The Teochews of Boat Quay

Join us on this heritage trail that will cover narratives and old photos of Teochew-related institutions that used to exist in the area, including trade guilds and cultural institutions located on North Canal Road and Circular Road, and the Sze Hai Tong Bank at the junction of Chulia Street and Philip Street. The tour will end at the Yueh Hai Ching Temple.

The Boat Quay area has been Singapore's commercial hub since 1819 with many of our early pioneers setting up business ventures in the area, and the Teochew merchants were no exception. It was in this vicinity where the Teochews established their earliest temple and first commercial bank, as well as a number of clan associations and trade guilds. Take a walk down North Canal Road to Philip Street and learn about the commercial and social activities of the Teochew community in the place they know as suan gian deng.

Other fascinating stories & events…

Tours & Trails

Kampong Kapor Methodist Church Open House: 130 Years Serving the Community

4 May • 09:00am

Kampong Kapor Methodist Church (KKMC) is located in Singapore’s Little India district. Founded in 1894, we are one of the first Peranakan churches and the fourth Methodist church to be established in Singapore.
We welcome you to enter into the serenity of our sanctuary to admire the architecture, stained-glass window and pipe organ recitals.

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People Places Tours & Trails

37 Emerald Hill Site Tours

18 - 19, 25 - 26 May • 10:00am

18 - 19, 25 - 26 May • 02:00pm

Come along for the first ever public site tours of 37 Emerald Hill, former home of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, the first locally founded secular school for girls by our Straits-born community and conserved through a ground-up community effort.

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Tours & Trails

40 Years of Total Defence with the Navy

4 - 5 May • 12:30pm

Discover our Navy in this special 40th anniversary of Total Defence programme with guided tours at the Changi Naval Base and Navy Museum. Learn about our navy traditions with sailors past and present on this very special tour!