It is now one of the preserved historic districts, where you can find traditional shops, as well as Hindu temples, mosques and Chinese temples sitting side by side.
Lively with life, Chinatown Singapore is rich in heritage charm and is full of things to see, eat and buy. So, if you think that Chinatown is only animated in the month before the Chinese New Year, you are certainly mistaken.
This weekend, the Chinatown Business Association is hosting an event called "Healthy Chinatown".
The streets of Chinatown will be lined with fun (and free) things to do so Singaporeans can stay active and healthy in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic. Here is a brief overview of what you can expect:
Free health and beauty tour
This 30-minute walking tour is done in collaboration with the Society Tour Guide Singapore. The route will include four stops, which depart from Smith Street and end at South Bridge Road.In this tour, you can learn more about the rich history of Chinatown Singapore by visiting some key places that are of historical significance. For example, did you know that Pagoda Street is home to an opium den?
You will also have the chance to visit Thye Shan Medical Hall, a pioneer of traditional Chinese medicine in Singapore; as well as Tong Heng Delicacies, a popular confectionery that is famous for its diamond-shaped egg pies.
Free coffee workshop
This hands-on workshop led by Nanyang Old Coffee allows you to better understand and appreciate the unique flavor of traditional Singapore in Chinatown kopi, so you can become a connoisseur of coffee.
In this 30-minute workshop, you can learn about the local coffee order lingo and what goes into making a good cup of coffee - from roasting the coffee beans, grinding them, to the process of brewing.
Free traditional street games
The streets of Sago St, Pagoda St and Trengganu St will be converted into a "play street", so you can explore and play a range of different old school games such as hopscotch and airplane chess.
This will serve as a nostalgic return to the good old days when children of the past would entertain themselves with simple but fun street games, long before technology entered our lives.
Free Trishaw Tour
Climb aboard a trishaw guided by a friendly Trishaw uncle for a 10-minute tour of Chinatown Singapore, which will take you along a designated route that will allow you to experience pleasant sights and sounds in the neighborhood..
All you have to do is sit back and relax as it takes you through a maze of alleys to discover hidden gems.
Sharing herbalist
As the saying goes, "health is wealth". With good health, you can enjoy a long life, but exercising regularly and eating healthy is not enough.
In this sharing session with herbalists, a traditional medicine pharmacist will give you health and wellness advice on how you can build your immune system with different herbs and spices. The expert will also teach you how to apply the right oils, such as lemongrass and nutmeg, for different types of diseases.
To participate in this session, you will need to register your interest here and pay $ 2 for the admission fee. This is good value for money, as you will also receive a wellness bag (worth $ 10) which includes a set of masks, a pack of antibacterial wipes, a bottle of herbal drink and food stamps.
See also: Discover Chinatown Singapore in A Day
