Five Instagrammable spots in Chinatown

Chinatown is one of Singapore’s oldest neighbourhoods, and its storied history has resulted in many visually aesthetic buildings, streets and art. You might also know it as the neighbourhood that gets jam-packed when Chinese New Year rolls around.

If you take your time to look around, there are plenty of Instagrammable spots- here are three we managed to capture on camera.

Most people have heard of People’s Park Complex’s scenic rooftop, but not as many have been to its sister mall. The rooftop of People’s Park Centre might not be as iconic, but the view is just as gorgeous.

The rooftop looks out over shophouses and skyscrapers, which makes for a really nice backdrop. The opposite side of the roof looks out onto rainbow-streaked HDB blocks, and you can also play with the long lines of the car park to create more dynamic shots. Even the car park’s long parallel lines can make for some grungy or minimalistic shots. 

South Bridge Street might not look impressive, but sometimes all you need is a change of perspective.

The Peranakan shophouses acts as an interesting backdrop, and the tiled staircases add a street vibe. The green arches of Hong Lim Complex and the overhead bridge also make for some dynamic low-angle shots.

The surrounding buildings are covered in wall art and painted bright colours, and there are opportunities to play with lighting, shadows and geometry in your shots.

For shots crossing the road, hold your phone upside down close to the ground to get a view of not just your full fit, but the open, airy space. There’s also a steep spiral staircase you can climb for low angle shots.

If you climb to the rooftop of Chinatown Complex Food Centre, you’ll find multiple opportunities for attractive photos.

For some minimalistic photos, you can climb up on the iconic white-tiled platform in the middle of the rooftop. The brightly painted blocks surrounding the complex and vibrant bougainvillea bushes are also great if you want more colourful shots.

Lastly, there’s Chinatown Street Market, a sheltered food street not too far from the MRT.

The street is painted in warm colours, and the clear canopy adds to the open air vibe. If you head down during the off-peak period, you’ll be able to get some beautiful wide shots (and maybe a snack after a long day of taking photos).

These are just five locations that we found. Chinatown is filled with spots like these, so if you have some time, grab your camera and a friend, and have fun exploring!