While the majority of the Singaporean population is Chinese, Chinatown still retains its charm as the traditional Chinese quarters of the city.
While certain streets like Pagoda street and Smith Street have been spruced up considerably to cater to tourists, working Chinatown remains and extends towards the south and the east until it merges with the Central Business District. The predominant dialect is Cantonese, differing from the Hokkien-dominant Singapore.