Events

Highlights of Chinatown

Did you know Singapore’s Chinatown is literally called “bull cart water” in Chinese? This is due to the enclave’s history. Early settlers had to use animal-drawn carts to bring water in for use due to its location. Today, Chinatown is a bustling neighbourhood with a mix of both locals and tourists. Read on for some of our suggested highlights that are not to be missed.

Getting to Chinatown is easy. Take the train to Chinatown MRT Station (NE4/DT19) on the purple North-East line or the blue Downtown line. Singapore’s Chinese heritage is evident even in the design of the station, where calligraphy paintings and artworks by Singaporean artists Tan Swie Hian and Cheo Chai Hiang are on display.

Once you exit the station, explore the parallel Mosque, Pagoda, Temple and Smith Streets for shopping, sightseeing and food. Souvenirs run the gamut from the usual keychain, tshirts and mugs to chopsticks, calligraphy art and stone seals engraved with your name and much, much more. There are shops and stalls with Chinese-style furniture, tea sets, clothes, bags, jewellery and accessories, so take your time to browse and pick up souvenirs if you need them.

 


Even though it is primarily a Chinese enclave, there is a major mosque and Hindu temple near the heart of Chinatown. Mosque Street derives its name from Jamae Mosque at one end of the street. Meanwhile, the neighbouring Sri Mariamman Temple gives Temple Street its name. Both are open to tourists, but keep in mind they are active places of worship and require visitors to be appropriately dressed and refrain from flash photography.

 


Of course, what’s Chinatown without a Chinese temple? You can’t miss The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum at Sago Lane. The Venerable Cakkapala entrusted the sacred relic to the Venerable Shi Fa Zhao, who had the grand red and gold building with traditional Tang dynasty and Buddhist mandala elements built to house it. The museum occupies the upper floors, and admission is free. You can sign up for free guided tours which are conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2pm in English.

 


There are other museums in Chinatown too. The Chinatown Heritage Centre on Pagoda Street replicates old Chinatown, and shows how the men and women who help make Singapore what it is today used to live when they first reached our shores. The Singapore Coins and Notes Museum, also on Pagoda Street, is Singapore’s only museum dedicated to currency.

 


Finally, round off your visit to Chinatown with a hearty meal. What better to eat than Chinese food? O-Carie Food & Beverage is nestled in The Inn at Temple Street. Run by people who place great emphasis on authenticity, taste, health and variety, the core of O-Carie’s dishes comprises of Chinese cuisine but they also serve Indonesian, Thai, Japanese and other cuisines as well. Using a mix of land and sea ingredients to create well-balanced meals, service aims to be welcoming and make you feel like it’s your home away from home. We recommend trying the Song Zi Fish (fish with tomato gravy and pine nuts) and Chinese Chestnut Chicken Claypot stew.




If you want to have local food and don’t mind eating without air conditioning, the pedestrian Chinatown Food Street on Smith Street provides lots of options. With a new glass canopy, you can now dine at Smith Street regardless of rain or shine while eating your fill of Singaporean dishes like char kway teow (fried flat rice noodles) and satay (grilled meat skewers).

Search Articles

Log in or create an account

Search