Anyone who sees the entrance to San Jose’s new Chinatown will be impressed by the huge arch at its entrance. Isabel Yung, President of the local Chinese Colony in Costa Rica, stated, “Anyone who passes under the arch with be filled with good luck.” She also said, “Prosperity is something very important for our culture and the new arch reflects the prosperity of San Jose.”

The huge arch is full of special Chinese symbols whose design is based on The Tang Dynasty, one of the most powerful in ancient China. The arch’s designs have different meanings all of which are related to prosperity and strength and its red and yellow colors are associated with good luck.

Other arches in different Chinatowns around the world (San Francisco, New York, Paris and London among others) were designed built commercially and based on designs from the Xin Dynasty. On the other hand, Costa Rica’s arch is the first one to represent the Tan Dynasty and to be made by experts from the Bureau of Antiques of Peking.

In addition to the archway there will two statues of lions at the entrance to San Jose’s Chinatown. Lions represent solidarity and harmony form the Chinese. The dragon’s tail on the archway represent harmony, good luck, strength and power.

In addition to the country’s new Chinatown and increased trade between the two country’s, all one has to do is look at Costa Rica’s new National stadium to realizes China’s impact on Costa Rica.

China has always had an influence in shaping Costa Rican society. According to Costa Rican historian Alejandro Ugalde, the first Chinese arrived in Costa Rica around the year 1870. This first group came to work on the railroad. Initially most settled along the coast but area now found in different parts of the country. Costa Ricans of Chinese descent have played a significant role in Costa Rica history. The most notable of which is the country’s first astronaut, Dr. Franklin Chang Diaz. After a successful career at NASA, Chang Díaz set up the Ad Astra Rocket Company, which became dedicated to the development of advanced plasma rocket propulsion technology — an electrical propulsion device for use in space. With a flexible mode of operation, the rocket can achieve very high exhaust speeds, and even has the theoretical capability to take a manned rocket to Mars in 39 days.