Editor’s update: To ensure visitor’s safety, social distancing and temperature taking procedures will be implemented. There will also be a limited pax of 30- 50 per session.
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Chinatown is well-known as a cultural enclave within Singapore that was once home for the Chinese immigrant population.
It is now one of the conserved historic districts, where you can find traditional shophouses, as well as Hindu temples, mosques and Chinese temples sitting right next to each other.
Bustling with life, Chinatown is rich in heritage charm and full of things to see, eat and buy. So if you think that Chinatown is only lively in the month preceding the Chinese New Year, you are definitely mistaken.
This weekend, Chinatown Business Association is organising an event called ‘Healthy Chinatown’.
The streets of Chinatown will be lined up with fun (and free) things to do so Singaporeans can keep active and healthy amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect:
1. Free Traditional Street Games
The streets of Sago St, Pagoda St and Trengganu St will be converted into a ‘playstreet’, so you can explore and play a range of different old-school games such as hopscotch and aeroplane chess.
This will serve as a nostalgic throwback to the good old days, where children of the past would keep themselves entertained with simple yet fun street games, way before technology came into our lives.
2. Free Health And Beauty Tour
This 30-minute walking tour is conducted in collaboration with the Society Tour Guide Singapore. The route will comprise four stops, which starts from Smith Street and ends at South Bridge Road.
In this tour, you can learn more about Chinatown’s rich history by visiting some key places that hold historical significance. For instance, did you know that Pagoda Street used to house an opium den?
You’ll also get a chance to visit Thye Shan Medical Hall, which pioneered traditional Chinese medicine in Singapore; as well as Tong Heng Delicacies, a popular confectionery that is famous for their diamond-shaped egg tarts.
3. Free Trishaw Tour
Hop on a trishaw guided by a friendly Trishaw uncle for a 10-minute tour of Chinatown, who will take you along a designated route that lets you experience enjoyable sights and sounds in the district.
All you have to do is sit back and relax as he brings you through a maze of alleys to discover hidden gems.
4. Free Coffee Workshop
This hands-on workshop led by Nanyang Old Coffee lets you better understand and appreciate the unique flavour of the traditional Singapore kopi, so you can become a coffee connoisseur.
In this 30-minute workshop, you can learn about the local coffee-ordering lingo and what goes into preparing a good cup of coffee — from roasting the coffee beans, grinding them, to the brewing process.
5. Herbalist Sharing
As the saying goes, ‘health is wealth’. With good health, you can enjoy a long life but regular exercise and healthy eating alone is not enough.
In this herbalist sharing session, a traditional medicine pharmacist will impart some health and wellness advice on how you can build your immune system with different herbs and spices. The expert will also teach you how to apply the right oils, such as lemongrass and nutmeg, for different kinds of ailments.
To take part in this session, you will have to register your interest here and pay $2 for admission fee. It’s a value-for-money deal because you’ll also receive a wellness goodie bag (worth $10) that includes a set of masks, a pack of anti-bacterial wipes, a bottle of herbal drink and food vouchers.
Here’s a recap of the event details, so don’t forget to share them with your family and friends!
Healthy Chinatown
Date: March 21 and 22 (Sat and Sun)
Time: 2pm to 7pm
Venue: Chinatown
This article is written in collaboration with Chinatown Business Association.
Featured Image Credit: Chinatown Business Association
