4 Best Sights in Vancouver, British Columbia

Chinese people have a rich, grueling, and enduring history in British Columbia, and it's well represented in this Ming Dynasty-style facility. The art gallery upstairs hosts traveling exhibits by Chinese and Canadian artists, and an on-site military museum recalls the role of Chinese Canadians in the two world wars. Across the street is the Chinatown Memorial Monument, commemorating the Chinese-Canadian community's contribution to the city, province, and country. The monument, shaped in the Chinese character "zhong," symbolizing moderation and harmony, is flanked by bronze statues of a railroad worker and a World War II soldier.

Near Siwash Rock, this centuries-old, 56-foot-wide burnt cedar stump has shrunk over the years but still gives an idea of how large some of the old-growth trees can grow. A Hollow Tree Society, made up of private citizens and donations, acts as the tree's unofficial caretaker. (You can also view an exact replica of the 43-foot-high Hollow Tree, coated in gold finish, at the corner of Marine and Cambie Streets, designed by Canadian Artist Douglas Coupland.)

According to a local First Nations legend, this 50-foot-high offshore promontory is a monument to a man who was turned into stone as a reward for his unselfishness. The rock is visible from the seawall. If you're driving, you need to park, and take a short path through the woods.

If you're planning to visit several of the attractions at the University of British Columbia, the UBC Attractions Pass can save you money. The pass includes admission to the Museum of Anthropology (currently closed for renovation), UBC Botanical Garden and Greenheart Canopy Walkway, Nitobe Memorial Garden, and Beaty Biodiversity Museum. Book three and save 25%. Passes are valid for six months for the museums and 12 months for the gardens, so you don’t need to squeeze all your sightseeing into one day. Purchase the pass at any of the participating attractions.