Exploring Chinatown Singapore The desi Traveler Way

Beyond Top 10 Things to do in Chinatown Singapore

Smug that I am prepared to explore & experience Chinatown Singapore, after reading a few blog posts suggesting “Top 10 Things to do & See in Chinatown Singapore”, I trotted to the colorful Chinatown in Singapore with Mr. Know IT All Swag.

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong.

“Arrogance is the Achilles’ heel of a Traveler”, I  mumble to myself and decide to go with the flow.

Monks chanting mantras at Chinatown Singapore Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

The energy, the sounds, the smells the vibes & smiles overtake my senses and I am like a well a ” Tourist in Chinatown ” With no space even to move my arms, I struggled to click pictures trying to keep my hands steady while trying to dodge people all around me. It is not easy to walk in Singapore Chinatown, not only because it can be super crowded but because you cannot take a step without getting distracted by or attracted to the many charms it has to offer.  I try and focus on clicking a picture of a shop selling Singapore Souvenirs, but my mind is struggling to find the source of the lemony whiff of air that arrived riding on a cloud of chicken broth. Aromas of China I tell myself and automatically move in direction of the smell as it grows stronger.  It will be a long and eventful day discovering the top attractions of Chinatown Singapore the desi Traveler way I tell myself.

All this when this was not even my first visit to Chinatown in Singapore, and I am sure this will not be my last visit also. (Next one is coming soon hopefully 🙂 ) The shops are decorated for some festival or maybe they are like this all year round for when I visited 6 months ago the energy levels with equally high. I impulsively bow my head the moment I see the number the number one attraction of Chinatown Singapore – The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.  Taking a central place in the Chinatown Market, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a Kaleidoscope of Colors with a duopoly of Red and Golden. A religious ceremony is in place and Buddhist monks are chanting hymns as devotees come and light incense sticks then silently folding hands while praying. The Golden Buddha Statue gazes at us, noticing everything, saying nothing and blessing everyone.

As I leave the pious precincts of the temple I realize how the Buddha Temple is not just a temple of Buddha Tooth Relic it is also a vanguard of the Old Singapore when it embarked on a journey from a being just another marshy outpost of the Raj to being  one of the most modern cities in the world.  We are surrounded by sky scrapers that dwarf everything around them. But the Chinatown though aware of the change around it and rejects and even mocks the vertical growth of the city, rejoicing,  restoring, with respect and nurturing the Shop Homes in their vibrant colors, from the colonial era lanes of Chinatown. The tall sky scrapers around Chinatown may have grown vertically but it will be many decades before they catch any of the character and aurae that the intricately designed heritage buildings of Chinatown radiate. Each of the building in Chinatown has some history hidden behind its wooden windows, and the old timers though far and few are ready to engage in a conversation when they are not playing their board games that their forefathers brought from mainland China.

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But the Chinatown though aware of the change around it and rejects and even mocks the vertical growth of the city, rejoicing,  & restoring, with respect and nurturing the Shop Homes in their vibrant colors, from the colonial era lanes of Chinatown.

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The tall skyscrapers around Chinatown may have grown vertically but it will be many decades before they catch any of the character and aurae that the intricately designed heritage buildings of Chinatown radiate. Each of the building in Chinatown has some history hidden behind its wooden windows, and the old timers though far and few are ready to engage in a conversation when they are not playing their board games that their forefathers brought from mainland China.

But the Chinatown though aware of the change around it and rejects and even mocks the vertical growth of the city, rejoicing,  restoring, with respect and nurturing the Shop Homes in their vibrant colors, from the colonial era lanes of Chinatown. The tall skyscrapers around Chinatown may have grown vertically but it will be many decades before they catch any of the character and aurae that the intricately designed heritage buildings of Chinatown radiate.

Each of the building in Chinatown has some history hidden behind its wooden windows, and the old timers though far and few are ready to engage in a conversation when they are not playing their board games that their forefathers brought from mainland China.

The central square in Chinatown is the epicenter of activities from where all the chaos around Chinatown gets it meaning.  It is here you will find elders exchanging stories, and youngsters decorating their bikes with lights for a showoff. Tired shoppers settle for catching a breath and planning the next jaunt to the Stalls next to the Buddha  Tooth Relic Temple.

As the Sun sets, and Neons take over a fresh wave of shoppers start emerging from the Chinatown MRT station While during the day most of the shoppers around were visitors and tourists it is now after Sunset the true spirits of Chinatown take over. A granny carefully checks the catch of the day with her wrinkled hands and smiles when she finds the one she was looking for. I am sure her brood will enjoy the fish in dinner.

Many local Chinese families visit Chinatown for their household needs Besides being one of the top tourist attractions, Chinatown in Singapore is also a major hub for authentic Chinese groceries, Chinese Herbal Tea and all kind of Chinese Medicines and raw materials used in the Chinese medicines ranging from flying lizards to dried squids.

 A dad waits with his son firmly tied to his back as he waits for the mom to return after her triumphant visit to get the Chinese Groceries as the crowds swell in the evening with both tourists and locals making a beeline for Chinatown.  No wonder the place is so high on energy.

WHAT To Buy IN CHINATOWN SINGAPORE?

Chinatown is one of the best places for Shopping in Singapore

There are all kind of Chinese Souvenirs on sale in Chinatown from replicas of Merlion to authentic factory made birthstones you will find many curious to take back home. May I suggest buying Chinese Tea, Jade Tortoises, Fengshui items like coins, frogs and whatever else fancies your eyes. Unlike most bazaars type places in Asia Singapore, Chinatown does not encourage bargaining and most shops have a fixed price policy to save time and prices are neatly displayed on all items.  There are even a few shops that sell funeral items that Chinese people buy for the funeral of their family members. I notice watches, cars dresses, besides prayer items like incense sticks etc. on these Chinese Funeral items shops. I quickly click a picture and move forwards trying to spend minimum time in front of the Funeral shops.

As you have reached here let me quickly list the top attractions of Chinatown Singapore  ( haw!! desi succumbs to listicles )

1. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
2. Chinatown Heritage Center
3. Chinatown Food Street. Try some delicious Chinese Street Food and if you are one of those desi nonexperimental types look for the “ Serangoon Raju Indian Cusine”
4. Photograph Shop homes that still maintain their character of the colonial era and people still live on the upper floors in many of these houses.
5. Pray at the Sri Mariamman Temple one of the most prominent places of worship for Tamil Hindus in Singapore It was built to honor Goddess Mariamman, who protects from disease and

How to reach Chinatown Singapore

Chinatown Singapore is conveniently located in Singapore and you can easily reach there by Singapore Metro or MRT as it is called. The Chinatown station is a major interchange between lines North-East Line ( NE4 )  and Downtown line ( DT19). The North East Line is the purple line & the Downtown line in Singapore is the Blue line. You can also take a taxi or bus to reach Chinatown.

Best Time to Visit Chinatown Singapore:

I would suggest you go in second half of the day after lunch and stay till late evening, this way you will be able to capture life in Chinatown Singapore both during the day as well as the night in Chinatown and can try the delicacies on offer at the Chinatown Street food market also.

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