Singapore's Historic Chinatown Walking Tour with Lunch | La Vacanza Travel

Singapore's Historic Chinatown Walking Tour with Lunch

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Destination: Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
from
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  • 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Singapore
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

On this walking tour, we trace the footsteps of the early immigrants who left China in search of a better life in South-East Asia, and how they found their way to Singapore, built temples and formed clans to look after each other. We learn about how some prospered to become some of Asia’s richest men, whilst others slaved and died penniless without any next-of-kin to mourn them.

We’ll see where Chinese opera theatres, brothels, opium and gambling dens once thrived when the ratio of men to women was 14:1.

Through murals by local artist Yip Yew Chong, we sneak a peek at what life was like in 19th and 20th century Singapore.

Lunch will be at one of the oldest establishments in Singapore, before we continue our hunt for other traditional trades in Chinatown which have withstood the test of time.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Sky Garden at CapitaSpring, 88 Market St, Singapore Singapore

Enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Singapore's second tallest skyscraper. From here, we'll have a bird's eye view of the Historic District of Chinatown.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Yueh Hai Ching Temple, 30B Phillip Street Wan Hai Cheng Bio Temple, Singapore 048696 Singapore

Possibly established as early as 1819, making it older than Thian Hock Keng Temple, Yueh Hai Ching Temple is often overlooked by locals and tourists. Once inside this serene temple, you'll be transported to a different world.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Pekin Street, Pekin St, Singapore

Step inside the courtyard of a Chinese boys' school from 1854 and imagine what the area must have been like with school boys learning to read and write, and playing traditional games like chapteh after classes.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Fuk Tak Chi Museum, Far East Square Telok Ayer Street, Singapore Singapore

Once a temple built by Cantonese and Hakka worshippers of Tua Pek Kong (God of Prosperity) in the 1820s, the quaint building now houses a museum with an intriguing display of what life was like in the area about 200 years ago.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Thian Hock Keng Temple, 158 Telok Ayer Street Chinatown, Singapore 068613 Singapore

Established in 1821, Thian Hock Keng Temple is the oldest Hokkien temple and likely the second oldest Chinese temple in Singapore. Admire its stunning architecture, built without a nail being used, learn about Taoist and Buddhist practices, find out about the gift from Qing Emperor Guang Xu to the temple, and hunt for the bats which live on the premises.

Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: Ann Siang Hill, Singapore Singapore

See if you can spot the last water well in Chinatown, learn about the hills and plantations which used to exist in the area, and find out how Ann Siang Hill got its name.


Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Chinese Weekly Entertainment Club, 76 Club St, Singapore 069446

Discover the truth behind how Club Street got its name, and the high society parties which used to take place at this millionaire's club.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Goh Loo Club, 72 Club St, Singapore 069471

We stop at another Chinese millionaire's club and find out the story behind its interesting window grills.

Duration: 2 minutes

Stop At: Mohamed Ali Lane Chinatown, Singapore Singapore

Come face-to-face with local artist, Yip Yew Chong's second mural on this tour. He has successfully breathed vibrancy into Historic Chinatown with his brilliantly-coloured, often interactive, heritage-themed street art.

Duration: 2 minutes

Stop At: Chiew Kee Noodle House, 30 Upper Cross St, Singapore 058336

Enjoy a traditional soya sauce chicken noodle/rice lunch at this establishment dating back to 1949.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Yue Hwa Chinese Products, 70 Eu Tong Sen Street Yue Hwa (Nam Tin) Building, Singapore 059805 Singapore

Once the "Raffles Hotel of Chinatown", we learn about the illustrious past of this 1927 building, which now houses a Chinese emporium.

Duration: 2 minutes

Stop At: The Majestic, 80 Eu Tong Sen St, Singapore 059810

Find out how The Majestic Theatre came into being, and the wealthy Chinese merchant who made it possible.

Duration: 2 minutes

Stop At: Lim Chee Guan New Bridge Road Store, 203 New Bridge Rd, Singapore 059429

Established in 1938, Lim Chee Guan endured the Second World War and remains as one of Singapore's best loved brands 85 years on.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Pek Sin Choon Pte Ltd, 36 Mosque St, Singapore 059514

Established in 1925, this tea shop with its unique Nanyang blends has close to 100 years of history.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Tai Thong Cake Shop, 35 Mosque St, Singapore 059513

This old school bakery from 1950 sells Cantonese-style mooncakes and other sweet treats year round. We drop by for a taste.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Lau Choy Seng Pte Ltd, 25 Temple St, #21 / 23, Singapore 058568

Located along Temple Street where we'll find 3 more of Yip Yew Chong's murals, Lau Choy Seng (1948) is a treasure trove of kitchenware which will inspire you to display your culinary skills.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Smith Street, Singapore Singapore

We take a look at another of Yip Yew Chong's murals, one which depicts his own home in Sago Lane, Chinatown more than 5 decades ago. We also stop to take a look at Lai Chun Yuen Opera House along Smith Street, which was Singapore's first integrated resort, bringing theatre, opium-smoking, gambling and prostitution all under one roof. We learn about the sordid past of Smith Street, where numerous brothels once lined, and the coolies, rickshaw pullers, businessmen, etc. who used to frequent them.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Sago Street (Street Of The Dead), Chinatown, Singapore Singapore

Find out how Sago Lane became known as the Street of the Dead, and what has become of it today.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Fong Moon Kee, 16 Sago St, Singapore 059016

We end our tour at Fong Moon Kee. Established in 1908, this 115-year-old ointment shop might just have the answer to any aches and pains which may have been nagging you. If coolies and rickshaw pullers lived by their ointments, who are we to question their wisdom?

Duration: 10 minutes

Inclusions
  • Lunch - Traditional Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle/Rice Lunch and Snacks will be provided.
  • Licensed tourist guide and disposable poncho in the event of rain.

Exclusions
  • Gratuities.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

Marks & Spencer Food, 1 Raffles Pl, #01 - 09 / 10, Singapore 048616


Departure Time

10:00 AM


Return Details

Fong Moon Kee, 16 Sago St, Singapore 059016

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

3 hours 30 minutes


User's Reviews

Linda_M

25 Apr, 2024

I have taken many walking tours in many different countries and with many different tour guides. I can honestly say that Ping is by far the most knowledgeable tour guide I've had the pleasure of walking with. Our group was large, about 13 people but everyone uniformly commented on how "good" she was at explaining what we were looking at, providing accurate historical information, entertaining us, and making everyone feel included. If you're heading to Singapore, I HIGHLY recommend contacting Ping at On A Roll Tours to see if she is offering any tours during your visit. My Chinatown experience was so successful that I took another 3 tours with her during my trip and was 100% happy with every one.

Louise_M

20 Apr, 2024

The stories of how Singapore has grown were really interesting and gave a real sense of the culture The strength of the tour was the passion and knowledge of the guide. The guide was engaging and well informed

Julia_D

18 Apr, 2024

Ping was an excellent guide. She was so much fun and very knowledgeable of the area and its history. She had great ideas of where to get the best food. She also took pictures along the way and shared them with everyone.

Karen_S

21 Mar, 2024

Lots of historical abd cultural information rolled into a very pleasant learning experience. Ping was an excellent guide.

William_S

08 Mar, 2024

I love love this tour. Ping was great. Very knowledgeable. Food was great and really went through a lot great location in chinatown

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Wonderful Tour of Historic Chinatown

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