Chinatown
Singapore's largest conserved historic district, south of the river
Chinatown is Singapore's historic Chinese quarter south of the Singapore River, in the Outram planning area, and STB calls it the largest conserved historic district in the country. URA formally gazetted the Chinatown historic districts of Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer, Bukit Pasoh and Tanjong Pagar for conservation on 7 July 1989. The commercial heart, Kreta Ayer, takes its Malay name, meaning water cart, from the bullock carts that once fetched well water for the area, and its Hokkien name Gu Chia Chwi carries the same meaning.
Exit A of Chinatown MRT station opens onto Pagoda Street, where two- and three-storey shophouses in the Transitional, Late and Art Deco styles line streets of shops and eating houses. Within a few minutes' walk are Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum on South Bridge Road, and Maxwell Food Centre. Thian Hock Keng, one of the oldest Hokkien temples in Singapore, stands on Telok Ayer Street, closer to Telok Ayer MRT station. Much of the interest lies in the shophouse fronts themselves, so leave time to walk the side streets between the main sights rather than moving straight from one temple to the next.
Highlights
Conservation area gazetted 7 July 1989
Exit A of Chinatown MRT opens onto Pagoda Street
Hindu, Buddhist and Chinese temples a short walk apart
Practical Info
Address
Pagoda Street, Chinatown, Singapore
In This Destination
Central Region
Museums, temples, heritage quarters and the Southern Ridges hill parks