The Chinatown Historic District, located south of Singapore River, is the original settlement of the Chinese community in Singapore. It is a largely intact area of shophouses with original texture and fabric, depicting the simple lifestyles of the early immigrant community. The District comprises 4 subdistricts, each with a distinctive character. They are:
Kreta Ayer, bounded by New Bridge Road, Park Road, Upper Cross Street, South Bridge Road, Sago Street, Trengganu Street and Smith Street, is known for its bustling street atmosphere and festive events.
Telok Ayer, bounded by South Bridge Road, Cross Street, Boon Tat Street, Stanley Street, McCallum Street, Amoy Street, Ann Siang Road and Erskine Road, is associated with long rows of shophouses and religious buildings along Telok Ayer Street, and hilly residential and club houses at Ann Siang Hill.
Bukit Pasoh, bounded by New Bridge Road, Keong Saik Road, Kreta Ayer Road, Neil Road and Cantonment Road, provides the setting for a mixture of residential, association and commercial activities.
Tanjong Pagar, bounded by Neil Road, Maxwell Road, Peck Seah Street, Wallich Street, Tanjong Pagar Road and Craig Road, features winding streets and a mixture of residential and commercial activities.
There are altogether five national monuments within the Chinatown Historic District. They are the Sri Mariamman Temple and Jamae Mosque in Kreta Ayer, and the Thian Hock Keng Temple, Nagore Durgha Shrine and Al-Abrar Mosque in Telok Ayer.