Chinatown Heritage Walks - Telok Ayer

[In support of World Car-Free Day 2025. Make every journey a green and healthy one - choose to walk, cycle or ride public transport and explore our events while boosting your daily physical activity!]

From its origins as the first landing point for early junks to becoming a gastronomical hotspot within the business district, explore the multifaceted charm of Telok Ayer!

Marvel at the vibrant and sophisticated conserved shophouses showcasing a blend of European and Chinese architectural styles. Delve deeper into the area’s rich tapestry to uncover hidden gems, including temples, mosques, shrines, and clubs. Discover stories of its past residents, its worshippers, and unravel the stories behind the development and conservation of these historic streets.

Trace the lives of Singapore’s earliest immigrants, from the Crazy Rich Asians of the era to the impoverished coolies who shared their living quarters with up to 65 others, enduring gruelling labour and separation from family, with opium as their only solace.

Experience where our forefathers lived, worked, socialised, and worshipped, while appreciating how the careful balance of conservation and development has maintained Telok Ayer’s unique streetscape for future generations.

About the Chinatown Heritage Walks

Thank you for your interest in joining the Chinatown Heritage Walks! This is a series of weekly walks to the four districts within the Chinatown Conservation Area.

A collaboration between the URA and Friends of the Museums (FOM), these two-hour walks are led by FOM docents. Besides learning about the rich history of Chinatown, you will also discover how our conservation efforts are an integral part of URA’s commitment to sustainable urban development, shaping the distinctive, liveable and endearing city we live in today.

Through these walks, you will also gain a better appreciation of the challenges in balancing different needs for land and the innovative solutions that we have adopted to overcome them, in tandem with URA's efforts to plan sustainably across our social, economic and environmental realms.

Tour Information

• Guided tours are offered every Friday except when there are tours on the fourth Saturday of the month, and not on a public holiday.
• Each outdoor tour is approximately two-hours long.
• Tours are conducted in English and recommended for participants aged 16 and above.
• PRE-REGISTRATION is required; no walk-ins will be permitted.

Things to Bring

• Earphones with a standard 3 .5mm jack for use with our audio guide device;
• An umbrella or poncho; and
• A water bottle.

Things to Note

By registering for the tour, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions:

• Your personal data may be used and/or disclosed for purposes of data analysis and identity verification and such other related purposes
• Photos and videos may be taken by the organisers during the tour and used for publicity purposes
• Unauthorised recording in any form, including video and audio, is not allowed during the tour
• Participants shall be responsible for any injury, loss or damage due to carelessness or other actions on his/her part
• The tour is a 'rain-or-shine' event; the organiser reserves the right to determine any cancellation based on ground conditions.

How to Book

• Registration opens at the end of the preceding month and closes when tickets sell out
• Click on "Register" and complete the registration form.
• Each registration is valid for one individual. If you are visiting in a group, separate registrations are needed for each individual. Availability is on a first come, first served basis.

Enquiries

We do not maintain a waitlist. If the tour is fully booked, we encourage you to check back regularly to see if slots open up. Alternatively, you can sign up for subsequent tours or tours of other districts.

For enquiries, please email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you within 3 working days.

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Host or Publisher Outreach Team