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Chinatown Heritage Centre, Singapore

4.5
#10 of 95 in Museums in Singapore
Specialty Museum · Hidden Gem · Museum
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Relive the life and times of Singapore's early Chinese migrants at Chinatown Heritage Centre, a visual representation of the area's colorful history. The center is made up of three restored shophouses within the country's Chinatown district, which have been restored to depict the living conditions experienced by migrants in the 1950s. The center paints a picture of the hardships migrants experienced, as told by pictures, stories, and artifacts within. Sneaky gambling rooms, shady secret societies, tight corridors, and cramped living quarters are among the recreated experiences. Stop by the gift shop on the way out, or visit the on-site restaurant for a quick bite to eat. Arrange to visit Chinatown Heritage Centre and other attractions in Singapore using our Singapore trip builder website.
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Chinatown Heritage Centre reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
1,101 reviews
Google
4.4
TripAdvisor
  • Really interesting heritage museum. Very small, quick and easy to get around but worth it to understand the heritage of Singapore. 
    Really interesting heritage museum. Very small, quick and easy to get around but worth it to understand the heritage of Singapore.  more »
  • We love learning about the history of the countries and cities we are in and once again we were not disappointed. Priscilla's historical knowledge was amazing. 
    We love learning about the history of the countries and cities we are in and once again we were not disappointed. Priscilla's historical knowledge was amazing.  more »
  • Amazing architecture that's well maintained. Its a vast area due to its narrow streets, goods and services here are in the expensive side due to its tourist image but worth the visit 
    Amazing architecture that's well maintained. Its a vast area due to its narrow streets, goods and services here are in the expensive side due to its tourist image but worth the visit  more »
Google
  • Probably as close as you will get to experiencing China in another country. Love the atmosphere, the stalls and food and if that doesn't work for you, there is some nice restaurants around and temples. Definately on the top 10 things to do in Singapore.
  • finally its back… the feeling is back…. the crowd is back, the squeeze is back…. come n walk n sweat it all out… enjoy the mood of coming soon chinese new year festive season, many goodies and plenty of goodies to snap up. remember to come in ur comfortable clothing n foodwear and drink plenty of water before entering into this street… got kids please make sure hold them tight, keep ur belongings safe… enjoy the season squeezing …
  • Brought students here for learning journey and was pleasantly surprised by the renovated museum. I am particularly impressed by the display of sleeping quarters of people working different jobs in the early days. Much effort has been devoted to replicate the living environment of our forefathers who earned a hard living doing various odd jobs. The admission ticket is not cheap but it is not going to be a disappointment. I think it is worth a visit.
  • The Chinatown Heritage Centre in Singapore is a fantastic interactive museum, one of the most detailed, comprehensive and accessible museums I've been to. Definitely worth the entry fee, this centre is engaging with rooms dedicated to following the life of a family and tenants who lived in the shop there in the 1950s. This personalisation of history was highly engaging, as were the still life exhibits. If anything, there's so much detail and information that by the end of it you may leave feeling overwhelmed. You could easily spend two hours or more here, and it's worth visiting just to get out of the Singaporean humidity. The audio guide was very informative, otherwise wander at your own pace. I'd recommend to anyone wanting to learn a little bit about life in post-war Singapore. In summary, this tour was unexpected in its quality in the best of ways and I would recommend it to any of my friends heading to Singapore.
  • Such a wonderful place to visit that it shows the old Chinese culture and the way of living at that time. Many things to see and learn from the history. Located at Pagoda Street Chinatown that it is very easy to reach this place. Go to exit A from the Chinatown MRT Station. It is surrounded by gift shops, souvenir shops, and restaurants.

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Singapore Tourism Board

Message from Singapore Tourism Board

Visitors can learn more about the pioneers who came from China to start a new life in Singapore and their contributions toward nation-building. This is where visitors can trace the footsteps of Singapore’s early pioneers and discover the personal stories of people who made Chinatown their home. Housed in three adjacent restored shophouses along Pagoda Street, the Chinatown Heritage Centre is a museum that offers insights into the lives of early migrants from China, who left their villages and travelled to Singapore in hopes of a better life.