In 2024, the Chinese language New Yr is on February tenth. Often known as “Chunjie”, or the Spring Pageant (“Fête du Printemps” in French), it’s not simply the largest annual occasion in China, but additionally celebrated in Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. It’s now the Yr of the Dragon, which in Chinese language astrology represents well being, energy, luck, and success. Festivities in Paris happen over a number of weeks from February third via the twenty fifth, together with the well-known Chinese language New Yr Parade in Paris’s largest Chinatown within the 13th arrondissement. However you may get into the spirit of the vacation anytime with a go to to this vigorous Parisian quartier.
The place is Chinatown? The “Triangle de Choisy”
Paris really has a number of Chinatowns, which is sort of distinctive on the planet, however the largest and best-known one is within the “Triangle de Choisy” a pie slice of the 13th arrondissement bordered by the Avenue d’Ivry, the Avenue de Choisy, and the Boulevard Masséna. You may get right here by way of metro Tolbiac (line 7), metro Olympiads (line 14) or metros Porte d’Ivry and Pore de Choisy (each line 7 and Tram 3a).
There are different well-established Chinatown districts within the third arrondissement (just a few streets round Rue au Maire) and within the nineteenth/twentieth arrondissements (throughout Rue de Belleville). There are additionally just a few massive Chinatown districts simply exterior of Paris, in Aubervilliers and Marne La Vallée (the “new” city constructed close to Disneyland Paris). The populations of those districts are usually from China instantly, versus being from a mixture of neighboring international locations such as you’ll discover within the thirteenth (extra on that under).
What to Count on
Whereas there are some usually Parisian condominium blocks nonetheless left over from the 19th century, what’s going to catch your eye quicker are the large residential tower blocks constructed within the Nineteen Seventies, and the soulless public housing blocks constructed within the Eighties. To understand your go to, you’ll have to look previous the architectural prepare wreck and search for the little patches of magnificence. They’re there to find if you may get previous the shock of leaving the postcard excellent heart of Paris! If it was clearly beautiful, it will be stuffed with vacationers, proper? 😉 And throughout the Chinese language New Yr the crimson banners and lanterns adorning each mild pole, restaurant and storefront are a pleasant pop of shade throughout what’s often a reasonably dreary time of 12 months in Paris, post-Christmas, pre-spring.
A Very Brief Historical past of Chinatown
The 13th arrondissement turned part of Paris, like a lot of the outer districts, in 1860 throughout the Second Empire annexation of the suburbs. On the finish of the 19th century, the realm now often called Chinatown was residence to the Panhard et Levassor automotive manufacturing facility, which constructed the primary Parisian automotive. The manufacturing facility had a couple of thousand Chinese language immigrant staff within the Thirties, among the many first to inhabit the 13th. When the manufacturing facility was closed down within the Nineteen Sixties, the whole neighborhood turned an industrial wasteland till the Metropolis of Paris had it razed within the Nineteen Seventies to construct the fashionable highrise condominium blocks you see immediately, notably Les Olympiades.
These new residences had been too costly for poor Parisians and too “trendy” for wealthier Parisians, however had been excellent for the waves of ethnic Chinese language refugees fleeing Southeast Asia within the Nineteen Seventies and 80s – notably warfare in Vietnam (the previous French colony of Indochina), compelled labor below Communist Laos, and the Kmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia. Though Chinese language and Vietnamese companies dominate the district, Chinatown within the 13th has an amazingly various mixture of Asian cultures mirrored within the retailers, eating places, markets, and temples. When you’re used to visiting Chinatowns the place a lot of the inhabitants are from the identical a part of China and converse the identical language, you’ll in all probability be shocked to see (and listen to) Thai, Kmer, Korean, Taiwanese, Cantonese, Laotian – and naturally French! – influences all through.
WWI Memorial
Within the Jardin Baudricourt (14 Rue de la Pointe d’Ivry), you’ll see a WWI monument inaugurated in 1998 to the reminiscence of Chinese language staff and fighters who died for France. These immigrants had been imagined to return to China on the finish of the warfare by ship from Marseille, by way of the Gare de Lyon prepare station in Paris. Those that didn’t need to return established one of many oldest Chinatown districts in Paris across the Gare de Lyon, which disappeared when that complete neighborhood bought the “modernization” remedy within the Eighties.
The inscription in French reads, “A la mémoire des travailleurs et combattants chinois morts pour la France pendant la Grande Guerre 1914-1918” (In reminiscence of the employees and Chinese language troopers who died for France throughout the Nice Conflict, 1914-1918).
The Chinatown Gateway
On February 1st, 2020 (simply after the Chinese language New Yr Parade was canceled due to Covid for the primary time) Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and the Chinese language Ambassador to France inaugurated the brand new Arche de la Fraternité, a 3-D sculpture of the Chinese language image for “door” created by artist Georges Rousse with neighborhood neighborhood funds to “thank the capital and France for having welcomed many refugees from Southeast Asia within the Nineteen Seventies” in keeping with Jerôme Coumet, Mayor of the thirteenth. It’s a reasonably cool sculpture that appears completely different relying on the place you’re standing. It stands on the intersection of the pedestrian Rue des Frères d’Astier de la Vigerie, the Avenue de Choisy, and the Rue Baudricourt.
Road Artwork in Chinatown
Up to now ten years, the 13th arrondissement has turn out to be well-known for its monumental murals painted by a number of the world’s most famous avenue artists. A number of the first had been created within the coronary heart of Chinatown. The Portuguese painter Pantónio created the tallest fresco in Europe, 66 meters tall, a whirlwind of fish on the facet of an condominium block at Place de la Vénétie (20 avenue de Choisy).
Subsequent door is the majestic blue heron, Le Héron Bleuté, by the French artist STeW, in conventional Japanese type.
On the foot of this one is a ground-level mural “La Petite Fille aux Ballons et le Panda” by the French artist from Martinique, Doudou Fashion.
The prolific avenue artist Invader created “House Noodles” on the nook of Avenue d’Ivry and Rue Baudricourt.
Individuals come from throughout Paris and the suburbs to buy on this district, as lots of the largest importers of Asian merchandise in Paris will be discovered right here. A number of the typical retailers promote a mixture of something from residence decor and clothes to jewellery and electronics. They vary from very cheesy to much less cheesy when it comes to boutique aesthetics (the bar is excessive right here in Paris, in spite of everything). However that doesn’t imply the gadgets themselves are at all times low cost. If you understand what you’re searching for you will discover some beautiful issues of higher high quality than the storefront might have you ever assume.
L’Empire des Thés (101 Avenue d’Ivry) is among the extra standard retailers in Chinatown, promoting over 200 types of Chinese language teas and equipment, “with out being snobby about it.” A small tearoom inside additionally serves their teas in conventional style. The “tea flowers” are at all times a terrific buy right here.
For books on Chinese language tradition (principally in Chinese language or French, in fact), take a look at the You Feng Bookshop (66 rue Baudricourt). Additionally they promote stationery and calligraphy equipment.
This Japanimation boutique, Manga Loisirs (134 rue de Tolbiac) is subsequent door to ACE Mart, a small store promoting Korean and Japanese meals.
The World of Les Olympiades, aka La Dalle
As talked about earlier, Les Olympiades was a part of a large housing mission within the late Nineteen Sixties/early Nineteen Seventies often called “Opération Italie 13,” closely influenced by Corbusier’s vertical cities. Les Olympiades is a sequence of residential towers — every named for a metropolis that hosted an Olympics recreation: Anvers (Antwerp), Athènes (Athens), Cortina, Helsinki, Londres (London), Mexico, Sapporo, and Tokyo — on a raised esplanade, or “dalle” just like La Défense, one stage above the road visitors and parking.
The retailers and eating places within the heart of this esplanade have white “tented” rooftops that many individuals assumed had been made to resemble stylized Asian pagodas, nonetheless they had been really imagined to resemble the tents of the Parisian market stalls. Evidently, the Parisians needed nothing to do with these trendy monstrosities (you possibly can say it’s one of many few constructing initiatives that Parisians haven’t modified their minds about all these years later), so that they had been offered at rock-bottom costs to the newly-arrived immigrants from South East Asia, who instantly made themselves at residence. Postscript: as a result of the actual property plan was such a catastrophe, they ended up solely (!!) constructing 30 of the 55 deliberate towers within the district, and as an alternative began rehabilitating the older Parisian condominium buildings nonetheless standing within the neighborhood
Along with the tall residential towers (from 16 to 35 flooring tall) and retailers on the esplanade, there’s a shopping center, a neighborhood backyard, and a number of temples. Most of the new immigrants arrange companies as importers, shopkeepers, restaurant homeowners, and native bankers, investing of their neighborhood. And as ugly and run-down Les Olympiades appears (particularly the shopping center we’ll see in a second), it does have its charms.
A Temple on La Dalle
The Amicale des Teochew en France is an Asian neighborhood heart and Buddhist temple tucked right into a nook of the esplanade, based in 1986 by the Teochew neighborhood, the primary neighborhood of Chinese language origin in France, from the south of Guangdong province.
Though I dwell close by and have visited Les Olympiades many instances, I had by no means dared to step inside earlier than, pondering it wouldn’t be open to vacationers, however on a guided tour of the neighborhood with #ExploreParis, our information Donatien reassured us that so long as we eliminated our sneakers, guests had been welcomed (plan on sporting your cutest socks in preparation). “You may even speak and take images, simply don’t block these attempting to hope.”
Locations to burn incense exterior the doorway of the neighborhood heart temple:
One of many altars within the temple, surrounded by fruit choices and candles:
I don’t know what these are referred to as, however our information defined that Buddhists attempting to make essential life selections come right here and shake the picket jar of what appear like lengthy matchsticks, considering their dilemma till one of many sticks falls out (unsure what occurs if a couple of falls out!). Every stick has a quantity on it that corresponds to the numbered items of “recommendation” on the pink slips. “The recommendation needs to be obscure sufficient to have the ability to reply every kind of questions, so there’s loads of private interpretation concerned,” defined Donatien.
There are 18 of those larger-than-life statues representing the Luohan, or Guardians of the Legislation. Every has a job indicated on a small signal at his toes: “the one who holds the bowl”, “the one who tames the dragon”, “the one who makes the lions snigger”, “the one with the lengthy eyebrows” (on the left!), “the one who cleans his ears”…
There are three altars piled excessive with fruit and burning incense. The three statues are referred to as the Three Jewels. Those on either side look Thai, supposedly it’s as a result of there are not any Thai temples in Paris, so that they use this one.
Simply as we arrived, there had been a bunch of 20 different guests surrounding this girl in prayer, incense sticks held in entrance of her (there are aluminum-foil-covered trays in entrance of the cushions to catch the ashes).
They promote brochures in English for €2 that profit the neighborhood heart, and there are additionally donation containers, “troncs” all through the temple in case you’re feeling beneficiant for his or her hospitality. A number of the Chinese language New Yr decorations embrace crimson envelopes with the tiger (for Yr of the Tiger!) which can be historically used to offer cash to youngsters.
Again out on the esplanade, to the left of this (now closed) dance college, you’ll see stairs going up, freshly painted crimson this 12 months. Take the escalator in case you’re legs are already pooped out.
Up right here you’ll be handled to some good views over Les Olympiades (if the climate is good), and in your left, just a little neighborhood backyard:
The Jardin Partagée des Olympiades was created in 2017 and is open to anybody who lives, works, or goes to high school within the thirteenth arrondissement for a membership payment of €15/12 months.
A cute lizard by the road artist often called LOUYZ, a younger Parisian girl who likes to color animals and nature scenes throughout Paris.
Again down on the Esplanade, the Olympiades neighborhood affiliation additionally has opened a “Bricothèque” in October 2021 within the renovated “Pagode”. A bricothèque comes from the French phrase “bricolage” (do-it-yourself), a spot the place you’ll be able to borrow energy instruments or ladders, or different gadgets for fixing up your property. Additionally they have handymen and girls who will be employed to make small repairs or residence enhancements for you (these providers are solely open to the locals who’re members).
The (Ugliest) Procuring Mall (in Paris)
Keep in mind again on the dance college you went up the crimson staircase? Okay, in case you go to the fitting of the varsity, you’ll see the doorway to what appears like is an deserted, derelict shopping center from the 70s. Besides that it’s open. It’s the Olympiades Centre Commerciale Oslo, aka Galerie Oslo. Brace yourselves for some ugly images, no filters are gonna save this one.
It was really fairly calm on Sunday once I took this picture, about half of the retailers had been closed, however a lot of the cafés had been open. The youthful clientele had been hanging on the bubble tea retailers, which have actually multiplied lately. The older crowd grasp on the café bars that appear like they haven’t been redecorated for the reason that 70s opening date. I might have taken pics for enjoyable, however they had been packed full of people that didn’t appear like they needed their images taken.
In any other case there are the same old clothes, jewellery, magnificence provides, (Okay-Pop) music shops, and electronics retailers, in addition to loads of hair salons, a butcher store, and a pharmacy.
The Japanese and Korean retailers are a comparatively new factor on this buying heart. That is the window show for Querencia, a kind of Japanese residence decor and gadget store:
Chinatown Olympiades Restaurant is on the far finish of the buying heart, and is often the place the large celebratory meals happen (assume wedding ceremony receptions or birthdays). They’re serving a particular 11-course Cantonese New Yr’s menu with two bottles of Bordeaux on February ninth and tenth, with dwell music and dancing (€698 per desk of 10).
There’s often dwell music, karaoke, and dancing all year long on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm-2am.
See the Well-known Lion Dance!
They’re additionally internet hosting the well-known Lion Dance on February ninth and tenth (Friday and Saturday). I’m assuming you’ll be able to simply be within the buying heart to see it, not that you might want to really be consuming on the restaurant. When you’ve by no means seen a Lion Dance, right here’s one I occurred to catch in October exterior one other restaurant within the neighborhood once I was operating:
The Tang Frères Empire
On the backside of the buying escalator you’ll discover the doorway to Tang Frères. The Tang brothers, initially from Laos, personal this neighborhood. They’re each importers and shopkeepers and deli homeowners (and doubtless extra). When you go to Chinatown within the thirteenth, it’s important to cease at the very least in one of many Tang Frères institutions.
That is the view of the Galerie Oslo entrance from 44 Avenue d’Ivry with the Tang Frères grocery store. Doesn’t appear like a lot, does it? Once more, clearly a scarcity of any aesthetical magnificence isn’t hindering enterprise…
Inside, you’ll discover just about something you want on your Chinese language recipes (and, I presume Vietnamese and Cambodian and Laotian dishes as nicely…I’m not an knowledgeable on meals from Asian international locations, so simply benefit from the images…)
Additionally just a few acquainted gadgets, like corn starch (which I often don’t see in French supermarkets):
And in addition non-dairy creamer (referred to as Espresso Whitener, oddly) and Quaker “White Oats” (I’m seeing a development):
The Tang Frères branded natural part is new since my final go to just a few years in the past, together with the fashionable bulk bins you see in loads of Parisian supermarkets now.
Wish to do your personal lion dance? Or possibly it is a dragon head? Both manner, €61 and it’s yours!
A bit additional down at 48 Avenue d’Ivry is one other fancier Tang Frères, “Tang Gourmand”, in addition to a rotisserie stand and a florist. As soon as once more, the road entrance would have you ever consider they had been attempting to maintain individuals out (and possibly, in case you’re a vacationer unlikely to purchase three buying carts stuffed with meals, they’re)…
…however as soon as previous the gate they made an effort to brighten the fancier grocery store entrance to enchantment to the Instagrammers in all places.
On the opposite facet of the Tang Fères grocery store on the Galerie Oslo (once more, at 44 avenue d’Ivry) is the extra fashionable façade of the competitor, Paris Retailer. That is the place most Parisians know to go to get cool dishes and bamboo meals steamers, along with any components you may not discover subsequent door. They’ve an entrance instantly into the Galerie Oslo from their second flooring (though typically it’s blocked off).
However simply in case you overlook who owns the neighborhood, which grocery store has their identify on each single crimson banner within the neighborhood? Not Paris Retailer. 😉
Along with the 2 large supermarkets Tang Frères and Paris Retailer, there are numerous smaller meals markets in Chinatown for these nonetheless feeling crowd-phobic. Throughout the road at 81 avenue d’Ivry is the Paragon “Massive Retailer”, a terrific place to select up contemporary produce.
Right here you’ll discover mangos, pomelos, papayas, mangosteens, pomegranates, kumquats (particularly for Chinese language New Yr), buddha’s hand, dragon fruit, and the spiky, pungent durians from Thailand…in case you actually should attempt one, depart it in your balcony, not in your kitchen!
One other Hidden Buddhist Temple
The Autel du Culte de Bouddha is formally positioned at 37 Rue du Disque, which runs beneath Les Olympiades to a parking storage and Lidl, however you’ll discover the doorway simply after Tang Frères at roughly 68 Avenue d’Ivry.
It appears all creepy, however simply stroll alongside the facet so that you don’t get run over, and simply inside you’ll see the temple entrance on the fitting.
There’s a small altar for choices and burning incense simply exterior the doorway.
That is so far as you’ll be able to go together with your digicam, no images or speaking inside (but additionally, they don’t require you to take away your sneakers). This Buddhist temple is among the most essential within the Chinese language neighborhood, and is the place the annual Chinese language New Yr Parade departs from after making their choices. It’s run by the Affiliation des Résidents en France d’Origine Indochinoise ( A.R.F.O.I ), whose headquarters are upstairs in Les Olympiades. Inside, altars are devoted to the deity Bodhisattva Guanyin, the genius of justice, and even a Cambodian Buddha.
In contrast to the neighborhood heart, it’s quiet apart from one girl (wearing what I consider is a marriage robe, however with a coat over it) shaking the sticks to get a solution from the spirits for her dilemma — to indicate up for the marriage or elope along with her lover as an alternative? You too can discover fireworks on the market right here for €5 (frowned upon in France as a result of somebody inevitably shoots their hand off or shoots into an open condominium window, however not unlawful).
Chinatown Sweets
As talked about earlier, Chinatown within the thirteenth isn’t simply Chinese language. You’ll additionally see eating places serving delicacies from Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, and Thailand (and typically they combine a number of cuisines collectively in a single restaurant). You’ll additionally discover loads of choices for sweets.
Molle Pâtisserie makes their bread, pastries, and truffles on-site in two places, right here at 99 Avenue d’Ivry and in addition within the Chinatown district of the third arrondissement (27 Rue au Maire). This one has just a few tables exterior (with a view of the pastry cooks working inside) the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in a bubble tea together with your pastry.
Vivien and Kele Zhang deal with “authentic” tackle conventional Chinese language pastries. You’ll discover some fairly elaborate themed truffles (take a look at their Instagram web page for another enjoyable concepts they do as customized orders), in addition to conventional Chinese language pastries with crimson bean filling, cheesecakes, cupcakes (in sq. containers!) and some French fusion confections just like the Matcha Opéras.
In contrast to a number of the older pastry ships within the neighborhood, this one has a contemporary, trendy inside decor that basically stands out on the road. I see massive crowds right here each time I go by.
One other nice pastry and sandwich store is Pâtisserie de Saison (65 Avenue d’Ivry), which can look new due to the lovable decor (take a look at the portray on the ceiling), however they’ve been open since 1983, and in reality had been one of many first Asian pastry retailers in Chinatown.
On the candy facet, they do these enjoyable themed truffles (there’s extra ornament than cake, haha!), in addition to lotus brioche, egg tarts, and “perles de coco” or Lo mai chi (which appear like snow balls).
These feuilleté pastries are filled with both candy (“sucré”) or savory (“salé”) fillings equivalent to durian, lacquered pork, taro, crimson beans, or pandan (a tropical plant standard in Southeast Asian delicacies).
Additionally they make contemporary banh mi baguette sandwiches.
Vegan choices are often fairly scarce, however they will do a fried tofu banh mi for €6 (be certain that to ask for it with out the mayo in case you don’t eat eggs).
Xing Fu Tang is a bubble tea chain from Taiwan that may be discovered everywhere in the world, however is comparatively new to Paris, despite the fact that there are actually a number of places. Their specialty is caramelized brown sugar tapioca pearl milk drinks, scorching or chilly, with many further taste choices. Word there’s no precise tea in these, it’s principally candy milk (extra data right here for these of you want me who didn’t learn about this beverage development). There are additionally the normal bubble teas made with tea, and ones made with fruit. There are traces down the block on good days.
I noticed they’ve soy and almond milk choices, however solely in just a few of the drinks. I ordered a scorching one with crimson bean paste. It was fairly tasty, however every little thing clumped on the backside after a couple of minutes, so I’d advocate grabbing a spoon (it was freezing chilly and beginning to rain, so I took mine residence to complete it). As a lot as individuals love them (with this a lot sugar, no marvel individuals are addicted), it’s onerous to disregard how a lot plastic there may be (cup, lid, a “seal” and the immense straw).
“Bubble tea is for younger individuals, isn’t it?” asks Donatien to the teenagers hanging exterior as we handed by on our tour. They laughed however agreed.
Extra Eating Suggestions
There are such a lot of — sooooo many — restaurant in Chinatown. So how have you learnt which is nice? I’ve been informed previously that it “have to be a great Chinese language restaurant if there are Chinese language individuals consuming there,” however a Chinatown native informed me that’s absurd. “Parisians eat at McDonald’s; that doesn’t imply vacationers ought to assume McDonald’s is a superb Parisian restaurant.”
So…again to how to decide on? I often go by phrase of mouth, and Fleurs de Mai (61 Avenue de Choisy) has been a trusted favourite now for some years for “typical Hong Kong delicacies.” It’s fairly small, even with the additional seating upstairs, so get there early in order for you a spot! Vegan observe: nearly every little thing comes with XO sauce, which is made with dried seafood.
Two different extremely really useful Cantonese eating places for purists who don’t need to see nems or pineapple hen on the menu (not that there’s something flawed with that if that’s what you want!):
Impérial Choisy (32 Avenue de Choisy)
LiKaFo (39 Avenue de Choisy)
Sinorama (23 Rue du Dr Magnan, close to the nook of Rue de Tolbiac and Avenue de Choisy)
When you ARE searching for good pho soup and nems (what People are likely to name spring rolls), attempt one in all my favourite Vietnamese eating places, Pho Bahn Cuon 14 (aka Pho 14, at 129 ave de Choisy). They really have three different places in Paris and Marne la Vallée.
The door element under is from Paradis Thai (132 rue de Tolbiac). Word that the French have very delicate palates. Regardless of how spicey they are saying it’s, in case you’re searching for the identical stage of scorching you’d get in Thailand, you in all probability gained’t discover it in Parisian Thai eating places!
Some Suggestions…en français
Many of the guides I comply with are in French (they are usually probably the most up-to-date), which isn’t handy in case you solely perceive English. When you’re keen to do the Google translate (or simply observe the names of the eating places as a jumping-off level in your analysis), attempt:
Chinese language New Yr 2024 Occasions
Listed below are a number of the Chinese language New Yr occasions occurring round Paris — not simply within the thirteenth — in 2024. This part will probably be up to date as extra occasions are introduced all through the primary few weeks of February:
- By means of February twenty fifth: Shanghai’s well-known Dragon and Lanterns Pageant, created in 1550, involves Paris’s oldest amusement park, the Jardin d’Acclimatation (Bois de Boulogne, sixteenth) for the primary time. There will probably be tons of of spectacular lanterns and illuminated sculptures created by Yuyuan Backyard artisans, in addition to a Chinatown Market, demonstrations of Chinese language craftsmanship, delicacies, and people performances. Tickets €18 for anybody 12 and older, €12 for teenagers 4-11, free for teenagers below 4. Buy tickets right here.
- February third: The primary large Chinese language New Yr Parade in 2024 takes place within the Belleville district (the intersection of the tenth, eleventh, nineteenth, and twentieth arrondissements), departing at 2pm from 56 rue de Belleville (twentieth), and a giant avenue meals pageant from midday till 9pm.
- February fifteenth: Chinese language New Yr Meals Market – 6-10pm on Boulevard de Belleville between Menilmontant Couronnes, twentieth
Le Meals Market is a month-to-month meals occasion the place native eating places serve their dishes on the market at inexpensive costs, and shoppers can eat on the massive tables arrange alongside the boulevard. For this 12 months’s annual Meals Market celebrating Chinese language New Yr, there would be the typical dishes from the Belleville Chinatown restaurant homeowners in addition to a efficiency of the well-known Lion Dance. Extra data on their FB web page: https://www.fb.com/occasions/1000249551070128/ - February 18th: The largest Chinese language New Yr Parade in Paris takes place immediately within the thirteenth arrondissement immediately from 2:30-5pm. The dragons, lions, dancers, drummers, and traditionally-costumed members will do a full loop of the neighborhood, beginning at 44 Avenue d’Ivry, then Avenue de Choisy, then Boulevard Masséna earlier than lastly ending at Avenue d’Ivry. Individuals begin gathering from 12:30pm, so in case you hope to get a spot so you’ll be able to really see, you’ll have to get there early!