Joanna James
Amongst the best things to do in Singapore is to explore its Chinatown. This bustling area offers much to experience and provides insights into the city's history as well. Here are some things about this neighbourhood you may not know about and which will add to its appeal!
The 'official' Chinatown can be found beside the Singapore River and is the one which is written about in most blogs and travel guides. However, another similar area can be found in Geylang, within easy reach of the city centre and is sometimes referred to as the 'People's Chinatown'. This second Chinatown came into being as many Chinese migrants moved here to begin businesses and establish dining venues. Travellers should look to visit both these neighbourhoods especially during prominent festivals like the Chinese New Year.
Chinatown (the official one that is!) dates all the way back to 1822 and was an area created during British colonial rule. During this period, Stamford Raffles on his return to Singapore decided to divide the city in such a way that each of the four ethnicities lived in a particular locale; the area near the Singapore River was given to the Chinese community. That said, this area and Singapore as a whole is known for multicultural harmony and today, you will find all ethnicities living in and visiting Chinatown.
For foodie tours in Singapore, Chinatown is the place to go to. Those based at city properties such as Park Hotel Clarke Quay will find this area only around a five-minute taxi ride away so it's easy to get to; with the range of food on offer, you will want to make multiple visits! A key hotspot is the Chinatown Food Street that features shophouse restaurants, street hawker stalls and al-fresco dining options; you can savour everything from fried oyster omelette (orh luak) and roast duck to stir-fried rice noodles (char kway teow). For more foodie delights, you also get the Maxwell Food Centre and Chinatown Complex famed for their hawker dishes.
While Chinatown is a place to experience Chinese culture, it's also home to key religious attractions in Singapore of other faiths. This includes the Sri Mariamman Temple which is the country's oldest Hindu temple. Within easy reach of hotels in Clarke Quay, Singapore, this captivating temple is dedicated to the goddess Mariamman, a deity revered for her powers to cure diseases and illnesses. Dating to 1827, this sacred site features an impressive six-tier gopuram as part of its exterior with various sculptures of Hindu deities.
Amongst the arresting sights you will come across in Chinatown, are the traditional-style and often colourful shophouses. What you may not know, is that depending on the materials used to build them, you can get a good idea of what period they are from. Dating to the 1840s to the 1900s, the older two-storey shophouses are generally made from plaster; the relatively newer shophouses, on the other hand, were constructed using concrete or steel and were built from the 1950s to the 1970s.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
