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Offered languages
- English
Uncover Singapore’s hidden past on a 2.5-hour walking tour through Chinatown, exploring secret societies, triad stories, and the city’s darker history.
Tour Highlights:
- Explore Singapore’s hidden history of secret societies and triads
Walk through Chinatown’s most iconic and lesser-known streets
- Discover real stories of gang rivalries, opium dens & underground networks
- Visit historic landmarks tied to early Chinese communities
- See heritage wall murals by Yip Yew Chong depicting Singapore’s past
- Learn how Singapore transformed into one of the safest cities today
- Small-group walking experience with engaging storytelling
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meeting Point: Telok Ayer MRT Station Control We will send you the reminder for the tour details about the meeting point, meet up time, and guide contact before the day of the tour by whatsapp or email.
Located in Chinatown Area, nearby Chinatown Station and Maxwell Station
Itinerary
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1Telok Ayer Street
Starting at Telok Ayer MRT Station, your guide will introduce you to the origins of early Chinese immigrants and how secret societies—often known as triads—emerged as powerful forces offering protection, control, and influence.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
Continue to the Hakka Association Singapore, where you’ll uncover the role of clan associations in supporting new migrants—and how some became linked to underground networks and rival factions.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Thian Hock Keng Temple
At the historic Thian Hock Keng Temple, learn how faith, loyalty, and brotherhood intersected with secret society rituals. This sacred site was not only a place of worship but also a gathering point tied to early community power structures.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Ann Siang Hill
Walk up to Ann Siang Hill, once a hotspot of opium dens, brothels, and secret society activity. Today’s trendy streets hide stories of crime, survival, and the lives of those who operated in the shadows. Along the way, discover striking heritage wall murals by Yip Yew Chong, vividly illustrating scenes of old Singapore life and adding a visual layer to the stories you’ll hear.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
As you enter the bustling lanes of Trengganu Street and Pagoda Street, uncover tales of gang rivalries, coded communication, and hidden operations that once thrived behind these shopfronts. These streets were the heart of Chinatown’s underground world, where power, business, and crime intertwined.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Pagoda Street
Throughout the tour, your expert guide will bring these stories to life—revealing how Singapore transformed from a rough trading port with secret societies into the safe, modern city it is today.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Bad Weather Policy The tour will proceed rain or shine, so please do bring along your umbrellas or ponchos. No refunds or compensation will be provided for this matter
- Accurate contact details are crucial during booking; the operator isn’t liable for losses due to inaccuracies.
- Comfortable footwear is recommended and carry umbrellas or ponchos in case of rain.
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Bad Weather Policy The tour will proceed rain or shine, so please do bring along your umbrellas or ponchos. No refunds or compensation will be provided for this matter
- Accurate contact details are crucial during booking; the operator isn’t liable for losses due to inaccuracies.
- Comfortable footwear is recommended and carry umbrellas or ponchos in case of rain.
- We will meet-up at Telok Ayer MRT Control Station.
- We will send you the reminder for the tour details about the meeting point, meet up time, and guide contact before the day of the tour by whatsapp or email.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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