Shop, Eat & Pray at Singapore’s Chinatown

Chinatown is the largest conserved historic district of Singapore. A beautiful amalgam of old and new. A visit to this lively ethnic district is a must when in Singapore. From bustling markets to the residential complex, everything here has a tint of golden and red. The vibe of the place is so infectious that it’ll be hard for you to leave.

I visited Chinatown during the Mid-Autumn Festival in September 2019, celebrated to mark the end of the autumn harvest season. The entire place was decorated beautifully with red lanterns and streamers that looked even better in the night. Spend an evening in Chinatown and get a true essence of Chinese culture. Here’s what you can do.

Reaching Chinatown

I took a bus from Orchard street until Chinatown, as it was very close. However, you can also reach here using MRT or Taxi.

By MRT

Closest Station: Chinatown
East-West line: Outram station, then change to North-East line
North-East line: Direct route
Downtown line: Direct route

By Bus

Hong Lim Complex Stop: 51, 63, 124, 174, 174E, 186, 851, 961, 961C, 970
People’s Park Complex Stop: 2, 2A, 12, 12E, 33, 61, 63, 80, 143, 197, 961, 961C, 970, CT8, CT18
Maxwell Food Centre Stop: 80, 145
Sri Mariamman Temple Stop: 61, 166, 197

Shop

Explore the markets of Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street and Smith Street, flooded with tiny shops selling Chinese decor, art and handicraft. The markets will remind you of olden-day Singapore and will give you a rich view of the culture and history of this place. A few things that you can pick on your way are a framed name painting, a bottle of herbal tea, a printed hand fan, lanterns and beautiful ceramics.

Eat

Chinatown is a gastronome’s paradise with a plethora of tiny cafes, hawker stations serving authentic Singaporean, Malaysian and Chinese food. Head to Food Street at Smith Street right next to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and indulge in local delicacies. Few dishes that you can try are seafood, dim sum, noodles, clay pot rice and Mei Heong Yuen Dessert. Try out delectable savoury finger food at Trengganu Street, and stop by the Hong Kong bakery to taste their amazing pastries.

I ate Char Kway Teow, a type of noodle dish that is considerably loved by the locals, Prawns nugget on-stick from Old Chang Kee at Pagoda Street and ended my meal with a scoop of chocolate ice-cream from a local vendor at Food Street.

Pray

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is one of the most visited shrines in Chinatown. A beautiful 4-storeyed temple, rich in art and history. The design of the temple takes its inspiration from the Tang dynasty and is in the form of a Buddhist Mandala. The museum on the third floor displays an enormous collection of artefacts. The tooth relic resides within a giant Stupa made of 320 kgs of gold. Entry to the temple is free. Moreover, you can also avail the free weekly-guided tours conducted by the temple authority every Saturday. You can also visit Mariamman Temple, Thian Hock Keng Temple and Masjid Jamae if you have some extra time in hand.

Tip: If you’re curious to know more about this place, then head to the Chinatown Heritage Centre at Pagoda Street. Take a step back in time and explore the history of Chinatown through an extensive collection of images and artefacts.

Ticket: 18 SGD (adult) & 14 SGD (child)
Timings: Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm

Guided tours are the best way to explore any place in a short time. Therefore, if you are looking for a quick way to explore the popular spots around the district, then opt for this guided walking tour offered by GetYourGuide. If you have time to splurge and are looking for something more exciting, then explore Chinatown on a Trishaw or go for a food tour and try all kinds of delicacies.