EXTRA DAY Singapore

Explore the Lion City's fascinating heritage, food and culture

- ALICE HENDERSON

CHINATOWN

In 1822, as part of his Raffles Town Plan, British coloniser Stamford Raffles split Singapore into several districts and allocated each to a different ethnicity. A large area to the west of Singapore River was marked for Chinese migrants. Today, Chinatown's Temple Street is lined with gift shops selling porcelain and jaunty chopstick rests in various designs - from varnished ducks to silvery dragons. Overhead are strings of red lanterns and alluring neon signs that mark restaurants. Parallel running Pagoda Street is a vibrant spot too, with powder-coloured shophouses and, at the far junction, Sri Mariamman Temple. It's the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, and a site to see for its gopuram - the entrance tower of a temple, and in this case, an elaborate five-tier pyramid lined with bright sculptures. Look out for Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Thian Hock Keng Temple too, which are both close-by.

HAJI LANE