Five Footway Festival 2025: A Journey Through Chinatown’s Storied Past

Chinatown’s vibrant heritage takes center stage once again as the Five Footway Festival returns for its fourth edition from March 14 to 23, 2025. Organized by the Chinatown Business Association, this immersive festival celebrates Singapore’s iconic five-footways—once bustling hubs of trade and community life—through captivating walking tours, cultural performances, and hands-on workshops.

Step Back in Time with Immersive Walking Tours

This year’s festival offers four immersive walking tours, each unveiling a different chapter of Chinatown’s history.

• Chinatown Theatrical Tour – Letter Writer’s Lament transports visitors to the 1940s, where they follow the story of Ace Wan, an immigrant who became a Chinese letter writer. This award-winning experience by Let’s Go Tour brings history to life through a blend of theatre and storytelling.
• “Under One Roof” at Chinatown Heritage Centre recreates 1950s Chinatown, offering a rare glimpse into the daily lives of early residents inside restored shophouses.
• OG Hustlers explores Chinatown’s entrepreneurial past, taking visitors to century-old businesses like Pek Sin Choon (one of Singapore’s oldest tea merchants) and Tong Heng (a beloved Cantonese pastry shop).
• Hey Bukit Pasoh! The Vibrant Yesteryears takes visitors beyond Chinatown to discover hidden heritage gems, including The Pioneers’ Memorial Hall and filming locations from Crazy Rich Asians.

A Cultural Extravaganza on Smith Street

Smith Street transforms into a cultural hotspot with dazzling lion dances, stilt walkers, and street storytelling. Enjoy the electrifying Monkey King Show, Wushu performances, and Face Changing acts, or be mesmerized by the sounds of guzheng and pipa.

Traditional Chinese opera takes center stage every weekend with performances by Ping Sheh (Beijing Opera) and Nam Hwa Opera (Teochew Opera & Drums). Don’t miss The Tiger Hero, a unique hand-puppet show inspired by The Water Margin, presented by Paper Monkey Theatre.

Hands-On Heritage: Workshops & Exhibitions

Visitors can dive into Chinatown’s traditions with a variety of interactive workshops, including:

• Chinese Kung Fu Tea Workshop – Master the art of tea brewing.
• Ang Ku Kueh & Teochew Png Kueh Making – Learn the secrets behind these iconic pastries.
• Egg Huat Kueh Workshop – Discover the history of prosperity cakes and make your own.
• Chinese Ink Painting & Bamboo Windchime Making – Get creative with traditional crafts.
• Sights & Sounds of Chinese Opera – Experience Cantonese Opera up close.

The festival also features an exhibition, “The Warmth and Bustle of the Five-Footway”, curated in collaboration with Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and Hwa Chong Institution, offering a deeper look into the trades and lifestyles that once defined Chinatown’s walkways.

Festival Fun for All Ages

Along Smith Street, visitors can explore a Mini Food & Retail Bazaar, a Chinese Opera Roving Exhibition, and a Traditional Games Booth featuring childhood favorites like five stones, marbles, and pick-up sticks.

Insightful talks on Hokkien heritage and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health tips will also be held on select days.

Programmes Schedule