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Chinatown Singapore

The Shopping Street of Niu Che Shui

Since at least two hundred years ago, Niu Che Shui, the Chinatown, has been a Chinese settlement in Singapore. Today, Chinatown has not only preserved many historical monuments, but also has a perfect blend of fashion and trends. Come here to taste the food, explore the history, and experience the diverse culture of Singapore.

The history of the Chinese in Singapore is much older than the founding of Singapore, dating back to at least the Yuan Dynasty. In the early 19th century, an area on the south bank of the Singapore River was set up by Raffles for the Chinese to live in, and it gradually formed Niu Che Shui 牛车水, Singapore's Most famous Chinatown.

In the early years, the Niu Che Shui area was not yet connected to the water supply and had to rely on bullock carts, Niu Che 牛车 to deliver the water, Shui 水, hence the name. The Chinatown Heritage Centre is based on the Chinatown in the 1950s, recreating the busy downtown area of Niu Che Shui and the hard life of the early residents. Come here if you want to learn about the past of Chinatown, Singapore.

Chinatown Heritage Centre

A Portrait of Chinese Immigrants

Located in the busy commercial center of Chinatown, the Chinatown Heritage Centre recreates the livelihood of local Chinese in the early days, based on the 1950s Singapore Chinatown. The museum is a window to the history and culture of Old Niu Che Shui, the Chinatown.

Low-rise Chinatown Shophouses and the Skyscrapers Behind Them

Today, Chinatown has not only preserved many historical monuments, but also blended Fashion and Trend perfectly. Besides modern shopping malls to century-old stores, there are also plenty of Beautiful Street Murals waiting to be explored.

Chinatown is known as A Foodie's Paradise, and you can get authentic Fried Kway Teow, Hainanese Chicken Rice and other specialties at Chinatown Food Street, Chinatown Mansion Food Centre and the nearby Maxwell Road Food Centre.

Landmark in Chinatown - Pearl Town Building

While exploring the food, don’t forget to experience the diverse culture of Singapore. A short two-hundred-meter street in Niu Che Shui is home to three religious temples: The Tang Dynasty-style Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the brightly colored Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple, and the humble and mysterious Masjid Jamae Mosque, Symbolizing three races and three faiths living in harmony next to each other.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple And Museum

Buddha's Tooth and Pagoda

Singapore Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is a Tang-style Buddhist temple located in Chinatown, the Niu Che Shui area, famous for its collection of Buddha's tooth relics and numerous Buddhist artifacts. The temple is a treasure trove of modern Buddhist art, with the Hundred Dragons Hall, the Sacred Light Hall, and the Museum of Buddhist Culture.

Sri Mariamman Temple

Oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore

The Sri Mariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore and it has a six-story high temple entrance tower with images of Hindu deities carved on it. Sri Mariamman Temple hosts various celebrations from time to time, such as the annual Timiti, the Firewalking Festival from October to November.