Chinese Heritage Museum, Singapore

The Chinese Heritage Centre was established in May 1995 to promote knowledge and understanding of people of Chinese descent outside China and their heritage through research, publications, conferences and exhibitions. It also houses the Wang Gungwu Library which has a specialized focus on the Chinese Overseas and their heritage. As the first organization to specialize in the study of Chinese communities outside China, it is most appropriate that the Centre be housed in the former Nanyang University's historic Administration Block, which itself is a relic of the landmark establishment of the first and only Chinese university outside China, founded by the Chinese Overseas.

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If you are visiting Chinatown, why not head to the Chinatown Heritage Centre.

Relive history and be transported back in time when you visit Chinatown Heritage Centre.
Exhibits will bring you back to the Nanyang days where you could see the life of a coolies, samsui women and rickshaw puller. As you enter, piece together what life was like for our forefathers who brave through storms to migrate to Nanyang.

The 3 storey shophouses allow you the explore the culture and traditions of these early Chinese settlers.

What really make me wonder is how a whole family or co-workers squeeze into a small cubicle. How somking of opium, gambling, drinking and prositutions affects the life of the people and their family members.

Upon exit, you will see a souvenier shop.

It is located in Chinatown along Pagoda Street.

Photography are not allowed in the exhibit hall.

Opens 9am to 8pm daily (Last admission at 7pm)
Admission $9.80(A) $6.30 (C)
Promotion for locals with DBS or POSB Card $5.00)

The Chinatown Heritage Center is a museum that gives visitors a glimpse on the history of Singapore Chinatown. They do this by showing the visitors on how life was on the exact same spot tens of years ago.

The building was owned by a tailor in the past. He had his shop on the ground floor and rented the rooms on the upper level to different people. Upstairs in each room, which can't be bigger than 80sqft each, you can find models of the original furnitures and television screens telling the story of the family who lived there in the past.

Some of the stories are simply amazing. There were families of 5-6 living in such small room; no running water nor toilets in the rooms. It left a big impression on me to see how much Singapore has advanced in such short period. I remember going to the MRT (Subway) station after leaving the museum and just sat there thinking "Wow!".

The museum is open daily from 9am to 8pm and they charge SG$10 for adults. When I went there in 2004 the price included a guided tour of the ground floor so to me it was worth the money. If you have even the smallest interest in the history of South East Asia I highly recommend a visit.

Chinatown is the original spot of Singapore's Chinese (nowadays Singapore has 75% Chinese). In the early 19th century came Chinese from mainland China in Singapore. (in the 19th century China suffered from wars and catastrophes) They were mainly men and did heavy work at port.

Each of them lived in rooms around 2 meter square big. A house could be divided in 30 rooms like this. However, each house has only 1~3 toilettes and kitchens. (roughly speaking, 10 rooms shared a bathroom and kitchen) In the heritage centre you see how hard the life it was. It's a place where you see Chinatown' history.

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Housed in three restored shophouses, the CHC is a showcase of the rich heritage of Chinatown-the lifestyles, traditions and rituals of the early immigrants who lived and worked there. Encapsulated in a series of carefully designed galleries, the memories, sights, sounds and smells are presented to help visitors appreciate the diverse heritage of Chinatown and its people.
Opening times: 9am-8pm (Mon-Thu), 9am-9pm (Fri-Sun). Guided tours are available daily.
Admission: SGD 8.80 (Adult), SGD 5.30 (Child).

This is a must visit because it allow you to understand how the people live in the olden days of Singapore.They are located in 3 newly restored shophouses along Pagoda Street.

Once you step into the centre,you will have the feeling of being transported back to the days of the samsui women,coolies and the richshaw pullers.

Admission: S$8 (Adult) / S$2 (Child)

Opening Hours:
10am to 7pm
(Mondays to Thursday)

10am to 10pm
(Fridays, Saturday & Sunday)

This museum is really worth seeing if you are checking out Chinatown. It details the history of Chinese immigration to Singapore & demonstrates how many of these early settlers lived. It is intriguing to learn a little history of Singapore.

This is a moving little museum tucked in the middle of Singapore's Chinatown. It depicts the courage and sometimes harrowing stories of desperate Chinese immigrants who ended up in this area. For many of Singapore's Chinese ancestors, life during the colonial times were hard and tough, working as coolies, seamstresses, market vendors etc.

Many have become very successful and rich which is a far cry from the cramped and destitute environment from which they previously lived. Singapore is one of Asia's success story and you'll be able to appreciate the reasons for that success.