Chinese Theatre Circle

Chinatown & the CBD


Teahouse evenings organised by this nonprofit opera company are a wonderful, informal introduction to Chinese opera. Every Friday and Saturday at 8pm there's a brief talk on Chinese opera, followed by a 45-minute excerpt from an opera classic, performed by actors in full costume. You can also opt for a preshow Chinese meal at 7pm. Book ahead.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Chinatown & the CBD attractions

1. Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

0.04 MILES

Consecrated in 2008, this hulking, five-storey Buddhist temple is home to what is reputedly a tooth of the Buddha, discovered in a collapsed stupa …

2. Sri Mariamman Temple

0.06 MILES

Paradoxically in the middle of Chinatown, this is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, originally built in 1823, then rebuilt in 1843. You can't miss the…

3. Jamae Mosque

0.1 MILES

The mint-green Jamae Mosque welcomes hundreds of worshippers each day. The current building was completed between 1830 and 1835, and is considered one of…

4. Chinatown Heritage Centre

0.12 MILES

Delve into Chinatown's gritty, cacophonous backstory at the immersive Chinatown Heritage Centre. Occupying several levels of a converted shophouse, its…

5. Singapore City Gallery

0.15 MILES

See into Singapore's future at this interactive city-planning exhibition, which provides compelling insight into the government's resolute policies of…

6. Thian Hock Keng Mural

0.17 MILES

Spanning 44m, this mural, painted by Singaporean artist Yip Yew Chong (accountant by weekday, artist by weekend), tells the story of Singapore's early…

7. Siang Cho Keong Temple

0.18 MILES

Small, Taoist Siang Cho Keong Temple was built by the Hokkien community in 1867–69. Left of the temple entrance you’ll see a small ‘dragon well’: drop a…

8. Thian Hock Keng Temple

0.2 MILES

Surprisingly, Chinatown’s oldest and most important Hokkien temple is often a haven of tranquillity. Built between 1839 and 1842, it’s a beautiful place,…