Chinatown's history dates back to 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles Founded Singapore. The Cantonese, traditionally goldsmiths, tailors and restaurateurs constructed their shop houses along Temple Street, Pagoda Street and Mosque Street.
In the seventies, I remember there were hawkers’ stalls on the roads. Cloths hanging everywhere over your head. That time, the whole of Chinatown was vibrant.
Today, Chinatown is the venue of lovingly conserved buildings, century-old beliefs and intriguing contrasts thus she rich in Chinese culture and hence is an attraction to local communities and tourist.
Especially during the Lunar New year period, Chinatown would lights up till the 15th day of the Lunar New Year where many traditional goods can be purchased there.
She is rich in Architectural Heritage, shop houses (dating from early 19 century) are the primary feature of Chinatown landscape.
Theses building and their surrounding built environment – five foot ways, narrow streets aback-alleys and small square parks –represent Singapore early forms of intimate urban living spaces. They also symbolize the historical evolution of the Chinatown community and offer us the complete narrative of Singapore’s history.
The residential community of the nearby flats built by the House Development Board (HDB) when they were relocated from the Chinatown also provides continuity with the past and they are a rich source for collection of oral history. Despite the relocation to modern flatted buildings, many residents have maintained their social networks as well as established a sustainable commercial sector. So Chinatown while displaying Singapore’s trademark fusion of different styles is also intimately linked to southern China, both in its main occupants and its architecture.
Contrary to its name, Chinatown was never an entirely Chinese. There were small communities of Indians trading in meats and spices around the junction of South Bridge road and Upper Cross Street. Their various communities built permanent places of worship. For example the Nagore Durgha Shrine along Telok Ayer Road and the Jame Mosque and Sri Mariamman Temple along South Bridge Road. These palaces of worship in the same area reflect the racial and religious harmony in Singapore.