It is a major port.
All beaches are public, the most famous being Wreck Beach near the university.
Downtown Vancouver has the second largest Chinese quarter in North America, celebrated by the new Chinese Cultural Centre , and large German and Ukrainian populations. Both traditions are reflected in the proliferation of ethnic shops and restaurants. Gastown , the reconstructed old centre of Vancouver, is a pleasant array of cobblestone streets, caf s and shops. More points of interest are Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium , the newly-opened Downtown Historic Railway , and the Grouse Mountain Skyride on the north shore. Vancouver is also a comparatively young city with the large University of British Columbia campus.