The China Slough ran almost where the current Amtrak train tracks run today.

The first group of Chinese immigrants came to Sacramento from 1849 to 1853, to escape the poor condition in southeastern China.

The next group of Chinese immigrants came to Sacramento to help built the First transcontinental railroad starting in 1863.

[5][6] In March 1858, the Sacramento Chinese held a local Chinese Regatta in Sutter Lake, Festival of the Dragon Boat, with its Sze Yup (四邑) Company racing its Sam Yup (三邑) Company, which drew a large crowd lining the levee to view the contest.

[9] The Sze Yup Association was set up to greet new Chinese immigrants as they departed ships and helped them find housing and jobs, some trained to head to the gold mines, called Gam Saan (gold mountain).

[10][11] Like other early pioneers town, the China Slough buildings and houses were make of wood.

After the July 1855 fire, that was let to burn by the city, the Sacramento Board of Trustees passed an ordinance requiring new buildings be built with bricks.

Filling in of the Slough started in 1863 from sand from the American River and was complete in 1910, when a new railyard and station were built.

Chinatown moved south to Front Street and spread out from the closed down China Slough.