Untold Stories of Singapore's Red-Light District - Keong Saik Road

4.7 / 5
27 reviews
200+ booked
73 Keong Saik Rd.
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  • Enter this immersive self guided audio tour (using the Cinewav app) of the prominent red-light district of Keong Saik Road to experience the history, culture, and community of this once-infamous precinct
  • Discover Keong Saik’s captivating heritage and tales of a bygone era through the rich stories of the Ma Je, the Pei Pa Zai, and the Dai Gu Liong—marginalised, forgotten women of the past
  • Narrated by Charmaine Leung, author of 17A Keong Saik Road, this tour is based on her book about growing up on Keong Saik Road as the daughter of a brothel operator
  • This audio tour starts at the junction of Kreta Ayer and Keong Saik Road, opposite the Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple which is located at 73 Keong Saik Road
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[Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

50% off

Combo: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour + Tong Ah Seafood SGD100 Cash Voucher

17A Keong Saik E-Book

Open date: Valid for 90 days

Immersive Audio Tour + 17A Keong Saik E-Book

Combo: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour + Tong Ah Traditional Kaya Toast Set

Quantity

€ 8.49€ 16.95

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What to expect

Take a walk with Charmaine Leung to admire the beautiful architecture along Keong Saik Road and trace the area's transformation from the 1930s, when her Ma Je grandmother first settled there, to the present.

This audio tour will focus on the three streets of the Keong Saik precinct and its surrounding areas, bringing you on an exploratory journey to discover this quaint and small area that is large in stories.

These lesser-known stories of Old Keong Saik will bring a vastly different perspective to the uber-cool drinking and dining adventures that Keong Saik is known for today.

keong saik main tour picture
Growing up in a shophouse in Keong Saik in the 1970s and 1980s meant Charmaine Leung lived among artefacts that today are mostly found in antique shops or museums
keong saik road indian temple
keong saik road indian temple
keong saik road indian temple
Like a fortress guarding its inner city, the Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple is the main gateway into the quaint Keong Saik district. The audio tour will start at the junction of Kreta Ayer and Keong Saik Road, opposite this Hindu temple.
17a keong saik by charmaine leung shophouses
17a keong saik by charmaine leung shophouses
17a keong saik by charmaine leung shophouses
Beautifully preserved two and three-storey pre-war shophouses with a unique blend of Chinese, Malay, and European influences line both sides of Keong Saik Road, giving the area a classic and timeless charm.
chinese temple
The Cundhi Gong Temple witnessed many Ma Je, ladies from China who came to find work in Singapore, taking vows of celibacy to pledge they will not marry for life and dedicate their energies to making a living and supporting their families back home.
tong ah keong saik
This iconic triangular-shaped building, which used to house the local coffee shop, was where the communal spirit of Keong Saik was on full display every day.
17a keong saik
Taking a studio portrait was a common practice amongst Ma Je and their adopted daughters.
17a keong saik book
17a keong saik book
17a keong saik book
17A Keong Saik Road recounts Charmaine Leung’s growing-up years on Keong Saik Road in the 1970s when it was a prominent red-light district in Chinatown in Singapore.

Reviews

4.7 / 5
Fantastic
27 reviews
Guide
4.7
Itinerary
4.6
Quality of transfer
4.7
Value for money
4.6
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Review for: [FREE TOUR][Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

The Untold Stories of Singapore's Red-Light District - Keong Saik Road tour offers a fascinating look into the area's transformation from a red-light district to a cultural hotspot. Guided by a knowledgeable host, you’ll explore its colorful past, discover hidden stories, and see preserved heritage sites, making it a unique glimpse into Singapore’s layered history.

Helpful
Review for: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

it was such a great tour that my friends and I really loved it! The description was really detailed and easy to understand, we got to know the history of Keong Saik road while walking around these unique and distinctive buildings. I highly Recommend this experience!

Helpful
Review for: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

Highly recommend this audio tour! It was a good experience and provided a very good background of the famous Keong Saik road. Really enjoyed the voice of the storyteller as well😊Do ensure u bring your ear piece to enjoy a better experience! Thanks Klook for making all of this happen🧡

Helpful
Review for: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

me and my friend had a fantastic time and learnt about a different side of Singapore at Keong Saik road on this historical tour. I loved that we were given a verbal description of how people lived back in the 1930s in front of specific architecture that were still preserved amazingly till today.

Helpful
Review for: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

This audio tour was great. it was details and clear. Just like a “real” tour guide beside us and showing us the places. I like audio tour as it is free and easy. I can pause the audio at any time and take a deep look of the place. nice and great experience.

Helpful
Review for: [FREE TOUR][Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

i love this audio self tour guide, the sound is very clear. I deeply immerse with the story, even my eyes was teary when heard the story about her and her mother.

Helpful
Review for: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

it was a great experience to discover more about Keong Siak Road. first time trying audio tour and it was great.

Helpful
Review for: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

set up for the audio tour was easy. learnt about the history and evolving culture of Keong saik! good that we can pause anytime and rest or have some food along the way. but don’t be like us and do it in the afternoon 😭 sun was not forgiving. go in the late afternoon or evening!

Helpful
Review for: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

I brought my Indonesian friend with me on the tour and she really enjoyed getting to know about Keong Saik, as well as the author's story. She found it interesting, and I would recommend bringing your overseas friends on this tour!

Helpful
Review for: [Self Guided] Immersive Audio Tour

Even as a Singaporean, I thought that this tour was very interesting, I did not know about this side of Keong Saik before this. It was interesting learning about Keong Saik's history, would recommend even for locals to check this out!

Helpful

Good to know

  • This tour requires a redemption of the audio ticket in the Cinewav app and please bring your headphones for the best experience.

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