Five Footway Festival 2025: Step Into Chinatown Singapore’s Past

Get ready to walk through history, indulge in time-honoured traditions, and experience the vibrant culture of Chinatown like never before. The Five Footway Festival 2025 returns from 14 – 23 March 2025, celebrating the heritage of Singapore’s iconic five-footways with a stellar lineup of theatrical walking tours, cultural performances, hands-on workshops, and more.

Experience Chinatown’s History Through Captivating Walking Tours

This year’s festival brings four unique walking tours that uncover the district’s storied past:

1. Chinatown Theatrical Tour – Letter Writer’s Lament

Step into 1940s Chinatown with a dramatic storytelling journey following Ace Wan, a young immigrant letter writer. Created by award-winning Let’s Go Tour, this immersive experience blends theatre with history.

2. Under One Roof – A Guided Experience at Chinatown Heritage Centre

Explore the daily lives of early residents within shophouses that recreate the 1950s, showcasing family homes and tradesmen’s workshops.

3. The OG Hustlers

Discover Chinatown’s business pioneers, from century-old tea merchants at Pek Sin Choon to the famed Cantonese pastry shop Tong Heng.

4. Hey Bukit Pasoh! The Vibrant Yesteryears:

Explore Bukit Pasoh’s cultural landmarks, including The Pioneers’ Memorial Hall and film locations from Crazy Rich Asians.

A Spectacular Showcase of Cultural Performances

Smith Street will be alive with high-energy performances that bring Chinatown’s cultural traditions to life. Highlights include:

• Stilt Walkers in Traditional Attire – Greet towering stilt walkers as they stroll through the festival grounds, bringing a lively visual spectacle to the event.
• Lion Dances by Award-Winning Troupes – Witness the powerful and acrobatic performances from Singapore Tian Eng Dragon & Lion Dance Centre and Singapore Hok San Association, blending agility and cultural symbolism.
• Face Changing (变脸) – Be mesmerised by this rare Sichuan opera act where performers switch vividly painted masks in the blink of an eye, a true test of speed and theatrical flair.
• Traditional Chinese Music Performances – Enjoy soulful melodies from classical instruments like the guzheng (古筝) and pipa (琵琶), played by accomplished musicians.
• The Monkey King Show & Wushu Performance – Experience the legendary tale of the Monkey King through thrilling martial arts displays, acrobatics, and dynamic storytelling.
• Teochew Opera & Drums by Nam Hwa Opera – One of Singapore’s most respected opera troupes presents an enchanting performance that blends singing, dance, and dramatic storytelling.
• Beijing Opera Performance by Ping Sheh – Appreciate the intricate make-up, lavish costumes, and the refined singing techniques of Beijing Opera.
• Hand Puppet Show: The Tiger Hero (武松打虎) – Brought to life by Paper Monkey Theatre, this visually striking puppet play retells the classic tale of Wu Song’s battle against a fierce tiger.
• Weekend Opera Extravaganza – Featuring Teochew and Cantonese operas, these weekend performances will transport audiences into ancient Chinese tales through music and drama.

Get Hands-On with Cultural Workshops

You can deepen your connection with Chinatown’s traditions through a variety of workshops:

• Kaya Making Workshop – Learn the art of making Gula Melaka Kaya, a fragrant coconut-egg jam, using age-old methods passed down through generations.
• Ang Ku Kueh Workshop – Master the skill of shaping and filling the iconic red Ang Ku Kueh (turtle-shaped glutinous rice cake) while learning about its significance in Chinese celebrations.
• Teochew Png Kueh Masterclass – Perfect the technique of pressing pink-hued, savoury glutinous rice cakes into traditional moulds, an essential dish in Teochew cuisine.
• Get Prosperous with Egg Huat Kueh Workshop – Discover the meaning behind Huat Kueh (prosperity cake) and try your hand at making a fluffy, steamed egg version from scratch.
• Chinese Kung Fu Tea Workshop – Delve into the rituals of Chinese tea ceremonies, from selecting the right tea leaves to brewing and serving with grace.
• Sights & Sounds of Chinese Opera – Get an insider’s look into the world of Cantonese opera with live demonstrations, storytelling, and a guided appreciation of its artistic elements.
• Plate Spinning Workshop – Learn the fundamentals of balance and agility in this traditional circus-style skill.
• Chinese Ink Painting Workshop – Discover brush techniques used in classical Chinese painting to create delicate, flowing landscapes and calligraphy.
• Bamboo Pinwheel & Windchime Making – Craft your own decorative bamboo pinwheels and windchimes, inspired by the handmade toys of Chinatown’s past.

A Festival for All: Special Exhibitions & Nostalgic Fun

This year’s festival collaborates with the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and Hwa Chong Institution to present The Warmth and Bustle of The Five-Footway, an exhibition showcasing the trades, occupations, and everyday life of Chinatown’s past.

Along Smith Street, explore a Chinese Opera Roving Exhibition, a Mini Food & Retail Bazaar, a Street Scene Photo Booth, and a Traditional Games Booth featuring nostalgic favourites like five stones, pick-up sticks, marbles, and the eraser game.

Knowledge seekers can also attend insightful talks on The Beauty of the Hokkien Language and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Health Talks covering topics such as cholesterol and eye health.

Plan Your Visit to the Five Footway Festival 2025

Admission to the Five Footway Festival is free, with select workshops requiring ticket purchases via Peatix. Find out more about the programme and festival details on Chinatown Singapore’s website.

Do not miss this opportunity to rediscover Chinatown’s rich heritage through immersive experiences that connect the past with the present!