Chinatown
The best time of the year to visit Chinatown is late January to February. This is the period of time where there are the on-going Chinese New Year celebrations. Chinese New Year is celebrated by the Chinese. During the Chinese New Year, there will be a large ‘Pasar malam’ (street bazzar) in Chinatown where all kinds of festive goods such as waxed ducks, barbecued sweet meats, Chinese cookies and new year accessories are sold. It is the best place to go to during the Chinese New Year in Singapore to soak up the festive atmosphere.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, there will be a spectacular display of firecrackers in Chinatown to mark the start of the Chinese New Year. This is something that all Singaporeans look forward to as firecrackers have been banned for decades due to safety reasons. If you are in Singapore during this period, do stop by for the firecrackers, a true Chinese tradition during Chinese New Year which can only be seen once a year at New Bridge Road.
Even if it is not the season where there is the Chinese New Year Celebrations in Singapore, it is still a great idea to visit Chinatown. Chinatown is where the history of Singaporean Chinese started, where the heart of the Chinese heritage and culture is. Take a look at the unique architecture of the shophouses flanking both sides of the streets of Chinatown. Most of them are only two stories tall. The shophouses are multi-functional. Ground floors were usually used for commercial purposes- shops or coffee houses. The second floor were usually used for residential purposes. All shophouses had a “five-foot-ways” (sheltered sidewalks). The main purpose of these “five-foot-ways” is to shelter people from the heat and rain.
Thian Hock Keng Temple
Thian Hock Keng Temple is one of the oldest temple in Singapore. It is also known as the ‘Temple of Heavenly Bliss’. This Taoist temple was built in 1821 by Chinese sailors who landed here to pray to the goddess Ma Po Cho thanking her for a safe passage to Singapore. The doorway of Thian Hock Keng Temple is guarded by two massive lions, a male with a ball which symbolizes strength and a female with a cup which symbolizes fertility.
Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple
It is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. It was used as a place of lodging for new immigrants in its early years. Now, it is mainly used to celebrate the Thimithi Festival in October or November. Originally, it was a small wood and thatched temple in 1823. since then, it has undergone extensive renovations over the years to become one of the grandest temples in Singapore.
Al-Abrar Mosque
It was called Masjid Chulia and Kuchu Palli which in Tamil means ‘hut mosque’ in the past. This is because it was originally a thatched building errected in 1827. Between 1850-1855, a brick building which is the present building was erected in the same place.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, there will be a spectacular display of firecrackers in Chinatown to mark the start of the Chinese New Year. This is something that all Singaporeans look forward to as firecrackers have been banned for decades due to safety reasons. If you are in Singapore during this period, do stop by for the firecrackers, a true Chinese tradition during Chinese New Year which can only be seen once a year at New Bridge Road.
Even if it is not the season where there is the Chinese New Year Celebrations in Singapore, it is still a great idea to visit Chinatown. Chinatown is where the history of Singaporean Chinese started, where the heart of the Chinese heritage and culture is. Take a look at the unique architecture of the shophouses flanking both sides of the streets of Chinatown. Most of them are only two stories tall. The shophouses are multi-functional. Ground floors were usually used for commercial purposes- shops or coffee houses. The second floor were usually used for residential purposes. All shophouses had a “five-foot-ways” (sheltered sidewalks). The main purpose of these “five-foot-ways” is to shelter people from the heat and rain.
Thian Hock Keng Temple
Thian Hock Keng Temple is one of the oldest temple in Singapore. It is also known as the ‘Temple of Heavenly Bliss’. This Taoist temple was built in 1821 by Chinese sailors who landed here to pray to the goddess Ma Po Cho thanking her for a safe passage to Singapore. The doorway of Thian Hock Keng Temple is guarded by two massive lions, a male with a ball which symbolizes strength and a female with a cup which symbolizes fertility.
Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple
It is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. It was used as a place of lodging for new immigrants in its early years. Now, it is mainly used to celebrate the Thimithi Festival in October or November. Originally, it was a small wood and thatched temple in 1823. since then, it has undergone extensive renovations over the years to become one of the grandest temples in Singapore.
Al-Abrar Mosque
It was called Masjid Chulia and Kuchu Palli which in Tamil means ‘hut mosque’ in the past. This is because it was originally a thatched building errected in 1827. Between 1850-1855, a brick building which is the present building was erected in the same place.
posted by Whitefaerie at 7:40 AM
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