Exploring Singapore’s Hidden Gems: A Unique City Tour Experience

A photo essay of my experiences on a guided city tour

I have lived in Singapore for a few years and have visited many of its nooks and crannies. Still, there’s much more to learn and explore. A recent Sunday reminded me of this as I had the novel experience of exploring the city with my friend Phoebe, a Tourist Guide certified by the Singapore Tourist Board (among many other hats she dons).

Here are some highlights from the day, in the form of a photo essay.

What did Singapore look like in the past? What trades did the people engage in? How was daily life? What food should you try while you’re visiting? The street art in Chinatown will answer those questions and more with beautiful murals scattered throughout the region. Most of these are the work of the accomplished Singaporean artist Yip Yew Chong.

The Thiang Hock Keng Mural tells the story of early Hokkien immigrants to Singapore. In this 40-meter-long mural, there is a panel that is very special to me. This panel speaks of the Hokkien community’s contribution to education. My university and current…