DISCOVER 5 MORE MUSEUMS, LANDMARKS, AND MONUMENTS OF AAPI CULTURE IN LOS ANGELES

James Hong receives his Walk of Fame star

Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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) HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

7018 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90028
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The world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame features more than 2,700 terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. The five-pointed stars honor actors, musicians, directors, producers and others in the entertainment industry.

At a joint ceremony in February 1960, Anna May Wong and Sessue Hayakawa became the first Asian Americans to receive stars on the Walk of Fame. An LA native, Wong is renowned as the first Chinese American Hollywood movie star.

In May 2022, legendary character actor James Hong was honored with a star, located on Hollywood Boulevard between the TCL Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds. At 93, Hong became the Walk of Fame's oldest honoree - he is the only living actor to have worked with Clark Gable and Groucho Marx. Hong's extraordinary list of credits includes Chinatown, Blade Runner and Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Other Walk of Fame stars include the first Korean American honoree, Philip Ahn (posthumous, 1984); Bruce Lee (posthumous, 1993), East West Players founding member Mako (1994) and the second AAPI actress, Lucy Liu (2019). Liu's star is located next to Wong's at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.
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2) HSI LAI TEMPLE

3456 S. Glenmark Dr., Hacienda Heights 91745
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One of the largest Buddhist temples in the Western Hemisphere, Hsi Lai Temple is a mountain monastery located on a 15-acre site in Hacienda Heights. Spanning more than 102,000 square feet, the temple's architecture, gardens and statuary are modeled after ancient Chinese monasteries from the Ming and Ching dynasties. Meaning "coming to the West," Hsi Lai is affiliated with Fo Guang Shan, a Buddhist organization from Taiwan. The temple serves as a spiritual and cultural center for those interested in learning more about Buddhism and Chinese culture.
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3) THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART MUSEUM, AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino 91108
626-405-2100
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Pavilion of the Three Friends and the Jade Ribbon Bridge
at Garden of Flowing Fragrance
Photo: The Huntington Library

Founded in 1919, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is world-renowned as a cultural, research and educational center. The Botanical Gardens at The Huntington feature more than a dozen specialized gardens spanning 130 acres.

Perhaps The Huntington's most popular spot, the beloved Japanese Garden features a moon bridge, koi ponds, the historic Japanese House, and ceremonial teahouse. The garden also includes a bonsai collection and Zen Court.

Liu Fang Yuan ("Garden of Flowing Fragrance") is one of the largest classical-style Chinese gardens in the world. Designed to promote the rich traditions of Chinese culture, the 15-acre garden is filled with Chinese plants, pavilions, and references to literature and art.
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4) JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL & COMMUNITY CENTER

244 S. San Pedro St., Ste. 505, Los Angeles 90012
213-628-2725
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Since opening its doors in 1980, the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) has become one of the largest cultural art and community centers in the U.S. Its campus includes the Center Building, Aratani Theatre, JACCC Plaza (designed by Isamu Noguchi), and the award-winning James Irvine Japanese Garden. Known formally as Seiryu-en ("Garden of the Clear Stream"), this hidden green space was designed in the Zen tradition of the famous gardens of Kyoto, Japan.
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5) JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM

100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles 90012
213-625-0414
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Located in Little Tokyo, the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) is dedicated to telling the story of Americans of Japanese ancestry through historical and art exhibitions. Common Ground: The Heart of Community is a permanent exhibit that spans 130 years of Japanese American history, from the early days of the Issei (first generation) pioneers in the 1800s, through the World War II incarceration in internment camps, to post-war resettlement and the present. One of the artifacts on display is a Heart Mountain barracks, an original structure that's been saved and preserved from the WWII camp in Wyoming.

In 2005, JANM established the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (NCPD). The project added 9,800 to the existing 23,800 square feet in the renovated Buddhist temple building. The major addition was the creation of the 200-seat Tateuchi Democracy Forum theatre.
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