Pick your own date

Duration: 1.5h

Location: 35 Neil Road, S088821 

Synopsis: 

Hidden among Tanjong Pagar's skyscrapers and hipster bars, you'll find a small 6th-generation family business that has been hand-crafting wooden statues of Daoist and Buddhist deities since 1840. 

Say Tian Hng ("Garden of Western Heaven" in Hokkien) is filled from floor to ceiling with hundreds of statues, some as large as a chair, some as small as an iPhone.

Among them are fearsome warlords and fair maidens, drunk monks and steely-faced magistrates, infants in arms, serpents, tigers and parrots.

Conducted by docents trained by the Ng family, the tour will introduce you to the origin stories of some of these deities, the ancient craft of statue-crafting and the religious iconography, such as the attires, facial features, accessories and weapons used as identifiers of each deity within the vast pantheon.

You will also learn how Grandma Ng brought up 7 kids while running the business, the impact of rapid urban renewal on one of Singapore’s oldest heritage businesses, and what the 6th generation is doing today to reinvent the business.

There will not be any hands-on activities, but you can observe the artisans at work during the tour. 

The programme is secular in nature and suitable for guests of all religions and races. 

Important to note:

* Due to limited slots, bookings are non-refundable.

* Minimum age of 7.

* Photos of the workshop may be taken and used for publicity purposes.

* Activities subject to minor changes.

* Tour is conducted in English

* Group size is capped at 10 pax. 

* Wet weather plan: None (Tour is indoors)