"Forget it Jake -- it's Chinatown..."

The 2009 Hunt will be on Sat. February 7, 2009 — 4:30pm - 9:00pm. Tickets are on sale right now!

WHAT IS IT?

Read the SF Chronicle's Monday, February 13^th, 2006 front-page feature, "Treasure-hunters dogged about sniffing out clues", or from Inside Bay Area, Feb. 14, 2006: "Treasure hunt coincides with Chinese New Year's parade in San Francisco"

The Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt is a unique urban sleuthing adventure played on the streets of Chinatown, North Beach, and Telegraph Hill on the night of the annual Chinese New Year Parade. Treasure hunting teams have four hours to solve sixteen clues leading them to obscure landmarks, forgotten architectural delights and vestiges of San Francisco's colorful past. Players can come with a team already organized, or can join like-minded hunters at the event; it's a great way to make new friends.

Familiarity with San Francisco geography or history is useful, but is not required. The clues, or puzzles, are designed to test various skills: map reading; knowledge of popular culture, current events, science or literature; crossword puzzle solving; cracking simples codes, etc. Everyone on a team gets to contribute, and must collaboratively agree on what they think is the correct solution to each clue.

The challenge (and the fun) does not end there. The team must go to each of the mystery locations they have identified and search for landmarks referred to in the clue. Sharp eyes and close collaboration are required to spot the markers indicating they're in the correct place, and on the right trail.

Each clue leads to a specific site in the one square mile playing area, where teams search for a secret item which proves they correctly solved that clue. Teams solving the most clues in the shortest time each receive prizes and earn the right to gloat.

Proceeds from the treasure hunt benefit Circus Center and Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center

WHAT'S THE APPEAL?

The Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt is a multi-layered event that appeals to a wide audience for a variety of reasons.

A social bonding experience

The treasure hunt offers a simultaneous intellectual and aerobic workout that draws out each player's knowledge and personality. Treasure hunters must pool their knowledge, skills and insights to solve a variety of challenging puzzles. This helps break down social barriers and creates esprit-de-corps, as the team races against time (and other teams) to solve the clues and visit each of the mystery locations. Treasure hunters become fast friends as they share an intense and exciting four hour adventure.

A team-building exercise

Each treasure hunting team of four to eight players must solve sixteen intellectually-challenging puzzles, which means analyzing and reaching a decision about sixteen problems. This tests the team's skill at collaborative problem solving. It challenges them to use effective methods of group interaction, decision-making and leadership. The treasure hunt becomes a model for how to tackle problems in the workplace: how to share ideas, think creatively, encourage each employee to contribute as fully as possible, and to make successful decisions that all participants are fully invested in.

A shared urban adventure

The treasure hunt is an active, participatory event where each team member contributes to their group's success. They share in the excitement and joy of solving the clues and finding the hidden tokens at each secret location, and in the thrill of competing against other teams as they race through the back alleys of Chinatown and North Beach. With the colorful and noisy New Year's Parade as a backdrop, they see San Francisco as they've never seen it before, and come away with many memories and stories to share.

Uncovering the Secrets of San Francisco

Treasure hunters discover things they never knew existed, and learn about San Francisco's rich history and culture. A common refrain from our treasure hunters is "I never knew that was here!"

Many clues lead to colorful historic locations: the sleepy village square where the California gold rush got its start; the site where vigilantes took justice into their hands and hung suspected murderers; the hangouts of famous Beat writers like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsburg; and the alley where Sam Spade's partner was gunned down in "The Maltese Falcon."

Discovering the stories that cities tell

Cities tell rich stories in their streets, if only you look for them. The treasure hunt is an opportunity to see San Francisco with a new sense of wonder and inquisitiveness, to notice the hidden treasures most people commonly overlook in their destination-focused travels.

Treasure hunters see their familiar urban landscape in new and exciting ways, noticing the forgotten landmarks, obscure byways and anonymous works of art, and the vestiges of the area's rich history that give San Francisco its unique character. The treasure hunt compels players to look at things they've never noticed before: decades-old street gratings, elaborately carved cornices, signs for long-defunct businesses, urban art in unexpected places.

They emerge with a greater appreciation of the many layers of our urban environment, reaching back through time and touching the stories of countless souls who have walked these streets before us.