Chinatown MRT Station

Chinatown MRT station lies under the junction of Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road and Upper Cross Street in Outram, at the edge of Singapore’s Chinatown district. It is an underground interchange that links the North East Line, where it carries the code NE4, with the Downtown Line, where it is DT19. This makes it a convenient transfer point for passengers travelling between the two lines as well as a stop in its own right.

Chinatown on the Downtown Line map

Chinatown MRT station at a glance

Opening date, operator and ridership figures are LTA data as recorded on Wikipedia.

Most people who use the station are heading into Chinatown itself. Shoppers come for Chinatown Point and People’s Park Complex, both close to the station, while others are on their way to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple or Masjid Jamae (Chulia). Office workers, residents of the surrounding streets and tourists exploring the old shophouse lanes all pass through, along with commuters who simply change trains here.

History of Chinatown MRT station

The station was first announced in March 1996 under the working name People’s Park, and its North East Line platforms opened on 20 June 2003. Building it involved diverting several main roads and the Eu Tong Sen Canal, which was later rebuilt above the finished station. The Garden Bridge, a well known local landmark, was kept rather than demolished. The Downtown Line platforms followed on 22 December 2013, when the first stage of that line began service.

Inside Chinatown MRT station

There are six entrances, each built with glass structures; the Pagoda Street entrance has a transparent pavilion-style roof, and the Downtown Line entrance has an elliptical shape. Two Art-in-Transit works decorate the interior of Chinatown MRT station: calligraphy by Tan Swie Hian, titled The Phoenix’s-Eye Domain, on the North East Line concourse and platforms, and Flying Colours by Cheo Chai Hiang, which shows clothes lines, on the Downtown Line concourse walls.

For visitors, the station is the obvious starting point for a day in the area. library@chinatown is only about a minute’s walk away and makes a quiet stop for readers. Smith Street is around four minutes on foot, and the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum is roughly five minutes away, so both are easy to reach on the same outing. Those interested in how the city has been planned can walk to the Singapore City Gallery in under ten minutes. Residents and workers nearby also use the station for everyday errands, shopping and quick connections across the network.

Around Chinatown MRT station

Chinatown station sits at the heart of one of Singapore's most culturally rich heritage districts, surrounded by shophouses, temples, and cultural attractions. The area blends history and commerce, with landmarks such as the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum and the broader Chinatown precinct drawing visitors from across the city. It is also home to community spaces like Speakers' Corner, making it a lively mixed-use neighbourhood.

Places and straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Actual walking routes may be longer.

How to get to Chinatown by MRT

Worked out from the network map. Stop counts are station to station and do not include walking or waiting time.

Fares from Chinatown MRT station

A trip from Chinatown to Changi Airport (about 22 km) costs S$2.36 on an adult SimplyGo or EZ-Link card. Fares are charged by distance, so the table below shows the estimated adult card fare from Chinatown to the main hubs, the early bird fare for journeys that start before 7.45am on weekdays, and the fare that applies from 26 December 2026.

Estimated from the route distance between stations and the Public Transport Council fare table in force from 27 December 2025. The exact fare can differ by one band. Cash fares are higher. Use the fare calculator for any other journey, or check your fare on the SimplyGo app.

Tips for using Chinatown MRT station

• Chinatown station serves both the Downtown Line and North East Line, so plan your onward journey using whichever line best connects to your destination.
• The library@chinatown is the closest verified place at roughly one minute on foot, making it an easy first stop near the station.
• Buddha Tooth Relic Museum, Nagore Durgha Indian Muslim Heritage Centre, and Singapore City Gallery are all within roughly a ten-minute walk, but allow extra time during weekends when the Chinatown streets can be crowded.
• Clarke Quay Central is the furthest verified destination on this list at approximately 560 metres, so factor in around nine minutes of walking and consider the North East Line for a quicker connection if you are short on time.

All stations on the Downtown Line

In order along the line, with Chinatown marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.

Read the full Downtown Line guide.

All stations on the North East Line

In order along the line, with Chinatown marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.

Read the full North East Line guide.

Chinatown MRT station: common questions

Which line is Chinatown MRT station on?

Chinatown is on the Downtown Line and the North East Line. Its station codes are DT19 and NE4.

Is Chinatown an interchange station?

Yes. You can change between the Downtown Line and the North East Line inside the station without leaving the paid area.

What time is the first and last train at Chinatown?

Times below are for the first and last train leaving the line terminus; trains reach Chinatown a few minutes later depending on its position on the line. Downtown Line first train 5:30 AM, last train 11:40 PM. North East Line first train 5:39 AM, last train 11:55 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.

What is near Chinatown MRT station?

Several attractions and amenities are within walking distance, including the library@chinatown at roughly 80 metres, Smith Street and Speakers' Corner at approximately 240 to 270 metres, and the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum at around 330 metres. Further afield, the Chinatown precinct itself, Singapore City Gallery, and Clarke Quay Central are all within approximately 560 metres.

Which shopping mall is closest to Chinatown station?

Clarke Quay Central is the closest verified shopping mall, located approximately 560 metres from the station, which is roughly a nine-minute walk.

How far is the Buddha Tooth Relic Museum from Chinatown station?

The Buddha Tooth Relic Museum is approximately 330 metres from Chinatown station in a straight line, which works out to roughly a five-minute walk.

How do I get to Chinatown from Changi Airport by MRT?

Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Outram Park (14 stops), then change to the North East Line from Outram Park to Chinatown (1 stop). About 15 stops with 1 change.

Sources: station codes, line colours and interchanges from the LTA rail system map; operating hours from SMRT and SBS Transit. Last reviewed October 2026.

News and guides mentioning Chinatown

• Outram Park MRT Faeces Incident: What Riders Should Do 6 Nov 2026
• Top 10 MRT attractions you can reach without changing lines 29 Oct 2026
• シンガポール地下鉄（MRT）路線図 2026（日本語ガイド） 4 Oct 2026
• Most Instagram-Worthy MRT Stations in Singapore 28 Sep 2026

Plan the rest of the trip

Every station on the Downtown Line and the North East Line is listed on its line guide, with the full route and interchanges. For times, see the first and last train guide, and for the whole network in one view use the interactive Singapore MRT map or the PDF map.

Hungry? See food near Chinatown MRT: hawker centres, food courts and cafes with walking times.