Chinatown is a thriving cultural district, rich in history but firmly rooted in the present. It’s the perfect place to dive into the culture of Singapore’s largest ethnicity (74 percent of the population are ethnically Chinese). Start on Pagoda Street, named after the Sri Mariamman Temple, the city’s oldest Hindu temple, located on the corner. Over the main entrance of the temple is a six-tier
gopuram covered in deities and vibrant ornamentation. Check your shoes at the door and enter to see equally colorful ceiling frescoes. Around the corner is Trengganu Street, a pedestrian mall full of stalls selling Chinese wares in front of painted shophouses (don’t forget to look up or you’ll miss some beautiful architecture). Make your way to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, a stately complex based on Tang dynasty architecture that houses what Buddhists believe is the sacred tooth of Buddha. The red and gold interiors are dazzling. Nearby, you can feast on signature Singaporean street food at Maxwell Road Food Centre. With more than 100 stalls to choose from, be sure to try the chicken rice from Tian Tian.