Warriors explore Detroit's historic Chinatown neighborhood

Few signs of Detroit's once-thriving Chinatown neighborhood are noticeable today. If it weren't for the fading Chinese characters scrawled on a few structures at the corner of Cass Avenue and Peterboro, one might not know it existed at all.

On Thursday, May 24, a group of alumni, future and current students took a journey through time as they discussed the past (and future) of this integral piece of Detroit history.

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the walking tour was organized by Haiyong Liu, director of Wayne State University's Linguistics Program, and took participants to a number of historic sites throughout the Cass Corridor, including the Masonic Temple.

Led by Detroit History Tours Guide Michael Boettcher, the group learned about the rise and decline of Detroit's Chinatown and how the area was woven into the cultural fabric of the broader Cass Corridor neighborhood. The tour made several stops to discuss the area's Albert Kahn-created architectural gems and the history of several Cass Corridor apartment buildings which were once affluent hotels.

The tour was a valuable learning experience for all and it helped to promote understanding and appreciation of Chinese American culture in Detroit and beyond.