SF Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt Today
San Francisco's Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt takes place today in Chinatown and North Beach. Participants solve clues leading to hidden landmarks and secret viewpoints during the city's iconic parade. It's an urban adventure game exploring local history, architecture, and neighborhood culture.
The event is San Francisco's longest-running urban adventure, having been established in 1989. It was created by Jayson Wechter, a former private investigator, who was inspired by his interest in local history and a desire to create a live film noir experience. Teams of two to nine people solve cryptic clues that often involve wordplay, puzzles, and trivia related to San Francisco's past and present. The hunt's boundaries stretch from the Embarcadero to Nob Hill and from Market Street to Bay Street, leading participants to uncover obscure landmarks and forgotten architectural details. The event is designed to make participants see the city in a new light, encouraging them to look up, down, and all around to find answers. Wechter himself often lurks near clues to observe how teams interact with the locations. While there are prizes for solving the most clues in the shortest time, awards are also given for the most clever team names, which often feature puns related to the year's Chinese zodiac animal. The grand prize for winning the hunt is traditionally a "key to the city" cake. The treasure hunt also serves as a fundraiser for local non-profit organizations. Past beneficiaries have included Walk San Francisco and the San Francisco Circus Center. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes, as the hunt is done entirely on foot, and to bring a flashlight for navigating darker alleys and deciphering clues as evening falls. The event takes place rain or shine.
