Singapore's Historic Chinatown Walking Tour with Lunch





Description
On this walking tour, we trace the footsteps of the early immigrants who left China in search of a better life in South-East Asia, and how they found their way to Singapore, built temples and formed clans to look after each other. We learn about how some prospered to become some of Asia’s richest men, whilst others slaved and died penniless without any next-of-kin to mourn them. We’ll see where Chinese opera theatres, brothels, opium and gambling dens once thrived when the ratio of men to women was 14:1. Through murals by local artist Yip Yew Chong, we sneak a peek at what life was like in 19th and 20th century Singapore. Lunch will be at one of the oldest establishments in Singapore, before we continue our hunt for other traditional trades in Chinatown which have withstood the test of time.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Singapore's second tallest skyscraper. From here, we'll have a bird's eye view of the Historic District of Chinatown.
Possibly established as early as 1819, making it older than Thian Hock Keng Temple, Yueh Hai Ching Temple is often overlooked by locals and tourists. Once inside this serene temple, you'll be transported to a different world.
Step inside the courtyard of a Chinese boys' school from 1854 and imagine what the area must have been like with school boys learning to read and write, and playing traditional games like chapteh after classes.
Once a temple built by Cantonese and Hakka worshippers of Tua Pek Kong (God of Prosperity) in the 1820s, the quaint building now houses a museum with an intriguing display of what life was like in the area about 200 years ago.
Established in 1821, Thian Hock Keng Temple is the oldest Hokkien temple and likely the second oldest Chinese temple in Singapore. Admire its stunning architecture, built without a nail being used, learn about Taoist and Buddhist practices, find out about the gift from Qing Emperor Guang Xu to the temple, and hunt for the bats which live on the premises.
See if you can spot the last water well in Chinatown, learn about the hills and plantations which used to exist in the area, and find out how Ann Siang Hill got its name.
Discover the truth behind how Club Street got its name, and the high society parties which used to take place at this millionaire's club.
We stop at another Chinese millionaire's club and find out the story behind its interesting window grills.
Come face-to-face with local artist, Yip Yew Chong's second mural on this tour. He has successfully breathed vibrancy into Historic Chinatown with his brilliantly-coloured, often interactive, heritage-themed street art.
Enjoy a traditional soya sauce chicken noodle/rice lunch at this establishment dating back to 1949.
Once the "Raffles Hotel of Chinatown", we learn about the illustrious past of this 1927 building, which now houses a Chinese emporium.
Find out how The Majestic Theatre came into being, and the wealthy Chinese merchant who made it possible.
Established in 1938, Lim Chee Guan endured the Second World War and remains as one of Singapore's best loved brands 85 years on.
Established in 1925, this tea shop with its unique Nanyang blends has close to 100 years of history.
This old school bakery from 1950 sells Cantonese-style mooncakes and other sweet treats year round. We drop by for a taste.
Located along Temple Street where we'll find 3 more of Yip Yew Chong's murals, Lau Choy Seng (1948) is a treasure trove of kitchenware which will inspire you to display your culinary skills.
We take a look at another of Yip Yew Chong's murals, one which depicts his own home in Sago Lane, Chinatown more than 5 decades ago. We also stop to take a look at Lai Chun Yuen Opera House along Smith Street, which was Singapore's first integrated resort, bringing theatre, opium-smoking, gambling and prostitution all under one roof. We learn about the sordid past of Smith Street, where numerous brothels once lined, and the coolies, rickshaw pullers, businessmen, etc. who used to frequent them.
Find out how Sago Lane became known as the Street of the Dead, and what has become of it today.
We end our tour at Fong Moon Kee. Established in 1908, this 115-year-old ointment shop might just have the answer to any aches and pains which may have been nagging you. If coolies and rickshaw pullers lived by their ointments, who are we to question their wisdom?
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(46)
We really enjoyed the tour. Ping was a great guide, very informative with a wealth of knowledge about Singapore and its cultures and history. She comfortably answered questions that weren’t really related to the tour. Before setting out, she asked everyone on the tour if there was anything in particular they’d like to see covered, and then tweaked it based on the interests of the participants. We’d all thoroughly recommend it.
Great activity to do. Learn about things you’d miss otherwise. Enriched the trip. Great guide and group.
We thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Ping was very friendly and informative. She remembered our names right away and even those of her previous guests that we ran into! Lunch was delicious as well. Even though the restaurant the tour normally goes to was closed for the day, Ping had a backup plan and got us there right before the lunch rush.
Fantastic introduction to Singapore's Chinatown!! Ping was a terrific guide!! Her knowledge of all the nooks and crannies of Chinatown was great!! We will ask for her anytime we return to Singapore for ANY tour!!
Ping was a fantastic guide. She knows so much about Chinatown and took us to such interesting places. It was so worth our time to learn about the area and the culture. Ping was so organized. The 3 1/2 hours went by very quickly. I would highly recommend this tour.
Ping is an amazing local guide. Incredible to hear about Chinatown at a local level and experience temples and buildings that could be missed on a self guided tour. Lots of history mixed with a touch of the modern. Will not disappoint.
An in-depth guide to the history, culture and nuances of Chinatown. She is the very best and shared hidden gems we would never have found on our own! Highly recommend! The lunch was delicious and Ping was the best!
Ping provides an extremely well run and thoughtful tour. We enjoyed our first tour so much (Colonial Singapore walking tour) that we signed up for a second tour in the same holiday! She knows her history and she covers a great deal of ground during her tour while at the same time providing breaks, keeping to the shade and you will be surprised how much you learn and how much ground you have walked! I very much enjoyed the lunch at a hidden local spot (air conditioned too!). Can’t go wrong taking one of Pings tours, highly recommend.
Valuable to see and hear about the culture and history of Chinatown. Ping was a committed and knowledgeable leader. Excellent lunch.
I did the Chinatown walking tour with Ping today. It really was a fantastic experience - in fact I would say the best walking tour I have ever done (and I have done many!). Ping was so knowledgable and kind, she really has such a fantastic and diverse knowledge of Singaporean history and culture. I saw all sorts of interesting spots I would never have come across on my own and learned a lot. I was lucky to have stumbled across this tour, it was a lot of fun!



