1860 - 1960: 100 years of Chinese in Nanyang

Soya sauce, donuts, university

Tai Hwa Soya Sauce, OCBC bank, DK Donuts, Sriracha Chilli Sauce, Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

These seemingly unrelated products and institutions are all related to the history of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia and of course to our tour!

Nanyang (南洋) was the old Chinese reference to today's Southeast Asia. From the mid 1800s, many Chinese left China for Nanyang in search of work. Most of them worked as labourers and they dream of making a fortune to go back home.

1860 - 1960: 100 years of Chinese in Nanyang

Nanyang went through major changes during the 100 years.

How did these changes affect the Overseas Chinese?
Did their dreams and aspiration change?
How did these 100 years produce a donut, banks, chilli source, soya sauce and a university?

Haw Par Villa where the tour is conducted is also part of this history. We will use the exhibits to tell this history.

In fact, visiting Haw Par Villa during the Chinese New Year is a nostalgic event in the memories of many Singaporeans.

So come participate in this historical and nostalgic tour and explore the history of overses Chinese.

Tour information

Due to covid restrictions, only 20 places available.
You can come in groups of max 5 and each subgroup cannot mingle with the other sub groups.
Please book early.

About the tour guide

Chan CW has a Masters in Social Anthropology from London School of Economics (LSE), UK and Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute, UK.

He has a Speciality Tour Guide license from Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Chan is a TEDx speaker, film producer and has published on Singapore history, fragrance, Buddhism, and heritage.

This tour is a combination of his various interest in Singapore heritage, Chinese history, anthropology, animal welfare and fragrances.

Meeting point

Tour guide: Chan CW