Singapore is a multicultural and multiracial society, full of diversity. Locals on Crowdsourced Explorer will tell you about its “abundant variety of local and international cuisine”. And how its “rich cultural diversity and world-class cuisines make Singapore one of the most desirable countries in the world to live and work”. Come let’s look at how to experience Singapore diversity when you go visiting as a tourist or for work.

Singapore goes to great lengths to promote and protect diversity. Singapore passed its Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) in 1989 to prevent ethnic segregation by creating quotas on how many people of each race can reside in a building. The biggest racial groups in Singapore are Chinese, Malay and Indian. The EIP ensures that people of different groups are interacting on a daily basis.

To truly appreciate Singapore’s diversity, you’ll want to learn about its languages, religions, food, festivals, and neighborhoods.

Language

To appreciate Singapore’s diversity and to be prepared to communicate with its people, you’ll want to learn a few words in some of its main languages.

Though English is the official language in Singapore, 80% of the population know Mandarin. Those who speak Mandarin borrow words from other Chinese dialects, including Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, and Hainanese. Though there has been a decline in the use of Chinese, the government has made efforts to bring it back.

Another common and official language in Singapore is Malay. About 13% of the people speak it, and it was the national language prior to the arrival of the British.

3% of the population speak Tamil, a native language used by Indian immigrants. Other Indian minorities speak Kannada, Telugu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Hindi, Malayalam, and Gujarati.

A common slang language you will hear and should learn about is Singlish. It is unique to Singapore and blends a shortened version of English with some words from Hokkien, Tamil, and Malay.

Religion

Singapore is as religiously diverse as it is ethnically, with five main religions: 33.3% are Buddhist, 18% are Christian, 14.9% are Muslim, 4% are Hindu, and 10% are Taoist. Therefore to explore and experience the religious diversity, you’ll want to check out some of the amazing temples and other religious buildings.

In Little India alone, for example, you can find Hindu temples, Muslim mosques, Christian churches and Buddhist temples all around.

Some temples you should visit

The Bright Hill Temple (Khong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple), one of Singapore’s largest. Moreover it has grand halls, statues, shrines, elegant decorations, a turtle pool and a garden on its grounds. You can find it at 88 Bright Hill Road.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which has a spacious main hall and a bell tower and drum tower. You’ll want to see the main attraction, too: a 6-foot gold stupa with the sacred tooth relic. Another religious attraction at this temple is a giant prayer wheel. The temple is located at 288 South Bridge Road and is open every day from 9 am to 6.30 pm.

Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple is dedicated to Kwan Im, who is the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. Many worshipers come there to pray every day, most of them Buddhist. The temple has beautiful tile and red and gold decorations throughout. It is located at 178 Waterloo Street.

Leong San See Temple is a Taoist temple dedicated to Guanyin (or Guanyim), the Chinese translation of Avalokiteshvara, who is the bodhisattva of compassion. The elegant temple looks like a Chinese palace and has red and gold throughout. It is on 371 Race Course Road. and is open every day from 6 am to 6 pm.

Thian Hock Keng Temple (Temple of Heavenly Happiness) was built around 1820, making it the oldest in Singapore. It is a Taoist-Buddhist temple that was originally on the waterfront and thus honors Ma Zu Po, the goddess of the sea who protects sailors. The temple has elegant paintings on its walls, beautiful colored tiles, and decoration covering almost every inch inside and out. You can visit it on 158 Telok Ayer Street from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm.

And these famous churches

Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, or the Church of Saint-Andre, is Singapore’s largest Anglican church. It was built in 1856 with an English Gothic design. It is a tall, white church with high spires. Inside it is full of classic gothic arches and tasteful stained glass. You can visit it at 11 St. Andrew’s Road Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm or Saturday 11:30am-6:30pm or Sunday 7:30am-5:30pm.

Built in 1835, the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator is Singapore’s oldest church. It is a modest, simple, white building, but it uses lighting displays to create a more spiritual ambience and has dome ceilings with beautifully painted frescoes. On the surrounding grounds, you will find statues of the stations of the cross meant to prompt spiritual reflection.

Also Read: Travel attractions of Singapore

Food

Singapore is a smorgasbord of delicious cuisine, thanks to its multicultural influences. From Michelin-star restaurants to food stalls, they have everything you can imagine for any budget. Make sure you take advantage of the diverse offerings while you’re there and check out some of the best places below!

Where should you head to?

Chinatown Food Centre has 260 food stalls, including some Michelin-starred ones. Some great local dishes you’ll want to try include chicken rice, Bak Kut Teh, Char Kway Teow, chilli crab, Laksa, and Cendol.

You can also venture into Little India and Kampong Gelam to try Indian and Malay cuisine, or go to Joo Chiat/Katong to find Peranakan food.

In Singapore, you can find food from almost anywhere in the world. You could eat French cuisine at Odette one night and enjoy Japanese food at Waku Ghin the next! If you want to eat at some Michelin-star restaurants, however, you should make a reservation months in advance!

If you want to see local food at its best, you should plan to visit Singapore during the Singapore Food Festival or Cocktail Festival.

Festivals

Along with amazing food festivals, Singapore has some pretty interesting cultural festivals.

You might want to check out the Hungry Ghost Festival (late August), which honors the dead. According to Buddhist and Taoist beliefs, the souls of the dead arise and can cause mischief during this time. To prevent that, locals make offerings in dark metal bins or in the form of dramatic performances.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated when the sun goes down with lanterns, mooncakes, and fun events. It celebrates the moon when it is shining the brightest and pays respects to Chang Er who drank an elixir that made her immortal to save her people from her husband’s tyranny.

The Chinese New Year is the most popular holiday. It is in January and is based on the Chinese lunar calendar. The streets are decorated with red and orange as people seek prosperity and good luck. There are all sorts of shows, including dances with dragons or lions.

Also Read- Travel in Singapore

Ethnically Diverse Neighborhoods

Little India

Among Singapore’s culturally diverse areas you’ll want to visit is Little India, where you’ll find stalls with sellers calling out and selling their wares. You’ll pass colorfully-painted buildings and smell the sweet aromas of curries and Tandoori chicken. There is also the Tekka Centre, a large indoor market where fresh produce, spices, and other food items are sold. If you walk over to the Little India Arcade you can buy cheap items such as jewelry or knick-knacks.

Kampong Glam

The Kampong Glam neighborhood is north of the Singapore River and was originally the home of Malay royalty. Once the British East India Company came in 1819 and Arabs started arriving, it became multicultural. Today it has Muslim and Malay influence and a mixture of old buildings and temples as well as new carpet stores, art galleries, and other modern fixtures.

Geylang Serai

The Geylang Serai neighborhood east of Singapore’s central business district highlights modern Malay culture. Malay Village and its Cultural Museum are great places to learn about traditional Malay culture. Avoid the blocks around Lorongs 14, 16, and 18, however, as they are part of the red-light district.

Katong/Joo Chiat

The Katong/Joo Chiat neighborhood in east Singapore originally had coconut plantations. Then it became home to seaside villas for the wealthy. Finally, many Peranakans and Eurasians moved into the area. If you visit the Katong Antique House, you can get a taste of the neighborhood’s cultural heritage by viewing Peranakan antiques. Furthermore, you can shop for Peranakan clothes and handcrafted goods or try some tasty food on East Coast Road.

Chinatown

You’ll want to visit Singapore’s Chinatown to see the temples, mosques, and shrines lining the streets. You’ll also see British colonial buildings and restored shophouses in Boat Quay from the times when it was the center of trade and commerce.

Are you interested in learning more about Singapore’s diverse culture? See what locals recommend on Crowdsourced Explorer!

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