Gangs · Secrets · Stories
Chinatown Unmasked
A walking tour of Chinatown’s secret-society and gang history
Chinatown Unmasked is a 2.5-hour walking tour of Singapore’s Chinatown that looks beyond today’s shopfronts at the stories beneath its streets: early migrants, secret societies, gangs, hardship, and the social conditions that shaped the district and, in the end, modern Singapore.
It is led by Alvin Chiong, a licensed Singapore tourist guide who ran with Chinatown’s gangs as a young man and turned his life around. He tells this history from the inside.
- Price
- S$65 per person
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Group
- Minimum 2 people
- Meet
- Telok Ayer MRT Station, by the Control Room
What to expect
- Gang and secret-society history
- Early migrants and the realities of starting over
- Chinatown’s social and cultural development
- Racial and religious harmony
- The Street of Harmony
- Singapore’s transformation
Good to know
- This walk discusses historical themes including gangs, secret societies, crime and vice.
- It is an outdoor walking tour. Comfortable footwear, drinking water and rain protection are recommended.
因為我這個兒子是死而復活，失而又得的。
For this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.
Your guide
Alvin Chiong
Alvin is a licensed Singapore tourist guide who grew up in Chinatown and ran with its gangs as a young man before turning his life around. He has guided with Triad Trails and at the Chinatown Heritage Centre, received an STB Innovative Award in 2025, and has been featured by CNA. More about Alvin →
Questions
About this walk
How long is Chinatown Unmasked?
About 2.5 hours on foot.
How much does Chinatown Unmasked cost?
S$65 per person. Alvin confirms the final price when you book.
Where does it start?
Telok Ayer MRT Station, by the Control Room.
How many people do I need?
Minimum 2 people. Message Alvin for larger groups.
How do I book?
WhatsApp Alvin on +65 8438 8443 with your date and group size, or email alvin.chiong17@gmail.com.
Book
Book Chinatown Unmasked
WhatsApp Alvin on +65 8438 8443 with your date and group size, or email alvin.chiong17@gmail.com. He replies himself and confirms the time and meeting point.
