Chinatown MRT Station
Chinatown MRT station is an interchange station serving both the Downtown Line (station code DT19) and the North East Line (station code NE4). It sits beneath one of Singapore's most distinctive urban neighbourhoods, a historic area that blends a busy commercial district with shophouse-lined streets and a strong cultural identity. The station provides good access to the southern part of the city centre, connecting residents, workers, and visitors moving through this part of Singapore.
Chinatown on the Downtown Line map
Chinatown station at a glance
| Station codes | DT19NE4 |
|---|---|
| Lines | Downtown Line North East Line |
| Interchange | Yes, change between 2 lines here |
| Chinese name | 牛车水 |
| Tamil name | சைனாடவுன் |
| Next stations | |
| Train times | Downtown Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:30 AM, last train 11:35 PM North East Line: first train leaves the terminus at 5:42 AM, last train 11:55 PM Full first and last train guide |
See Chinatown on the map. The interactive map opens with this station highlighted, so you can trace the route from where you are.
Passengers can change between the Downtown Line and the North East Line here without leaving the paid zone. On the Downtown Line, neighbouring stations are Telok Ayer to the east and Fort Canning to the west. On the North East Line, the station sits between Clarke Quay to the north and HarbourFront to the south, making it straightforward to travel towards the waterfront, the city centre, or further along both lines without needing to exit.
The station gives direct walking access to Chinatown itself, where the wet market, food centre, and rows of shophouses along Pagoda Street and Trengganu Street are all close by. Sri Mariamman Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, stands a short walk from the station entrance. The surrounding streets also contain a range of restaurants, medicinal halls, and small retail shops that together give the neighbourhood its distinctive character.
Around Chinatown station
Chinatown MRT station sits within the Outram planning area, in the historic Chinatown district along New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street. The area is a dense mix of heritage shophouses, temples, commercial streets, street markets, and food establishments, giving it a strong cultural and tourist character. It draws a broad mix of tourists exploring the heritage district, office workers from nearby commercial buildings, and residents of surrounding HDB flats and conservation shophouses. On foot, the streets feel lively and compact, with covered five-foot-ways along shophouse rows making it easy to walk between sights.
| Place | Type | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Chinatown Street Market (Pagoda Street) | Attraction | A well-known open-air street market selling souvenirs, snacks and traditional goods, popular with tourists visiting the heritage district. |
| Sri Mariamman Temple | Place of worship | Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, located on South Bridge Road, notable for its ornate gopuram and cultural significance. |
| Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum | Place of worship | A large Tang-dynasty-style Buddhist temple on South Bridge Road housing a sacred relic and free museum galleries on Buddhist culture. |
| Chinatown Complex and Chinatown Complex Food Centre | Hawker centre | One of Singapore's largest hawker centres, with hundreds of stalls serving local favourites including acclaimed roasted meat and laksa. |
| People's Park Complex | Shopping mall | A well-established shopping complex on Upper Cross Street known for money changers, traditional goods and affordable retail. |
| The Pinnacle@Duxton Sky Bridge | Attraction | A public sky bridge on the 26th floor of the award-winning Pinnacle@Duxton HDB development, offering panoramic views over the city. |
| Eu Yan Sang | Attraction | A heritage traditional Chinese medicine retail chain with a prominent flagship store in the Chinatown area, drawing both locals and tourists. |
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.
| From Changi Airport | Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Bugis (10 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Bugis to Chinatown (5 stops). About 15 stops with 1 change. |
|---|---|
| From Orchard | Take the North South Line from Orchard to Dhoby Ghaut (2 stops), then change to the North East Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Chinatown (2 stops). About 4 stops with 1 change. |
| From City Hall | Take the North South Line from City Hall to Dhoby Ghaut (1 stop), then change to the North East Line from Dhoby Ghaut to Chinatown (2 stops). About 3 stops with 1 change. |
| From Jurong East | Take the East West Line from Jurong East to Buona Vista (3 stops), then change to the Circle Line from Buona Vista to HarbourFront (7 stops), then change to the North East Line from HarbourFront to Chinatown (1 stop). About 11 stops with 2 changes. |
| From Woodlands | Take the Thomson East Coast Line from Woodlands to Stevens (8 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Stevens to Little India (2 stops), then change to the North East Line from Little India to Chinatown (3 stops). About 13 stops with 2 changes. |
| From HarbourFront | Take the North East Line from HarbourFront to Chinatown (1 stop). About 1 stops, no changes. |
Tips for using Chinatown station
- The station serves two separate lines with separate concourses; transfer between them is signed within the paid zone, but allow extra time during peak hours when corridors become crowded.
- Chinatown Street Market and the major temples are a short walk from the station exits, and most of the route along New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road is covered by shophouse five-foot-ways, giving some shelter from rain.
- Weekend afternoons around the Chinatown heritage area are significantly busier than weekday mornings, so plan visits to the hawker centre and street market earlier in the day to avoid queues.
- There are lifts available at the station for passengers with mobility needs; look for accessibility signage at the station entrance as ground-level access points vary by exit.
- Several bus services operate along New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street immediately outside the station, making it straightforward to continue by bus to nearby areas such as the CBD or the riverside.
All stations on the Downtown Line
In order along the line, with Chinatown marked. Stations with their own guide are linked.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| DT1 | Bukit Panjang | DT / BP |
| DT2 | Cashew | – |
| DT3 | Hillview | – |
| DT5 | Beauty World | – |
| DT6 | King Albert Park | – |
| DT7 | Sixth Avenue | – |
| DT8 | Tan Kah Kee | – |
| DT9 | Botanic Gardens | DT / CC |
| DT10 | Stevens | DT / TE |
| DT11 | Newton | NS / DT |
| DT12 | Little India | DT / NE |
| DT13 | Rochor | – |
| DT14 | Bugis | DT / EW |
| DT15 | Promenade | CC / DT |
| DT16 | Bayfront | CE / DT |
| DT17 | Downtown | – |
| DT18 | Telok Ayer | – |
| DT19 | Chinatown (you are here) | DT / NE |
| DT20 | Fort Canning | – |
| DT21 | Bencoolen | – |
| DT22 | Jalan Besar | – |
| DT23 | Bendemeer | – |
| DT24 | Geylang Bahru | – |
| DT25 | Mattar | – |
| DT26 | MacPherson | CC / DT |
| DT27 | Ubi | – |
| DT28 | Kaki Bukit | – |
| DT29 | Bedok North | – |
| DT30 | Bedok Reservoir | – |
| DT31 | Tampines West | – |
| DT32 | Tampines | EW / DT |
| DT33 | Tampines East | – |
| DT34 | Upper Changi | – |
| DT35 | Expo | DT / CG |
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.
| Code | Station | Interchange |
|---|---|---|
| NE1 | HarbourFront | CC / NE |
| NE4 | Chinatown (you are here) | DT / NE |
| NE5 | Clarke Quay | – |
| NE6 | Dhoby Ghaut | NS / NE |
| NE7 | Little India | DT / NE |
| NE8 | Farrer Park | – |
| NE9 | Boon Keng | – |
| NE10 | Potong Pasir | – |
| NE12 | Serangoon | CC / NE |
| NE13 | Woodleigh | – |
| NE14 | Hougang | – |
| NE15 | Buangkok | – |
| NE16 | Sengkang | NE / STC |
| NE17 | Punggol | NE / PTC |
Read the full North East Line guide.
Chinatown 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 11:35 PM. North East Line first train 5:42 AM, last train 11:55 PM. Check the operator for holiday changes.
Is the Chinatown Complex Food Centre close to Chinatown MRT station?
Yes, Chinatown Complex and its hawker centre are within a few minutes' walk of the station. The complex is on Smith Street and Trengganu Street, in the heart of the heritage district, and is one of the most popular food destinations in the area.
What is the Chinatown area known for?
The Chinatown district is known for its preserved Straits Chinese shophouses, cultural temples such as the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple, street markets selling souvenirs and traditional goods, and a wide range of local food stalls. It is one of Singapore's main heritage tourism areas.
How do I get to Chinatown from Changi Airport by MRT?
Take the East West Line from Changi Airport to Bugis (10 stops), then change to the Downtown Line from Bugis to Chinatown (5 stops). 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 September 2026.
News and guides mentioning Chinatown
- Most Instagram-Worthy MRT Stations in Singapore 28 Sep 2026
- MRT Reliability Hits Record High in August 2026 12 Sep 2026
- Humanoid Robot Trial at Little India MRT Station 21 Aug 2026
- Singapore MRT Art in Transit Programme Explained 13 Aug 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.