The symbol of the city, the Civic Center, is the heart of government institutions of the state of Baja California. Among the many modern buildings that form it is a monument honoring the founders and first inhabitants of the city. Toward the border in the center of the city is La Chinesca, a unique Chinatown with welcoming streets, quaint shops, and restaurants serving Chinese food with a Mexican twist.

Image courtesy of Laura Wong

Important landmarks in this area are the neoclassical Cathedral and the border building, or Garita Internacional, whose pagoda exemplifies the mixed race society that has shaped the cachanillas name which identifies the locals from Mexicali.

The Colorado River Land Company building, built in 1924, is a testimony to the agricultural past left by the first settlers. Don’t forget to also visit the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California building, built in 1918, which previously housed the State Government Palace.

Chinese Food

The strong migratory wave of Chinese immigrants during the first half of the twentieth century also brought many cultural influences from the Far East, including its food, which became and remains a significant part of the cuisine of the region.

Art and Culture

Mexicali is one of the main promoters of culture in the state. The IMSS theater and the State Theater have tight cultural agendas. In terms of visual art, collections from the University Museum, City Gallery, and the State Fine Arts Gallery provide further opportunities for cultural education.  The first focuses on historical research and the dissemination of social status, while the latter two galleries host local as well as national and international art exhibitions.

The Casa de la Cultura, or house of culture, is located in a beautiful building constructed in 1915, whose facilities taught art workshops and saved the valuable Mexicali history file.

Looking for even more? The State Arts Center offers exhibitions and workshops in many various artistic disciplines. The Center also has the cinema film Club, Les Lumiéres, a library, and a cafeteria.

Hospitality

Well connected by roads and an international airport, the state capital is ready to receive visitors from everywhere. There are numerous business hotels and a wide range of restaurants, from casual to formal.

Family Fun

The Museum Sol Nino offers a wonderful adventure for kids with science, art, and fun. It has interactive and thematic areas as well as a cinema IMAX.

The green landscape areas of the playground at Vicente Guerrero park are a great venue for outdoor fun. Visit the Bosque y Zoologico de la ciudad (forest and City Zoo), which encompasses an artificial lake and extensive meadows, and houses 370 species of animals within its complex.

Sports and Events

Mexicali is home of the Aguilas Pacific Mexican League baseball team. Its stadium accommodates 19,000 spectators and hosts occasional special events like the 2009 Caribbean Baseball Series . Watching games of Soles de Mexicali, a professional basketball team that plays in the state auditorium, is another popular activity. The Calafia bullring, or Calafia Plaza, offers bullfights in the fall, and charreadas during the winter season.

If you enjoy golf, a good option is the 18-hole Club Campestre.

Outdoor Enjoyment

The rocky slopes of the nearby Cucapá and El Mayor sierras, as well as the Mexicali Valley and Rio Hardy, are natural, scenic spaces that offer plenty of options for hiking, exploring, and hunting pheasant, teal and huilota, among other species.

Information courtesy of the Baja California State Tourism Secretariat.