Chinatown is an estate located largely in the Outram area in the Central Region of Singapore. In his 1822 master Town Plan, Sir Stamford Raffles allocated the whole area west of the Singapore River for a Chinese settlement known as the Chinese Campong (kampong in Malay means “village”), envisaging that the Chinese would form the bulk of future town dwellers. Singapore, the new land of opportunity then, had attracted many immigrants from China, who expanded the original boundaries of this economically and culturally vibrant, self-contained town. Today, Chinatown is Singapore’s largest Historic District, and an important and unique ethnic quarter Singaporeans fondly call “our Chinatown”. Long before the arrival of Raffles in 1819, a small immigrant Chinese population had already settled in Singapore, cultivating gambier and pepper. When Singapore’s free port was established, more Chinese and other immigrants flocked to its shores. For easy administration, Raffles grouped various immigrant communities into ethnic quarters. In his 4 November 1822 letter to the Town Committee (also illustrated in the 1828 Town of Singapore Plan published in London), the area from the “Boat Quay southwest bank of the Singapore River” was designated a Chinese Campong. This self-contained kampong or community settlement became the home of many Chinese immigrants, and a transit point for coolies (unskilled labourers) going to Malaya. By 1824, there were 3,317 settlers, almost one-third of the total population at that time. That kampong and Chinese centre grew, eventually becoming Chinatown.
The original kampong was divided into zones, a sector for each Chinese community of the same provincial origin and dialect group. Different trades were confined to specific areas, so each street took on its own identity. From delicacies to death-houses, there were businessmen, traders, craftsmen, hawkers and peddlers to provide all of the peoples’ needs. A familiar sight was the outdoor emporium of hawker stalls jamming the streets with every conceivable item, from cooling tea to imitation antiques. The town was complete. Soon after settling in Singapore, the people built temples that were not just for worship, but also centres of dialect-group activities, before their respective clan associations were established. Traditionally the Cantonese occupied Temple Street. The Hokkiens were located in Telok Ayer Street and Hokkien Street, while the Teochews were settled in South Canal Road, Garden Street and Carpenter Street. Chinatown’s physical development began from 1843, when more land leases and grants for homes and trade were awarded – particularly around Pagoda Street, Almeida Street (today’s Temple Street), Smith Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street and Sago Lane. In John Turnbull Thomson’s 1846 map, this ethnic quarter expanded to the area demarcated by Telok Ayer Street, Singapore River, New Bridge Road and Pagoda Street. Developed areas by this time included Upper Macao Street (today’s Upper Pickering Street), Upper Hokkien Street, Upper Chin Chew Street, Upper Cross Street and Mosque Street.14 However, as the Chinese population grew rapidly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, overcrowding became a problem. People lived in sub-divided rooms called cubicles that created more living space, but were crammed, unhealthy and unsafe.16 Inevitably, slums developed.
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The August 1918 survey by the government’s Housing Commission reported much overcrowding and congestion in Chinatown. In the mid-1960s, urban renewal schemes started, and residents were re-housed in resettlement estates. Major upgrading of shophouses and new developments took place at the end of 1983, after the street hawkers were housed in Kreta Ayer Complex. Contrary to its name, Chinatown was not exclusively Chinese. There were small communities of Indian traders around the junction of South Bridge Road and Upper Cross Street; Indian temples and Muslim mosques can be found in the area too.
Chinatown is Singapore’s largest Historic District. Its four sub-districts – Bukit Pasoh, Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer and Tanjong Pagar – were given conservation status in the late 1980s. Much of the town has changed, but fortunately, remnants of its colourful past are still present and old traditions have endured. During festivals such as the Lunar New Year, and the Mid-autumn Festival, there are celebrations and festive shopping. Always dressed for the occasion, Chinatown would be colourful, lit up and abuzz with activity, attracting not just the Chinese but other locals as well as tourists.
- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a remarkable 4-storey temple. The bell tower and drum tower are on the same floor. The main focus for most visitors is the solid gold 2-metre stupa on the 4th floor which is the place where the sacred relic is kept. The temple is built in a style based on the Buddhist mandala and integrated with the Buddhism of the Tang dynasty.
- Sri Mariamman Temple is also one of the most prominent places of worship for Tamil Hindus in the country. It was built to honour Goddess Mariamman – the deity of disease and protection. Apart from being a place of worship, the temple has also acted as an asylum for new immigrants that belong to South Indian Tamil Hindu community.
- Pinnacle@Duxton Skybridge There are plenty of sky-high views in the city, but The Pinnacle @Duxton is a little different. Located on top of the world’s tallest residential building. This is the tallest building around, so you can see far and wide, across Chinatown and towards Sentosa Island.
- NUS Baba House Built in the 1890s, the National University of Singapore (NUS) Baba House was once the ancestral home of the Wee family who are descended from shipping tycoon Wee Bin. This heritage house offers visitors the chance to explore Peranakan (Straits-born people of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian heritage) culture from the early 20th century to the present.
- Singapore City Gallery Opened in 1999 and conveniently located within the vicinity of historic districts, the Singapore City Gallery aims to teach visitors how modern Singapore came to be, and how the city planners continue to plan sustainably. With more than 50 interactive exhibits spread over 3 floors, it will also be a wonderful visitor experience to explore Singapore past, present and future.
- Red Dot Design Museum will make you look at everyday objects in a different light. Taking the mystery out of innovations that make our life easier and exploring some of the more unusual gizmos and gadgets, it is easy to spend an hour or so here. Although it’s a fairly small gallery, the spectrum of design is large and varied; everything from advertising posters, packaging, computers to household appliances.
- Chinatown Street Market These busy streets encapsulate all the sights and sounds that visitors expect of Chinatown, with hundreds of stalls selling everything from silk robes to lucky cats. There are plenty of ‘Made in China’ goods on display and lanterns swaying in the breeze above your head. There’s also a fantastic range of street food carts amongst the shopping, with fresh dim sum and crispy duck.
- Thian Hock Keng Temple is the oldest and probably most interesting Chinese temple in Singapore. Built circa 1820, this Taoist-Buddhist temple was dedicated to Ma Zu Po, the Mother of Heavenly Sages and the protector of sailors. The temple boasts elaborately painted doors, as well as highly-decorated beams and gold-leafed panels.
- Hong Lim Park (Speakers Corner) is a small park in the centre of Chinatown that is famous for being the only place in Singapore where you can openly speak your mind. Well, as you long you stick to all the rules, which include: being Singaporean, not mentioning religion and making sure you have told the police you plan to speak. Protests often take place here too.
- Al-Abrar Mosque This mosque was built in 1827. At that time was just a small building so many people took to calling it the ‘hut mosque’ as its nickname. The present building was erected in the 1850s and went through a major renovation in 1980s.
- Chinatown Heritage Centre Singapore offers many excellent museums. Visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre if you want to learn more about the rich history of old Chinatown and the life of its migrants in Singapore.
- Chinese Methodist Church Chinatown is home to many cultural buildings including Singapore’s first Methodist church. You can find the church on Telok Ayer Street, and admire its features such as art deco styling with a Chinese roof.
- Eu Yan Sang Chinese Medical Hall As the name suggests, Eu Yan Sang Medical Hall is where most of the Singaporean Chinese community source their traditional medicines. the store was built by Chinese millionaire Eu Tong Sen in 1910 and has become an important centre for the community ever since. Other products sold include Chinese teas and herbs.
- G-Max Reverse Bungy Singapore is Singapore’s very own bungy facility where you can get your dose of adrenaline rush. You can find it at the popular nightlife hub of Clarke Quay. Helpful staff strap you into the capsule while on the ground, which will then catapult you 60 metres into the air at the press of a button.
- Jamae Mosque Jamae Mosque is one of the many different holy places to visit in Singapore's Chinatown area. The mosque was built in the 1830s by Chulia Indians (Muslim merchants and moneylenders from India's Coromandel Coast). It is considered one of Singapore’s oldest mosques.
- Maxwell Food Centre It is a fun experience to learn about the original style hawkers food which is not sold around on the streets any more. The hawker foods are influenced by three main national cuisines, similar to the way Singapore is made up from; the Chinese, Indian and Malay. Many visitors are fascinating with the items offering here such as noodles with dumplings and roast pork, pork rib soup with rice, BBQ stingray with sambal sauce, satay, nasi goreng fried noodles in soya sauce with cockles and eggs.
- Nagore Durgha Shrine is a major Hindu shrine and landmark on Singapore Chinatown's Telok Ayer Street. The shrine has a unique blend of classical moulded arches and columns as well as Indian Muslim motifs. Nagore Durgha was built by Muslim immigrants from southern India and dates back to 1828, making it one of Singapore's important historical landmarks.
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