Chinatown

Background

Named after the bullock carts 19th-century Chinese immigrants used to carry water, it's now a living fossil of Singapore's Chinese culture: the solemnity of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, the splendour of the Sri Mariamman Hindu temple and the calm of the Jamae Mosque — three great religions living in harmony on one street. Bak kut teh and Hainanese chicken rice have perfumed its old shophouses for a century, while murals and creative shops inject young blood into the old streets.

Local customs

• Remove your shoes and dress appropriately to visit temples
• respect each community's customs in ethnic quarters such as Little India and Kampong Glam
• 'chope-ing' (reserving) seats with a packet of tissues at hawker centres is a local quirk that visitors can follow too.

Religion & beliefs

• The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Buddhist), Sri Mariamman Temple (Hindu) and Jamae Mosque (Muslim) stand on the same street — a microcosm of Singapore's religious harmony
• follow each one's etiquette: remove shoes at the Buddhist temple, walk clockwise at the Hindu temple, visit the mosque outside prayer times, and women should bring a headscarf.

Rules that apply here

Travel tips

• Good all year, liveliest at Chinese New Year and Deepavali. Strolling is free
• the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is free (check opening times for the top-floor relic chamber)
• go in the late afternoon, when the night-market lanterns light up.