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[title]Behind the scenes of San Francisco's world-renowned Chinese New Year parade, another tradition lurks in the shadows: the Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt. Amid the chaos and cacophony of acrobatic lion dances, exploding firecrackers, and 50,000 spectators, hundreds of amateur sleuths compete for champagne, chocolate, and bragging rights in the search for cryptic clues throughout Chinatown and Downtown San Francisco.
Jayson Wechter, an experienced private investigator and detective fiction fan, started the hunt more than three decades ago. He wanted to create a live film noir experience for friends, who roam the dark, rain-slicked streets of Chinatown, shining flashlights into dark alleys that haven't changed much since the 1920s.
When is the treasure hunt?
Slated for Saturday, February 23, the 31st annual Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt promises to attract more than 150 teams of five-ish members each, who compete in categories ranging from pun- and noir-themed team names to group costumes to number of clues solved. Each team receives a packet that includes a map of the one-square-mile playing area, an alphabetic street index, and a list of up to 16 clues of varying difficulty that lead to often obscure locations. Once there, treasure hunters must find a piece of information and use it to answer a question. Teams that turn in their answer sheets by the 8pm deadline are eligible for prizes.
How much does it cost?
Tickets cost $55 per person until February 10 and $60 each thereafter until they sell out, usually a few days before the event.
Where is the treasure hunt?
The hunt begins and ends at the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center gym (555 Chestnut St). San Francisco Circus School receives a portion of the proceeds, which explains the actual clowns providing crowd control at the event.
For those hoping to ace the Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt this year, Wechter offers these tips.
Choose the right competition level for your team
The sleuthing section of the Treasure Hunt is divided into four competition levels. If you and your crew are new to San Francisco or just visiting, choose the Beginner's Hunt. The Regular Hunt is ideal for residents who want to challenge themselves and teams that solved all the Beginner clues in previous years. Elite competitors who've scored among the top three in the Regular Hunt are encouraged to try the Master's Hunt. And seasoned sleuths who move at slower speeds can sign up for the "Thinks Faster Than Walks" hunt, which covers less ground and stays mostly in the flats.
Dress appropriately
Whether or not you're planning an elaborate team costume, your number one criteria for footwear should be comfortable. You will be on your feet for a few hours, hiking up and down hills, traversing cobblestones and broken pavement, and rushing to catch up with your teammates. There is also a good chance that it will rain, so bring along a raincoat, an umbrella, and some ziplock bags to keep the map and clue sheets dry. Pack those items into a rain-proof backpack, along with some water, snacks, and a flask of your favorite fire water, if that's how you roll.
Map out a route
Before plunging into the dark streets of Chinatown, gather your team in a comfortable place, such as a café, bar, or hotel lobby. Go over each clue together, brainstorming solutions and fact-checking ideas, ensuring everyone's individual strengths are used to full advantage. Mark the location of each solved clue on the provided street map. Choose a route that takes into account hills, distance between clues, where the answer sheet must be returned, and the route and timing of the Chinese New Year Parade itself, since it's nearly impossible to cross the parade itself as an individual, much less a team.
Stick together
It's not just a good idea; it's a rule. Teams must visit every clue together, rather than splitting up to solve several clues at once. Weaving your way through a sea of spectators without losing anyone takes teamwork. One team uses a loud "CaCaw!" squawk in a call-and-response style to locate and gather scattered team members. Another team wears matching t-shirts emblazoned with their team name, "Parade Monitors," which gives them a tactical advantage along the parade route.
Quit while you’re still having fun
Solving all the clues before the deadline takes speed, determination, and focus. Not every team enjoys that kind of discipline. In fact, just over half of last year's registered teams turned in their answer sheets. The rest presumably abandoned the hunt due to growling stomachs, aching knees, encroaching grouchiness, or a powerful hankering for a pitcher of beer. Wechter says there is no shame in suspending the hunt, as you can always finish it the following day, or the next time your parents come to visit. The point is for everyone to have a great time.