Chinatown

1
Chinatown Life in the old days was very simple
and almost everyone lived in rented cubicles from
shop houses. Traditional Chinatown shop houses,
like the ones the Centre is housed in, are
characterized by five-foot ways, which give
pedestrians protection from the weather. In the
past, hawkers plied their wares amongst gossiping
housewives and playing children.
2
Chinatown The ground floor of the shop houses
were normally used for various businesses and
doubled up as sleeping quarters at night. The
second and third floors were each subdivided into
seven or eight small cubicles and let out to
tenants who had to share a common toilet and
kitchen.
3
Like typical shophouses in old Chinatown, our
retail outlet and traditional coffee shop are
located on the ground level of the Centre. Step
into our shop and be treated to a glimpse of how
traditional retail businesses looked like in the
early 50s. Look out for antique sewing machines
as well as traditional hand-sewn Chinese quilted
blankets, which are some of the main attractions
at the retail shop.
Retail Shop
4
Take break and have a coffee the Chinatown way.
With its old marble top tables and well-worn
wooden chairs, this Kopitiam gives visitors the
feel of life in the olden days yet teases with
its cosmopolitan menu. Treat your senses to the
smell of freshly brewed cappuccinos and lattes
while savouring on our delicious sandwiches.
Enjoy this unique combination of East meets West
while resting or waiting for the next tour.
Kopitiam
5
Poverty, oppression and injustice drove the
early immigrants from their homes in China in
search of a better life. Braving a long and
perilous journey by sea amid cramped and
unhygienic conditions, the Chinese settlers were
very grateful to the Gods for their safe arrival
in Singapore. This gallery showcases some of the
few precious possessions that accompanied them to
this foreign land.
Arriving at Si Lat Po
6
Poverty, oppression and injustice drove the
early immigrants from their homes in China in
search of a better life. Braving a long and
perilous journey by sea amid cramped and
unhygienic conditions, the Chinese settlers were
very grateful to the Gods for their safe arrival
in Singapore. This gallery showcases some of the
few precious possessions that accompanied them to
this foreign land.
Facing the Four Evils


                                         
7
Opium Smoking
8
Prostitution
9
Where the Day Never Ends Street stalls were
recreated to give visitors a feel of the day and
night markets at old Chinatown. Known as 'Where
the day never ends'. Chinatown was always
bustling with life and activity even till the wee
hours of the morning.
The Golden Years of Chinatown
10
The Golden Years of Chinatown
Look out for the rare and special footage on the
sale of exotic animals that were considered
delicacies by the Chinese.
11
The Golden Years of Chinatown
This gallery features the vibrancy and life of
Chinatown during its heydays
12
Old Celebrations in a New Place
Chinatown bursts into life and colour during the
festive season. Some of the more popular
celebrations include the Lunar New Year,
Mid-Autumn Festival and even Theemithi, the Hindu
firewalking ceremony.The different races residing
in the area also celebrated their traditional
festivals here, making Chinatown culturally
vibrant and unique.
This gallery features the vibrancy and life of
Chinatown during its heydays
13
A Song of Mourning
Sago Lane was known for its death houses, a place
where the terminally ill and dying waited out
their last days. Despite such depressing
conditions, the dying still had to pay for their
food, lodging and medicine.
14
A Song of Mourning
At this gallery, you will see the setting for a
funeral and a moving story of a woman who lost
her husband at the tender age of 21.
15
A Song of Mourning
Coolies, amahs and samsui women dominated these
death houses. Being single, some did not want to
be a burden to their friends in death while
others did not have anywhere else to go.
16
Chinatown Personalities
Chosen to represent the diversity of life in
Chinatown e.g. businessmen, samsui women, hawkers
and tailors etc, these personalities reveal their
struggle for a good life in the early days and
their eventual success later on.

                                         
17
Chinatown Personalities
Hear about the bittersweet story of the samsui
woman who came to Singapore as a young bride in
1941 and learn how the Eu family, who now own the
famous line of Eu Yan Sang medical halls
struggled to make their business work.