Chinatown
As the largest ethnic group in Singapore, Chinese comprise about three-quarters of the population. As such, Singapore's Chinatown is not the distinct nook it often is in other cities, but it does carry a strong historical and cultural significance. Concentrated in the Trenngganu/Smith Streets area, the district is divided into four main areas: Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer, Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Pasoh. At any one point, visitors can explore street vendors and shops, picking up Asian gems at Cheong Jewelry, handmade moon cakes at Chop Tai Chong Kok, or medicated oils and palms at Chop Wah On.
Among the attractions in Chinatown, the four-story Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum features exhibits on the religious art and culture in Singapore, a rooftop pagoda and prayer wheel, a tea house and more. The Chinatown Heritage Center details the rise of Chinatown and its early inhabitants, while the Red Dot Design Museum showcases contemporary art within a former police headquarters.
The opportunities for enjoying traditional Chinese fare are endless in Chinatown. Hungry shoppers can grab a snack of bakkwa, a salty-sweet dried meat, from Lim Chee Guan or sit down to Peking duck or dim sum prepared at Da Dong Restaurant. To get a taste of it all, Chinatown Food Street, located on Smith Street, features everything from steamed radish cake fried with eggs to Rojack, a local salad topped with sweet sauce and peanuts. Tea houses, karaoke clubs and wine bars are also ideal for late night entertainment.
The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum is open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM. The Chinatown Heritage Center is open from Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. The Red Dot Design Museum is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 11 AM to 6 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 8 PM. Chinatown Food Street is open Monday through Thursday and Sunday from 5 to 11 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5 PM to 1 AM. For more information on Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum: +65 6220 0220
For more information on Chinatown Heritage Center: +65 6790 6176
For more information on Red Dot Design Museum: +65 6327 8027
