Singkawang: Temples, Festivals and Local Cuisine

Hundreds of Chinese temples on almost every street corner, ceramics in an old style, and cuisine featuring distinctive specialties: Singkawang can be explored from a range of cultural perspectives. Cap-Go-Meh is another notable festival highlight. When planning your trip, it is worth first considering whether temples, traditional design, a festival date or local cuisine should be the defining feature of your stay.

Temples and Ceramics in Singkawang

Singkawang has hundreds of Chinese temples on almost every street corner. Tri Dharma Bumi Raya is one of the oldest temples in the city. The cultural landscape therefore ranges from the widespread presence of Chinese temples to one particularly old example. If you are interested in temples, Tri Dharma Bumi Raya is a specific place to visit, while the many temples shape the wider cityscape.

Ceramics are also part of Singkawang’s cultural heritage: Chinese ceramics in an old style, with “antique” designs, are still made here. This ongoing production and traditional visual language offer a different focus alongside the temples. For those interested in culture, this provides another perspective on Singkawang—not only through its buildings, but also through its decorative objects.

Cap-Go-Meh and Festival Traditions

At the 2026 Cap-Go-Meh festival in the municipality of Kota Singkawang, 727 Tatung took part. This edition of the festival was known for its Tatung performances and attracted visitors from other regions as well as domestic and international tourists. The festival is an annual cultural tourism event. The figures for participants and visitor turnout refer to the 2026 edition.

Chinese New Year celebrations in Singkawang reach their peak at Capgome, the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year. If you would like to make this festival tradition the reason for your trip, plan around the festival period and check the specific dates. This will help you coordinate your travel dates with the high point of the celebrations.

Local Cuisine: A Specialty and Plenty of Choice

Rujak Ju Hie, a spicy fruit salad with dried squid, is considered a Singkawang specialty. The combination of fruit, spice and dried squid makes for an unusual dish. Pasar Hongkong is considered Singkawang’s most popular food centre and offers a wide range of dishes. These two culinary highlights offer different experiences: Rujak Ju Hie is a specific specialty, while Pasar Hongkong offers variety. This can help you decide what interests you most—whether you are drawn to one particular dish or a broader selection of food.

Planning a Stay That Suits You

The differences between these themes can help you plan your trip: Cap-Go-Meh is tied to a specific festival date, while temples, ceramics and local specialties offer other cultural and culinary highlights. When planning your trip, you can consider whether the festival date should be your fixed anchor or whether you would rather focus your stay on culture and cuisine. This priority also gives you a clear starting point when searching for a holiday rental in Singkawang. Coordinate your travel dates and preferred daily activities with the themes that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Ledo, Ketapang, Pangkalanbuun, Pontianak.

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