In an enthic place like Chinatown, where most of the residents' income comes from generous tourists and shoppers during the festive season, you would expect most of them to be hawkers. You're right.
From your daily groceries to hand-made brushes and fans, ----- you name it!----- could be found along the interesting streets of Chinatown. Traditional delicacies to fast foods outlets, you'll have no problem finding them. The wet market and hawker centre at Chinatown Complex is a highly recommended place to eat-out with family or friends. Whether you prefer Chinese dim sum to the delicious roti prata, sastifaction is guarenteed.

If you're shopping for qi pao, this is the place to be. Just one glance and you'll notice 2 to 3 shops specialising in this traditional Chinese costume ------ all at resonable prices. If herbs are your cup of tea, you'll be delighted to find dried sea horses to the nutritious birds' nests on display in shops. Tired of walking, you could easily hire a rick-shaw puller to peddle you round for the day. They literally line the streets, talking among themselves or seeking shade. And of course, who can resist having their fortune told? Fortune-telling is one of the more unusual trades found here.

Well, there you have it, be it hawkers with eye-opening goods to offer, tailors, chefs, rick-shaw pullers or the handmade fans, Chinatown's the place to be.

Much of Chinatown has recently undergone renovation, but the old traditions endure. A walk around the streets of Tanjong Pagar reveals the local craftsmen at work making clogs, kites and traditional seals for stamping documents.

This kind of peaceful and simple lifestyle is hardly found in the busy city of Singapore today. Hopefully, this can be preserved for the future generations of Singapore.