Singapore’s Chinatown: Highlights Off & On the Beaten Track

By: Cher Tan

Singapore’s Chinatown is definitely worth a visit. Every major city in the world has a Chinatown. However, there are little variations present from one Chinatown to the next, fitting in with the general culture of the country it exists in. In Singapore, it is no exception – the city is famously marketed as “Uniquely Singapore” after all.

Chinatown's primary attraction is the suburb itself, comprised of restored shophouses (read: new-old shophouses, any sign of dilapidation is carefully brushed away) full of little shops selling anything from plastic Buddhas to dried seahorses. At first glance, the general ambience of the area may seem touristy bordering on tacky to some, but wander the little nooks and crannies and be surprised at what you will find.