Step into the seafaring past of Tanjong Pagar and Telok Ayer, where maritime trade laid the foundations of Singapore’s rise as a global port. Long before container terminals and skyscrapers, these waterfront districts bustled with activity – from sampans ferrying goods along the Singapore River to warehouses and bustling shorelines alive with commerce.

Through vivid storytelling, this tour features key nodes central to port operations that once powered Singapore’s entrepôt economy. Discover the remarkable concentration of religious buildings along Telok Ayer Street that reflect how diverse communities and cultures came together to support Singapore's thriving maritime trade, each with their own stories of faith, commerce, and community.

As the coastline shifted and port functions moved, many of these places did not disappear. Instead, they were carefully conserved, adapted, and thoughtfully integrated into the modern city through strategic urban development.

Explore how maritime heritage continues to live on through repurposed buildings and urban spaces that now support commercial, cultural, and civic life. This journey reveals the layered connections between Singapore’s maritime past, built heritage conservation, and the vibrant urban landscape that frames city life today.

These Chinatown Heritage Trails are a collaborative initiative between the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Friends of the Museums.

About FOM
Friends of the Museums (FOM) is a volunteer, non-profit society devoted to offering guiding services and financial support to Singapore’s museums and cultural institutions as well as delivering programmes to enhance the community’s knowledge of Asia’s history, culture and art.