What To See In Chinatown, Singapore

Chinatown
The simplest way to see Singapore's Chinatown is to take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) underground railway to Chinatown station.


Telok Ayer MRT station exterior. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Telok Ayer
An alternative is Telok Ayer. We had the benefit of being shown the way by a British expat relative who has lived in Singapore on and off for more than 20 year. He looked up online the location of a particular Chinese temple which he wanted us to see. He took us along a from Telok Ayer MRT on a route which passed 1) Lau Pa Sat, 2) Sculptures and 3) The mural showing the life style of the old days 4) The Chinese temple.

MRT Station Map
Failing all else, photograph the MRT station map of the locality and use the picture to guide yourself around.

We took a circular route ending back at Telok Ayer MRT station. I suggest you use the free toilets at the MT station before starting your walk.

Our walk was on New Year's Day, January 1st 2020, in the afternoon when most of the bars and restaurants were closed. The owners, staff and customers having been up late partying the night before, we presumed, judging by the traces of gleaming streamers on the ground outside the front doors.

Lau Pa Sat Food Court
We started at Lau Pa Sat, a giant cast iron Victorian market hall, reminiscent of London's Victorian architecture. A handy book called Street Names of Singapore by Peter Dunlop answers all my queries about street names, the history of the area and names of MRT stations. this book told me that La Pau Sat was moved to make way for the MRT station. I am glad it's still there.

If you want to see all the different styles of food available at reasonable prices, or you want to give friends with different diets a chance to buy from different outlets and then sit together, this venue would be a good choice.

However, start together from some other place. Lau Pa Sat is so big that it's hard to find your friends if you start from different directions. You need to set a place to meet and time to meet, or to be sure you all have working phones and distinctive clothing. Make an agreement that whoever arrives first will call the others, no offence taken.

Otherwise, one person arrives fifteen minutes early, not wanting to chivvy those who are ten or fifteen minutes or more late by calling and asking,
'Where are you?'
The response would be the agitated reply, "Sorry, sorry, so sorry, still on the way."
 The result is waiting half a hour, wandering around in circles looking for the others.

I have done this three times and hate it. You are surrounded by food but cannot order, unless you go for a juice whilst you are waiting and text others to say where you are seated. Even if you remain standing, it is hard to find anybody.

Which exit from Lau Pa Sat and which direction? Take a big map for each person and mark your intended route. Also pinpoint any photo stops so you can label your photos later..

Chinese Language
We were happy to be together and went there after lunch so without buying food or drink. We just walked through Lau Pa Sat and off into Chinatown. Lau Pa Sat is Chinese.

You know you are in Chinatown. Stand on a corner and look back. You will see that you have left a main street with a signpost in English only. The street you are about to enter has a sign in both English and Chinese.

Sandals Or Walking Shoes
The streets are cobbled. Wear suitable flat footwear. Alternatively, carry a shoe bag and spare sandals so you can change shoes.

Umbrella / Parasol
Take an umbrella. You might need it in case of rain. If you are lucky enough to have bright sunshine, sue your umbrella for its original purpose in sunny climates, as a sunshade.

The covered walkways in front of the shophouses shelter you from the sun.

The Staircase

Chinatown Staircase. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The staircase was not as bad as I feared. What you see is what you get.

Mural
the mural

Sculpture

The Chinese Temple

Mural

Getting There
Telok Ayer MRT on the blue Downtown line. (Or take a bus.)

Meaning of Ayer
Ayer means water in Malay.

Meaning of Telok
Telok means bay in Malay language.

Chinatown MRT

Toilets

An alterntive or next top or next trip to Chinatown would be via Chinatown MRT station, with a stop at the Cat Cafe (check opening hours).

Useful Websites


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