On this twilight tour of the Singapore River, join our guides as they share the tales of Tua Di Ya Peh (1st and 2nd Granduncles), who are among the most feared yet least understood deities of the Taoist pantheon.

From their tragic origin stories to the unusual objects used in their worship (some of which are now illegal!), join us on this sunset tour that uses the picturesque Singapore River as the unlikely stage for this story of the underworld!

Meet Jamie, Jan, May and Tze Yong!

Jamie Lee

Hello everyone, I am Jamie and I have been guiding since 2019! While I am relatively new to guiding, I have always been fascinated by how overseas Chinese communities were “same same but different”. This piqued my interest and heightened my awareness of the ways in which Singaporean Chinese were distinct from other Chinese communities around the world in their beliefs, thoughts and way of life!

Working with the team on developing this tour has been a blast and I am looking forward to sharing everything that I have learnt with all the participants. I hope that this tour will bring you a deeper appreciation of our unique Chinese practices and prevent them from fading into obscurity!

Jan Chow

Hello everyone, I am Jan! I think it is because I have spent time living in Thailand and Japan that my interest in Singapore’s history, culture and arts resurfaced as an adult! It is precisely because I knew so much about other places but so little about my home and its culture that prompted my engagement with my own heritage.

Growing up, I’d never asked nor understood why my elders did what they did and this tour was the perfect opportunity for me to explore, understand and retell those stories and practices. I am very excited to bring everyone along on this journey that juxtaposes the day and night Singapore, the historical and modern and the earthly and supernatural through the stories of Tua Di Ya Peh!

May Hui

Hi everyone, I am May! I love meeting people and listening to their stories so heritage was something I naturally gravitated towards! Today, I am a docent at 10 museums in Singapore and you might also catch me at some of the heritage trails at My Community.

For me, this tour is special because it takes us out of the heartlands and into the ‘heart’ of Singapore! I believe the Singapore River is the artery of Singapore and that it holds a special place in every Singaporean’s heart. In this programme, I cannot wait to tell you a story of this familiar river through the more unfamiliar story of Tua Di Ya Peh! See you then!

Ng Tze Yong

Hello everyone, I am Tze Yong, the 4th generation owner and apprentice craftsman at Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop. I believe each effigy we craft is not just a statue, but an epic story - embodiments of triumph and suffering, sin and redemption, and the timeless values of loyalty, courage and devotion. I believe it’s time we rediscover these values.

More about Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop

Helmed by master craftsman and third-generation owner Mr Ng Yeow Hua, Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop is a Taoist effigy-making shop run by the family since 1896. The shop was founded by two migrant brothers from Kinmen, in modern-day Taiwan, at Club Street and the shop moved to its current site at 35 Neil Road in 1990.

Apart from commissioned works, the shop also does repairs and refurbishment works for local and overseas temples and devotees. The fourth generation owners are now attempting to reinvent the trade by expanding its products and services to reach a secular audience.

Details of the Programme

• Language: English
• Dates:

• Sat, 11 Sep: 1800-1930
• Sun, 12 Sep: 1800-1930
• Sat, 18 Sep: 1800-1930
• Sun, 19 Sep: 1800-1930
• Sat, 25 Sep: 1800-1930
• Sun, 26 Sep: 1800-1930
• Sat, 2 Oct: 1800-1930
• Sun, 3 Oct: 1800-1930

• Meeting Point:

• Start Point: Clarke Quay MRT Exit E (10 Eu Tong Sen Street Singapore 059815) - Street Level Outside Burger King
• End Point: Merlion Park

• Please arrive 20 minutes before the event for registration. Our facilitators will be wearing our event t-shirt.
• Parking is available at Clarke Quay Central.
• Venue is wheelchair accessible.
• The event will proceed rain or shine.

Who should come?

• Participants must be 13 years and above to participate.

What to bring?

• Participants should bring along umbrella, hand sanitisers, insect repellent, and a bottle of water.
• Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably and wear covered shoes for hiking/trekking.
• Participants are encouraged to bring their own earphones (with a standard 3.5mm audio jack) because we will be using radio guides for the tour!
• Asthmatic individuals are encouraged to bring their inhaler.

COVID-19 Precautions

• All hosts and facilitators in this tour programme are fully vaccinated or have taken a Pre-Event Test (PET) in the past 24 hours
• Facilitators in this tour or programme are trained in basic first-aid.
• All participants must complete TraceTogether, a health declaration form and temperature taking at the start of the event.
• All participants must wear their masks properly throughout the event.
• All participants must maintain a one-metre distance from other participants during the event.
• All participants will be issued with coloured stickers and be divided into smaller groups. Participants must stay with their groups and not intermingle between the groups

Disclaimer

• All ticket sales are final. There will be no refund if you wish to cancel your tickets.
• By agreeing to participate in the event, participants are responsible for any injury, loss or damage due to the negligence on his/her part or of the children under his/her charge.
• Participants must abide by the house rules set out by the host. Facilitators will brief participants at the start of the programme.
• Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.

For updates:

• Follow us at @mycommunitysg on Instagram and @myqueenstown on Facebook.
• Visit mycommunityfestival.sg for all our latest updates.