Located on highway 49 a few miles south of Sonora, Chinese Camp is best known for its Tong wars especially the one that occurred on September 26, 1856. It pitted about 900 members of the Yan-Woo Tong against roughly 1200 members of the Sam Yaps Tong. Tong wars seemed to be the traditional way of settling differences among the Chinese miners. It was understood guns were not to be used. Instead, this battle was fought with pitchforks, rakes and other mining and farm tools. Shortly after the fight began, lawmen put a stop to it but only after four Chinese had been killed and many wounded. It's obvious how the town came by its name as it is estimated as many as five thousand Chinese populated the town at one time. Many of the buildings no longer stand but there is plenty that remains to make a visit most interesting. Ghosttowns.com

Despite its name, Chinese Camp was equally well populated by Americans and Europeans at its heyday in the 1850s. Its Oriental pioneers planted a thick growth of “Trees of Heaven” that tend to obscure several old buildings. Among these are the Wells Fargo building, the U.S. Post Office (1854), St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (1855). Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

Chinese Camp
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Chinese Camp
Courtesy Dolores Steele