Revamped and reopened in January 2016, Chinatown Heritage Centre is an excellent interactive museum well worth a couple of hours of your Singapore stopover.
In the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown, a stone’s throw from Chinatown MRT, it occupies three restored shophouses and opens a fascinating window on Singapore’s history, brought to life through personal stories. We highly recommend this interesting and well curated museum.
The exterior of the Chinese Heritage Centre. Photo: Sally Arnold
We did the guided tour, with our guide in character as a trishaw driver — apparently there are different characters on different days. During the early life of Singapore, Chinese tailors were the denizens of Pagoda Street (the street the museum is on), and the museum recreates the shop, workshop, residence and those of the tenants of Tuck Cheong Tailors. Full of detail, it’s very much hands on — you’re invited to pick up the phone and listen to a conversation, or flick through the order book.
Past the shopfront, we entered the workshop where apprentices not only fulfilled orders, but cared for the owners’ children. Beyond, we visited the humble residence of the apprentices and the owner and his family, including a fully recreated kitchen and adjoining bathroom. Ambient soundscapes add to the atmosphere. Our guide’s commentary was fascinating as he described the lives and objects in the display — everything ... please log in to read the rest of this story.
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By
Sally Arnold.
Last updated on 21st September, 2017.
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