Singapore's Chinatown

Chinatown was the heart of the city's trading activity in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
It is a bit funny to have a Chinatown in a country where over 70% of the population is Chinese.
Chinatown comes from the early British days where the city was partitioned into neighborhoods. The British divided the city into districts based on ethnic groups, in order to keep racial tensions minimized. At that time the Chinese population was a minority.
In those days the Chinese immigrants were pore and Chinatown was a place of many brothels and opium dens.
Today it is a fast developing area with plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants.
The old architecture has been preserved resulting in a neighborhood with traditional shop-houses, full of color.

Visit the Thian Hock Keng Temple, also known as the Temple of Heavenly Happiness. Completed in 1841, it is one of Singapore's oldest and largest temples.

The Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown is Singapore's oldest and most important Hindu temple. The Temple, covering Hundreds of brightly painted statues of deities and mythical animals, honors the Goddesses Devi and Mariamman.

Located on Telok Ayer Street, The Nagore Durghar Shrine offers a unique blend of Classical and Indian-Muslim motifs.

The Jinrikisha Station, now restored and turned into a shopping and recreational centre was once the station for up to 9000 jinrikishas.

One of the best times to visit Chinatown is a few days before the Lunar New Year or Dumpling festival.
Chinatown is just a short walk from Outram Park or Chinatown MRT Stations.