Chinatown, Singapore
Photo: David Ashford / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Neighbourhood guide

Chinatown

Temples, mosques and hawker centres

Chinatown packs a Hindu temple, a Buddhist relic temple, a mosque and the island's largest hawker centre by stall count into a few streets. Telok Ayer Street adds a row of older religious buildings.

Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, is open 06:00 to 12:00 and 18:00 to 21:00, with the Friday evening session running to 21:15. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is at 288 South Bridge Road. Jamae Mosque sits at 218 South Bridge Road.

Telok Ayer Street has Thian Hock Keng, one of the oldest Hokkien temples, Al-Abrar Mosque, the Former Nagore Dargah and Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. The Chinatown Heritage Centre on Pagoda Street is open 10:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 19:15.

Chinatown Complex Food Centre has 226 cooked food stalls on the National Environment Agency's list, Maxwell Food Centre 103, Hong Lim Food Centre 103 and People's Park Food Centre 87.

Getting there

Chinatown (North East and Downtown lines) is the main stop for the South Bridge Road sights and Chinatown Complex. Telok Ayer (Downtown line) is the closest to Thian Hock Keng and Al-Abrar Mosque, and Maxwell (Thomson-East Coast line) to Maxwell Food Centre and Ann Siang Hill Park.

17 places
Chinatown (North East and Downtown lines) · Telok Ayer (Downtown line) stations
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Nearby neighbourhoods

Tanjong Pagar, Singapore Tanjong Pagar Food centres, bars and railway history 8 places · under 1 km away Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, Singapore Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay The Singapore River 4 places · 1.1 km away Civic District, Singapore Civic District Museums, churches and colonial buildings 19 places · 1.2 km away Marina Bay, Singapore Marina Bay Gardens, bay and the Merlion 11 places · 1.6 km away

The best of Chinatown

Sri Mariamman Temple
Best temple Sri Mariamman Temple Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, with morning and evening sessions.
Best for food Chinatown Complex Food Centre 226 cooked food stalls, the highest count on this map.
Best museum Chinatown Heritage Centre Open 10:00 to 20:00 daily.
Thian Hock Keng
Best old street Thian Hock Keng On Telok Ayer Street beside Al-Abrar Mosque.

Things to do in Chinatown

Gopuram tower of Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown
Temple, mosque or church Sri Mariamman Temple Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, on South Bridge Road in Chinatown. A national monument that recalls the Tamil community who once lived nearby, and the setting for the annual Theemithi firewalking festival.
Red tiered roofs of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown
Temple, mosque or church Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum A temple and museum on South Bridge Road in Chinatown, built to house the Buddha Tooth Relic. It opened on Vesak Day, 31 May 2007, and its design draws on the architecture of the Tang Dynasty.
Courtyard of Thian Hock Keng Temple with towers rising behind
Temple, mosque or church Thian Hock Keng One of Singapore's oldest Hokkien temples, built where the Telok Ayer shoreline used to be. The National Heritage Board lists it as a monument to the community spirit of Chinese pioneers.
Twin minarets on the front of Al-Abrar Mosque
Temple, mosque or church Al-Abrar Mosque One of Singapore's oldest mosques, also known as Chulia Mosque, on Telok Ayer Street a short walk from Thian Hock Keng. It recalls the Chulia immigrants who lived in the area in early colonial Singapore.
Jamae Mosque entrance and minarets on South Bridge Road at night
Temple, mosque or church Jamae Mosque A mosque on South Bridge Road that has been a landmark there since the mid-nineteenth century, close to Sri Mariamman Temple. It is one of the oldest mosques in Singapore and a reminder of the Chulia community in Chinatown.
Temple, mosque or church Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka Described by the National Heritage Board as Singapore's oldest mosque and place of worship, first built in 1820 by the Yemeni-Arab merchant Syed Sharif Omar bin Ali Aljunied. The present building dates from the 1980s.
Landmark Fuk Tak Chi Museum Reputedly the first Chinese temple in Singapore, which grew from a small shrine set up by Hakka and Cantonese immigrants in 1824. Its patron deity is Dai Bak Gong, the Earth God.
Park Hong Lim Park A 0.97-hectare park named after the businessman who donated the land. NParks says it hosted Singapore's first political rallies and is now a venue for community events. Open 24 hours.
Green Maxwell Food Centre sign above the entrance
Hawker centre Maxwell Food Centre The National Environment Agency's hawker centre list gives Maxwell Food Centre 103 cooked food stalls. NEA gives an original completion date of 1935.
Hawker centre Chinatown Complex Food Centre The National Environment Agency's hawker centre list gives Chinatown Complex Food Centre 226 cooked food stalls.
Hawker centre Hong Lim Food Centre The National Environment Agency's hawker centre list gives Hong Lim Food Centre 103 cooked food stalls.
Hawker centre People's Park Food Centre The National Environment Agency's hawker centre list gives People's Park Food Centre 87 cooked food stalls. NEA files it as Blk 32 New Market Road.
Museum Chinatown Heritage Centre A heritage museum on Pagoda Street in Chinatown, open daily 10:00 to 20:00 with last entry at 19:15.
Wooden entrance pavilion at Ann Siang Hill Park
Park Ann Siang Hill Park A small park on the slopes of a preserved hill in Chinatown, between rows of pre-colonial shophouses. Enter via Ann Siang Road, Ann Siang Hill or Amoy Street. Open 24 hours.
Strings of lanterns hanging over a Chinatown street at night
Market Chinatown Street Market A stretch of street stalls selling food, fans, calligraphy and souvenirs, with extra activity during Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival.
Temple, mosque or church Former Nagore Dargah A building put up by the Chulia community on Telok Ayer Street, near Al-Abrar Mosque and Thian Hock Keng.
Temple, mosque or church Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church The first church set up for the Chinese Methodist community in Singapore, originally called the Chinese Methodist Church.

What's on in Chinatown

Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.

  • Toy Story | PEACEMINUSONE: The First Fan Activities

    On now, until 11 Nov · CQ @ Clarke Quay

    A pop-up by Mighty Jaxx pairing G-Dragon's label with Disney and Pixar characters, with sculptures, photo spots and collectibles.

    Map · Source: Singapore Tourism Board · Toy Story | PEACEMINUSONE: THE FIRST FAN

  • CSHLRN Cash-For-Trash @Hong Lim Activities

    Sun 15 Nov · Infront of Fook Hai Building

    A community workshop or activity at Infront of Fook Hai Building, organised through the People's Association by Chin Swee-Hong Lim RN.

    Free · 09:00 to 17:00 · Map · Source: People's Association · CSHLRN Cash-For-Trash @Hong Lim 2026.11.15

  • Inheritance. Red Hill 《承启。红山》 Performance

    Sun 6 Dec · Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium, Level 9 新加坡华族文化中心表演厅, 九楼

    A dance show at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium, Level 9 新加坡华族文化中心表演厅, 九楼, presented by Dance Ensemble Singapore Ltd.

    S$45 to S$55 · from 15:00 · Map · Source: SISTIC

Show 9 events nearby, outside Chinatown

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Stay in Chinatown

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