Chinatown, Singapore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chinatown, Singapore
The Chinatown Heritage Centre at Pagoda Street occupies three shophouses in Chinatown, newly restored to house memories and untold stories of Singapore's early forefathers.
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	牛車水
Simplified Chinese	牛车水
Literal meaning	"ox-cart water"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Niúchēshuǐ Hakka Romanization Ngiù-Chhâ-Súi Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Ngau Ce Seoi Southern Min Hokkien POJ Gû-chia-chúi
Malay name
Malay	Kreta Ayer
Tamil name
Tamil	சைனா டவுன்

Chinatown (Chinese: 牛车水; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gû-chia-chúi, Malay: Kreta Ayer, Tamil: சைனா டவுன்) is a subzone and ethnic enclave located within the Outram district in the Central Area of Singapore. Featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements, Chinatown has had a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population.

Chinatown is considerably less of an enclave than it once was. However, the precinct does retain significant historical and cultural significance. Large sections of it have been declared national heritage sites officially designated for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Images for kids

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  Aerial perspective of Chinatown. Taken from Club Street. October 2018.

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  Aerial perspective of Singapore's Chinatown

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  Topdown look of a carpark near Club Street

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  Bukit Pasoh Road is located on a hill that in the 1830s marked the western boundary of the colonial town.

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  Keong Saik Road was once a red light area in Chinatown in the 1960s, but has since been transformed into a street with many boutique hotels.

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  Kreta Ayer Road is the road that defines for Chinese, the Chinatown area. In the 1880s, Kreta Ayer was the red light area in Chinatown.

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  Road turning right is the entrance to Temple Street .

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  Mosque Street is named after Jamae Mosque, located on the South Bridge Road end of the street.

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  Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

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  Pagoda Street is named after the Hindu temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, located on the South Bridge Road end of the street.

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  Smith Street now has an open air food street.

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  Temple Street refers to the Sri Mariamman Temple, which is located at the South Bridge Road end of the street.

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  Three-storey shophouses along Teo Hong Road.

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  Trengganu Street has been converted to a pedestrian mall with shops lining both sides of the street, which transforms into a night market after dark.

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  Chinatown Complex at Smith Street houses a food centre, a wet market and shops selling sundry goods.

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  Duxton Plain Park extends from New Bridge Road in Chinatown to the former Yan Kit Swimming Complex in Tanjong Pagar.

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  Entrance to Chinatown MRT Station at Pagoda Street.

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  Night market at Singapore Chinatown around Chinese New Year 2011.

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  The year of the Snake New Year 2013.

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  Chinese new year chinatown 2015.

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  Festive street lighting during Chinese New Year 2020.

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  Roadside decorations at Temple Street.