DISCOVER 2 MORE OF AAPI CULTURE IN LOS ANGELES

Thien Hau Temple | Photo: Chris Valle Photography,
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Los Angeles is home to some of the largest Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) enclaves outside of their native countries. Generations of AAPI immigrants and Asian Americans have helped make LA one of the most diverse cities in the country. From cultural institutions to landmark buildings, World War II monuments and more, explore the rich cultures and vital histories of the AAPI community in Los Angeles.

1) THIEN HAU TEMPLE

756 Yale St., Los Angeles 90012
213-680-1860
Thien Hau Temple is a Taoist temple in Chinatown that's dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of the sea and the patron saint of sailors, fishermen, and those whose cultures are associated with the ocean. Shrines at the temple venerate Mazu, Guan Yu (god of war) and Fu De (god of the earth). On Lunar New Year’s Eve, crowds gather at the temple to receive blessings, burn incense, and worship the deities. Lion dancers perform and firecrackers are popped to scare away evil spirits. Blessings are given at the temple during the first few weeks of the new year.
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2) USC PACIFIC ASIA MUSEUM

46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101
626-449-2742
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Photo: USC Pacific Asia Museum

One of the few U.S. institutions dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands, the USC Pacific Asia Museum has a collection of more than 15,000 objects, spanning more than 4,000 years of the region from Persia to the Pacific Islands. The museum exhibits classic and contemporary art in the Grace Nicholson building, a registered California State Historic Landmark. Inspired by the classic gardens of China, the museum’s courtyard was designed by Gilbert Leong, the first Chinese American to graduate from USC with a degree in architecture.
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