawton, and get off in front of the Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office).
  2. Ride a jeep to Sta. Cruz, and get off at Sta. Cruz Church.
  3. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  4. Turn right at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  5. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.

From Paranaque/Pasay:

Route 1: Jeep
  1. From Taft Avenue, ride a jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Ongpin corner Q. Paredes. Landmark is Binondo Church.
Route 2: Jeep
  1. From Taft Avenue, ride a jeep to Sta. Cruz, and get off at Sta. Cruz Church.
  2. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  3. Turn right at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  4. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.
Route 3: LRT1
  1. Take the LRT1 to Carriedo station.
  2. Exit the station.
  3. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  4. Turn right at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  5. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.

From Quezon City:

Route 1: Jeep/Bus
  1. From North Avenue, ride a jeep/bus to Sta. Cruz, and get off at Sta. Cruz Church.
  2. Turn right at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  3. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.
Route 2: Jeep
  1. From LRT2-Cubao station, ride a jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Arranque Market.
  2. Cross Claro M. Recto Avenue.
  3. Walk towards Soler (behind Arranque Market).
  4. Turn left at Soler, and walk until you get to T. Mapua.
  5. Turn right at T. Mapua, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin.
Route 3: MRT-LRT1
  1. Take the MRT to Taft terminal station.
  2. Walk through the connecting foot bridge towards LRT1-EDSA station.
  3. Take the LRT1 to Carriedo station.
  4. Exit the station.
  5. Turn left at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  6. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.
Route 4: LRT2
  1. Take the LRT2 to Recto terminal station.
  2. Take the South Exit.
  3. Turn left at Claro M. Recto, and walk about 1 block, past Calero, Oroquieta, and the Phil. Rabbit Terminal, until you get to Rizal Avenue.
  4. Turn left at Rizal Avenue, and walk about 4 blocks, past Soler, Germina, Katubusan, G. Puyat, and Ronquillo, until you get to LRT1-Carriedo station.
  5. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  6. Turn right, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  7. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.

From San Juan:

Route 1: Jeep
  1. From Aurora Blvd., ride a jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Arranque Market.
  2. Cross Claro M. Recto Avenue.
  3. Walk towards Soler (behind Arranque Market).
  4. Turn left at Soler, and walk until you get to T. Mapua.
  5. Turn right at T. Mapua, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin.
Route 2: LRT2
  1. Take the LRT2 to Recto terminal station.
  2. Take the South Exit.
  3. Turn left at Claro M. Recto, and walk about 1 block, past Calero, Oroquieta, and the Phil. Rabbit Terminal, until you get to Rizal Avenue.
  4. Turn left at Rizal Avenue, and walk about 4 blocks, past Soler, Germina, Katubusan, G. Puyat, and Ronquillo, until you get to LRT1-Carriedo station.
  5. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  6. Turn right, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  7. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.

From Taguig:

Route 1: Jeep-FX/Jeep
  1. From NAMRIA, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Gate 2, 3rd Avenue, 26th Street, 32nd Street, or 34th Street, ride a jeep to Guadalupe.
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  2. From Guadalupe, ride a jeep to Cartimar, and get off at Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia) corner Taft Ave.
  3. Go to the side across Atrium Suites and EGI Mall.
  4. Ride an FX/jeep to Divisoria, and get off at Ongpin corner Q. Paredes. Landmark is Binondo Church.
Route 2: Jeep
  1. From NAMRIA, Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Gate 2, 3rd Avenue, 26th Street, 32nd Street, or 34th Street, ride a jeep to Guadalupe.
  2. From Guadalupe, ride a jeep to Cartimar, and get off at Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia) corner Taft Ave.
  3. Go to the side across Atrium Suites and EGI Mall.
  4. Ride a jeep to Sta. Cruz, and get off at Sta. Cruz Church.
  5. Cross Rizal Avenue.
  6. Turn right at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  7. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.
Route 3: Bus-MRT-LRT1
  1. From McKinley Road, Pacific Plaza, 5th Avenue, 26th Street, or 32nd Street, ride the Fort bus to Ayala.
  2. Take the MRT to Taft terminal station.
  3. Walk through the connecting foot bridge towards LRT1-EDSA station.
  4. Take the LRT1 to Carriedo station.
  5. Exit the station.
  6. Turn left at Rizal Avenue, and walk past Sta. Cruz Church towards Bustos.
  7. Turn left at Bustos, and walk about 1 block until you get to Ongpin. Chinatown begins there, right behind Sta. Cruz Church.