Chinatown Heritage Centre
Chinatown Heritage Centre
4.5
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Nestled in the vibrant streets of Singapore’s Chinatown, the Chinatown Heritage Centre comprises three beautifully restored shophouses across three levels, serving as your gateway to the rich stories, spirited culture, and resilience of the community that shaped this historic district. It is the only place in Singapore that has meticulously recreated the original interiors of its 1950s shophouse tenants, offering an authentic glimpse into the lives of Chinatown's early residents. Through immersive exhibits, poignant narratives, and vibrant programs, the CHC brings Chinatown's colourful past to life, showcasing the area's dynamic evolution and connecting its history with the present.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Outram
How to get there
- Telok Ayer • 6 min walk
- Raffles Place • 10 min walk
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Best nearby
Restaurants
7,029 within 3 miles
Attractions
845 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,101 reviews
Excellent
715
Very good
299
Average
68
Poor
10
Terrible
9
Dog-squad
Perth, Australia36 contributions
Feb 2020
You get an audio and tablet guide to tour this old shop house that has been turned into a museum. It took me an hour and a half and I could have spent longer looking around. There are lots of interesting exhibits, I would recommend doing this in the morning when you are fresh and can concentrate. At $18 for the entry and audio/tablet guide I think it is great value!
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bigboy61455
xxx1,182 contributions
Dec 2019
My initial expectation was low as I thought I heard enough from elders about poor immigrants, coolies from China & India to Southeast Asian countries in colonial times. But this specialty museum did a good job and interesting life stories told with audio guide. We worth the entrance fee (also included audio tour, actual tour guide might not be needed).
- Prepare to spend at least 2 hours and it involves climbing steep, narrow stairs up to 3 stories and going down for more displays at other side of the museum building.
- Prepare to spend at least 2 hours and it involves climbing steep, narrow stairs up to 3 stories and going down for more displays at other side of the museum building.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yoke-Keon
South San Francisco, CA210 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
My friends and I walked by this museum and decided to go in. So glad we did. We did not know what to expect as the entry was directly into a small museum shop with the ticket counter in front and a glimpse of a replica of a 1950s tailor shop through a door on the left. This place is quite extensive, encompassing 3 levels, but they have an elevator for those less mobile. The entrance fee includes a headset attached to a tablet that allows you to listen to the stories as you walk through the rooms. The audio is set up in such a way that you can hear the actual characters talking before the narrator explains what is happening, quite entertaining! There are also a lot of interactive and sensory stations throughout the tour. For example, you can smell the opium as you approach an opium den, just as you can smell freshly baked egg custard tarts as you enter the section that talks about the history of the famous Tong Heng egg custard tarts! You can also look up your clan association by surname ( in English as well as Chinese ), and check on the different foods and traditions followed by the Chinese of Cantonese, Hainanese, Fujian, or Hakka descent. This is definitely a place worth visiting!
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian H
17 contributions
Feb 2020
This museum gives you an excellent insight into the history of old singapore. You can use the audio guide to explain who lived behind the shop front and house. You also hear how the tailor, apprentices and his family worked and lived together as well as the coolies and Samsui women in the floors above. There are many artefacts, videos and information boards which give you so many interesting facts. It is well worth spending time here as you begin to understand how Singapore has developed.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jglove44
Melbourne, Australia10 contributions
Jan 2020
The Chinatown Heritage Centre is a great introduction to the formation of Chinatown and the life lead by those who lived there. I would highly recommend attending if you want to understand the culture and the background to Singapore. It walks you through a replica of a Tailor’s building with attached living spaces. It is humbling to learn about how hard the people who lived here worked, and the harshness of their lifestyle. A very worthwhile attraction.
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CptVonTripp
London, UK300 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
Set in an original shop house, evocatively kitted out with period fittings, the museum provides an excellent overview of the Chinese experience in Singapore.
If anything, it is perhaps too detailed. I’m a history nerd and yet I still found my interest flagging towards the end. All the topics covered are interesting, it’s just a little exhausting!
If anything, it is perhaps too detailed. I’m a history nerd and yet I still found my interest flagging towards the end. All the topics covered are interesting, it’s just a little exhausting!
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Safari815120
13 contributions
Feb 2020
I so wanted to visit the Heritage Centre but because of the current Corona Virus scare, the staff wanted to check everybody's health condition. I was quite happy to allow them to check my temperature but I was not prepared to give them my name, address, dob, email and telephone number. Are they serious ? I politely refused to provide what I thought was too much personal information, turned round and went shopping.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katherine C
Owen Sound, Canada96 contributions
Feb 2020
With the help of an audio presentation you are whisked back in time to a tailor's shop and the living quarters of about 40 Chinese residents in this shop house during the 1950's. It's very informative and makes you realize that many of those who came for a better life had a very difficult time and lived in extremely challenging circumstances. Great way to spend a couple of hourse during your visit to China Town.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Della G
Coquitlam, Canada788 contributions
Nov 2019
Its not like I have not been to any Chinatown tours around the world. Each Chinatown in various countries/cities offers an insight of the diaspora of Chinese from their country of origin, They bring with them, their culture, customs, household effects etc. The Chinatown Heritage Centre has acquired a collection of these personal affects and arranged it in a interesting display that showcases the Chinese immigrants lifestyle in Singapore The displays take you back in time. It is both informative and well organized. Just a tad expensive though.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fred T
Reno, NV724 contributions
Feb 2020
The audio tour made this a very informative tour. It took two hours doing just that. One can spend more time reading things not mentioned on the audio tour (or watching videos). This was better than I expected. I think I paid $18.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Would you say this museum is suitable for (and of interest to) a 3 year old?
Written September 19, 2019
Probably not as the exhibition is largely exhibits which are explained through an audio guide. Having said this, you could take a very quick tour through without the audio guide, and allow yourself (and your toddler) to be fascinated by some of Singapore's Chinese History.
Written September 19, 2019
hello, just asking , how long does one usually spend in this centre ?
Written June 22, 2018
If you are rushing, you may allow an hour. Otherwise, two hours should be sufficient.
Written March 22, 2019
hi there y all. a few of the reviewers wrote the review about chinatown as you can see in the recent jan review
reviewers, pls don’t get mixed up chinatown with chinatown heritage centre-2 different topics altogether !!
TA, why don t you remove wrongly place article to avoid distorting views ?
Written February 3, 2018
article i was refering to written by a spanish reviewer re ‘Overcrowded...’wrongly placed!
Written February 3, 2018
Hi, can you please give me the name/URL of the company who organized the free walking tour you mentioned? I tried googling but couldn't come up with anything. And is it free only for HiPPO customers or for everyone? Thanks!
Written December 5, 2015
Hello, I will visit Singapore from June 19th to 24th, will the Heritage Center be reopened by then?
Thanks.
Written May 1, 2015
CHC_Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Hi Lovelava,
Thank you for your interest in the Chinatown Heritage Centre.
We're currently closed for renovations and will reopen in the second half of the year. Unfortunately, we won't be opened in time for your trip to Singapore, nonetheless, there's much to see and do in Chinatown!
For updates on the opening and other details, please check our website in the description.
Thank you and have a wonderful time in Singapore!
Written May 5, 2015
yash2892
Davao City, Philippines
How much is the entrance fee or the admission fee?
Written January 20, 2015
CHC_Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Hi,
Thank you for your interest in the Chinatown Heritage Centre.
We're currently closed for renovations and will reopen in the second half of the year.
For updates on the opening and ticketing details, please check our website in the description.
Thank you and have a wonderful time in Singapore!
Written January 20, 2015
Hello,
This is Mrittika from India.
Am visiting Singapore from 23-Feb'15 till 1-Mar'15 for vacation along with my parents. Would like to know about the entry fee per adult for this destination. Let me know if there is a restaurant or café onsite? Also, how do I get there using public transportation from Hotel Park Sovereign-Albert?
Thanks.
Written January 15, 2015
CHC_Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Hi Mrittika,
Thank you for your interest in the Chinatown Heritage Centre.
We're currently closed for renovations and will reopen in the second half of this year. You can find out more information and explore our pre-renovated centre online at our main website in the description.
Even though the centre is closed, there is still plenty of things to see and places to explore in Chinatown! So do dedicate at least half a day to do so.
Chinatown is easily accessible via our underground train line (MRT) from Little India MRT station which is located near to your hotel. It is just 3 stops away and you can take Exit A (onto Pagoda Street) to explore the pedestrianized areas.
Hope this helps and have a wonderful time in Singapore!
Written January 15, 2015
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