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Make sure to take a stroll along the Chinatown Street Market, a perfect place to buy souvenirs for yourself or presents for folks back home.
For me, a visit to Chinatown Heritage Centre is the first priority since it offers an insightful peek into the area鈥檚 history.
First batch of Chinese immigrants came to Singapore in early 19th Century from the coastal areas of Fujiang and Guangdong provinces in China. Most early immigrants left their hometowns to escape poverty or war. But new life at this tropical port called Singapore was no rosy picture either. The harsh living conditions and tough struggles for survival they had to endure were really off limits by our standards today.
What you see here is the history of Chinatown in Singapore, made up of each and individual life stories of these ordinary people. And can you imagine that just about 50 years ago, they still lived in shophouses? Probably eight or nine families would share a space of roughly over 100 square meters? This lady used to live at this corner of the shophouses. And you can find a lot of household items here from her living quarter.
From the recreated room set-ups, the videos, the displays, personal collections and old pictures, you鈥檒l be transported to an era of coolies, samsui women and rickshaw pullers; a time when life was hard, and the people even hardier. And It鈥檚 the hard work of these people that helped to build Singapore into the success it is today.
The first thing early immigrants coming to Singapore would do is to look for their clan associations because the clan associations would arrange jobs for them and make life easier for them. Of course, people don鈥檛 have to do that anymore, this wall of surnames is built as part of the Chinese Heritage Center to remind younger generations of their roots.
The stories of early Chinese immigrants may sound too far-fetched for young generation. But some traditions and practices die-hard, for example, lion dance.
In Singapore, lion dance is an inseparable part of any major Chinese festivities. The kids of this lion dance team, only averaging below 20 years old, practice lion dance twice a week. The bond with their roots is always there one way or another; even though most young Chinese might not know where their great, great grandfathers came from. The lion dance of Singapore is top notch in the Chinese world.
We all know that Chinese people love watching Chinese opera. Even in Singapore, we still can get to watch Chinese opera in China town. But remember, we are in Singapore, and they add a local spin to their performance. We鈥檙e gonna find out what that is.
You didn鈥檛 hear it wrong, they are singing in English lyrics.
So just like everything else in this amazing city-state, today鈥檚 Chinese culture in Singapore has successfully married traditional with modern elements.
