Surabaya Old Town & Chinatown
Surabaya, known as Indonesia’s City of Heroes, is not only about monuments and modern shopping centers. At its heart lies a cultural and historical treasure: Surabaya Old Town and Chinatown. This area, often included in a city tour Surabaya, offers travelers a chance to step back in time and explore the diverse influences that shaped the city. With its colonial architecture, bustling markets, temples, and street food stalls, it is a microcosm of Surabaya’s multicultural identity.
For visitors, walking through the Old Town and Chinatown is like flipping through the pages of history—each street, building, and market stall tells a story about trade, migration, and cultural fusion.
The Historic Essence of Surabaya Old Town
Surabaya’s Old Town, also known as Kota Tua, is a district filled with colonial-era buildings dating back to the Dutch East Indies period. These structures, though weathered by time, stand as reminders of Surabaya’s role as a strategic trading hub.
Key highlights include:
- Jembatan Merah (Red Bridge): A symbolic landmark where fierce battles occurred during Indonesia’s struggle for independence.
- Old Warehouses and Trading Offices: Many of these crumbling yet charming buildings once served as commercial centers for Dutch, Chinese, and Arab traders.
- Traditional Shops: Selling antiques, spices, textiles, and daily goods, reflecting the area’s function as a marketplace for centuries.
For those joining a city tour Surabaya, Old Town provides a living history lesson that connects Indonesia’s colonial past with its present identity.
Chinatown: A Living Cultural Enclave
Adjacent to the Old Town is Surabaya’s Chinatown (Kya-Kya District), a vibrant area that embodies the city’s multicultural character. Established centuries ago by Chinese merchants, Chinatown remains one of Surabaya’s busiest districts, filled with temples, shops, and food stalls.
Key attractions include:
- Hong Tiek Hian Temple: Believed to be the oldest Chinese temple in Surabaya, it is dedicated to Taoist deities and showcases intricate carvings and colorful lanterns.
- Market Streets: Lined with herbal shops, gold jewelry stores, and textile merchants, offering a glimpse into traditional Chinese commerce.
- Street Food Paradise: From bakpao (steamed buns) to dim sum and Surabaya’s unique Chinese-Indonesian fusion dishes, Chinatown is a culinary highlight.
Walking through Chinatown, visitors can experience the blend of Chinese, Javanese, and colonial cultures that make Surabaya unique. This mix of heritage and daily life makes it an essential stop on a city tour Surabaya.
Cultural Diversity in Action
What makes Surabaya Old Town and Chinatown fascinating is not just the architecture or the temples but the living culture that continues to thrive. During festivals such as Chinese New Year, the district comes alive with dragon dances, lanterns, and community gatherings. Meanwhile, nearby Arab Quarters contribute mosques, spice shops, and Middle Eastern cuisine, further enriching the area’s diversity.
Together, these districts demonstrate Surabaya’s identity as a meeting point of cultures—Indonesian, Chinese, Arab, and European. This is why many travelers see a city tour Surabaya as incomplete without exploring this multicultural landscape.
A Photographer’s Paradise
For photography enthusiasts, Surabaya Old Town and Chinatown provide endless inspiration. From the colonial facades of Jembatan Merah to the vivid red of Chinese temples, every corner offers a chance to capture history and culture in one frame. Street vendors, old bicycles, and murals add to the district’s charm, making it a favorite among travel photographers.
Many guided city tour Surabaya packages even include a dedicated walking photography session here, helping visitors capture both the grandeur and intimacy of the district.
Practical Tips for Exploring Old Town & Chinatown
- Best Time to Visit: Late afternoon, when the weather is cooler, and evening, when Chinatown’s street food stalls are at their liveliest.
- Getting Around: Walking is the best way to explore, but becak (pedicabs) and motorcycles are also available.
- Safety Tips: As with many busy markets, keep valuables secure.
- Combine Destinations: Pair Old Town and Chinatown with visits to House of Sampoerna or the Heroes Monument for a complete day trip.
- Local Guide Advantage: Hiring a guide or joining a city tour Surabaya ensures you don’t miss the stories behind each landmark.
Part of a City Tour Surabaya Itinerary
Old Town and Chinatown are often included in half-day or full-day tours, usually paired with nearby landmarks. A sample itinerary could be:
- Morning: Visit Heroes Monument and Museum 10 November.
- Midday: Explore House of Sampoerna museum and café.
- Afternoon: Stroll through Surabaya Old Town and Chinatown, discovering temples and markets.
- Evening: Dine on street food in Kya-Kya, enjoying the atmosphere of lantern-lit streets.
This balance of history, culture, and food makes it one of the most memorable segments of a city tour Surabaya.
Why Old Town & Chinatown Matter
Surabaya is often seen as a modern business hub, but Old Town and Chinatown reveal the city’s deeper layers. They showcase resilience, multicultural coexistence, and the rich traditions that continue to shape daily life. Unlike museums, this area is a living heritage site, where culture isn’t preserved behind glass but celebrated in the streets.
For visitors, it offers both education and adventure. For locals, it remains a vibrant community hub. For Surabaya, it is a testament to how diversity and history can coexist within a modern metropolis.
Conclusion
The charm of Surabaya Old Town and Chinatown lies in their authenticity. From colonial warehouses and historic bridges to bustling temples and night markets, the district tells a story of trade, migration, and multicultural harmony.
Every city tour Surabaya should include this district—not just as a sightseeing stop, but as a cultural journey. Walking through Old Town and Chinatown is more than tourism; it is an exploration of identity, where the past meets the present in the heart of Surabaya.