Traditional Chinese Pastries Tour Singapore: Behind-the-Scenes at Heritage Bakery
Ever wondered what those elaborate pastries in Chinese wedding baskets actually mean, or why specific sweets appear at temple altars during festivals? The Traditional Chinese Pastries Tour takes you behind the scenes at Gin Thye, one of Singapore’s last remaining heritage bakeries, where you’ll watch master craftsmen hand-make pastries using techniques passed down since 1964—and discover the deep symbolism connecting food to Chinese weddings, festivals, and ancestral customs.
This isn’t a cooking class where you follow recipes. You’ll step into a working kitchen at an award-winning bakery recognised by Singapore’s National Heritage Board, taste pastries once reserved for emperors, and learn why certain shapes and fillings matter for specific occasions. Perfect for food lovers, culture enthusiasts, and couples planning Chinese weddings who want to understand the traditions.
Enjoyed this guide? Running this blog takes a lot of coffee (and time exploring every corner of Singapore!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed guides about Singapore, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I’m just happy you’re here and hope you have an amazing time in Singapore! 🙂
What You’ll Experience on This Tour
The tour centres on Gin Thye Cake Maker at 423 Sembawang Road, a family-run bakery that’s been serving traditional wedding pastries and biscuits since 1964 and is officially recognised by Singapore’s National Heritage Board for preserving traditional Asian bakery culture.
Behind-the-Scenes Kitchen Access: Watch as pastry masters handcraft delicacies the traditional way—this is one of the only tours in Singapore offering actual kitchen access to see these techniques in action. You’ll witness how pastries like tau sar piah (bean paste biscuits), mi lao (rice crisps), and elaborate wedding cakes are shaped by hand.
Cultural Significance Explained: Learn about traditional Chinese wedding culture in Singapore and how customs vary among different dialect groups—particularly important for understanding Guo Da Li ceremonies and wedding basket traditions. Jayden Seah, your guide and temple customs expert, explains which pastries suit Hokkien versus Teochew versus Cantonese weddings, and why specific shapes symbolise prosperity, longevity, or fertility.
Traditional Pastry Tasting: Sample mouthwatering traditional pastries with Chinese tea, including rare varieties like gao li (pastry cubes) and ren sheng dou (edible beans) that many Singaporeans have seen in temples but never tasted. You’ll learn about each pastry’s cultural significance whilst watching master craftsmen demonstrate traditional techniques.
Why These Pastries Matter
Wedding biscuits or cakes (囍饼) are an integral part of Chinese customary weddings, rich in heritage and full of symbolism. When families send these pastries with wedding announcements, each type carries specific meaning—red bean paste represents sweetness in marriage, lotus seed filling symbolises fertility, and the double happiness symbol pressed into cakes blesses the union.
Many of these pastries were once enjoyed only by emperors and concubines in imperial palaces before recipes travelled to Southeast Asia with Chinese immigrants. Now, as traditional confectionary shops slowly close across Singapore, this is your chance to taste and learn about these disappearing traditions whilst they’re still accessible.
Practical Details and Booking
Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours
Location: Gin Thye Cake Maker is accessible via Thomson East Coast Line (Springleaf MRT) or North South Line (Yishun MRT / Khatib MRT). It’s in Sembawang, north Singapore—less touristy than Chinatown, which means you’re experiencing authentic neighbourhood heritage.
What’s Included:
- Licensed STB tourist guide (Jayden from Hey Lad Tour)
- Behind-the-scenes kitchen access
- Demonstrations of traditional pastry-making techniques
- Pastry tasting with Chinese tea
- Exclusive discounts on purchasing pastries to take home
Group Size: Small groups with a minimum of 4 participants required for tours to proceed. This keeps the experience intimate enough to ask questions and interact with pastry makers.
Cost: Culture Pass approved, so Singaporeans can use their $300 credits. International Tourists can book via Klook here.
Klook.comWho Should Book This Tour
Couples planning Chinese weddings gain invaluable insight into Guo Da Li customs and which pastries suit their dialect group’s traditions. You’ll impress future in-laws by understanding the symbolism.
Families with children and teens appreciate the educational value—watching artisans work is far more engaging than museum displays. The tour is designed for family bonding across generations, from young children to grandparents.
Culture buffs as it is a perfect for meeting like-minded people whilst exploring Singapore’s living heritage. It’s Instagram and TikTok gold with plenty of photo-worthy moments—watching skilled craftsmen work is mesmerising.
Food historians and heritage enthusiasts discover techniques and recipes rarely documented elsewhere. The pastry masters share stories passed down through generations—knowledge that’s disappearing as younger family members pursue other careers.
What to Wear and Bring
Dress casually but modestly—you’re entering a working kitchen. Closed-toe shoes are essential (no sandals or flip-flops). Bring your phone or camera for behind-the-scenes photos, though ask permission before photographing pastry makers closely.
An empty stomach helps—you’ll be tasting multiple pastries. Consider bringing a small bag to carry home any pastries you purchase at the discounted rate. Cash is useful for spontaneous pastry purchases, though the bakery accepts electronic payments.
The Pastries You’ll Encounter
Varieties include tau sar piah (豆沙餅, bean paste biscuits), mi lao (米佬, rice crisps), gong tang (貢糖, peanut candy), ren sheng dou (仁生豆, edible beans), and gao li (糕粒, pastry cubes)—some you may have never heard of or seen before.
Each pastry connects to specific occasions. Tau sar piah appears in wedding baskets because the golden exterior symbolises prosperity. Mi lao’s crispy texture represents happiness. Gong tang’s sweetness blesses new unions. Understanding these connections transforms pastries from snacks into cultural artefacts.
You’ve likely seen some of these pastries displayed in Chinese temples but puzzled over what they were and meant—this tour finally provides answers.
How This Connects to Other Heritage Experiences
Pair this pastries tour with Hey Lad Tour’s complementary experiences for a complete understanding of Chinese customs:
The Spirit Medium and The Judge Tour shows you the temple rituals where many of these pastries appear as offerings. Understanding both food and faith creates a complete cultural picture. Want more details? Then check out the full review here.
Living Art of Traditional Paper Craft reveals another disappearing artform—craftsmen creating paper mansions and servants for funeral burnings. Together, these tours cover birth, marriage, and death customs.
Klook.comBooking Tips and Timing
Book ahead—spaces are limited and cancellations aren’t allowed because hosts turn away other guests to secure your spot. If you need to change dates, contact the tour operator early rather than cancelling.
Best times to book: Months leading up to Chinese New Year (January-February) or Mid-Autumn Festival (September) when bakeries are busiest and you’ll see seasonal specialties being made. Wedding season (avoiding Ghost Month in August) offers insights into bridal pastry orders.
Tours run on select Saturdays throughout the year. Check Klook for available dates—often shows upcoming September and November slots.
If fewer than 4 participants book your chosen date, the host may reschedule or refund your booking—flexibility helps, especially for weekday tours.
Book now: Klook for instant confirmation
Why Gin Thye Specifically
Gin Thye has been a reliable household brand in Singapore since 1964, and is well-recognised by the National Heritage Board of Singapore for its commitment to preserving and spreading traditional Asian bakery culture for future generations.
Unlike commercial bakeries that have modernised production, Gin Thye maintains traditional techniques. The family still oversees every batch to ensure quality and authenticity. This isn’t a museum recreation—it’s the real thing, still serving Singapore’s Chinese community for weddings, festivals, and temple offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Tour participants receive exclusive discounts on all pastries. Many people buy wedding basket samples or festival offerings. The bakery can also arrange larger orders for actual weddings if you’re planning one.
No experience needed—this is purely observational and educational. You’ll watch master craftsmen demonstrate techniques and learn about the cultural significance. It’s about understanding the heritage, not making pastries yourself.
Most traditional Chinese pastries contain lard (pork fat) for that characteristic flaky texture. Some varieties use vegetable shortening, but always inform the guide of dietary restrictions beforehand. Vegan and halal options are extremely limited in traditional recipes.
You’re not following modern recipes in a generic kitchen. This is heritage preservation—watching techniques passed down through generations in an award-winning bakery that’s been operating for 60 years. The cultural context around weddings and festivals isn’t taught in cooking schools.
Contact Hey Lad Tour directly for private group bookings. This works especially well for couples and families preparing for Chinese weddings who want to choose pastries meaningfully rather than randomly ordering from catalogues.
Ready to Taste Singapore’s Heritage?
The Traditional Chinese Pastries Tour offers something rare—access to disappearing knowledge held by master craftsmen who learned from their parents and grandparents. As traditional bakeries close across Singapore, experiences like this won’t exist indefinitely.
Book your spot now: Intangible Cultural Heritage Tour of Chinese Traditional Pastries
For more Singapore Chinese food experiences, explore my First Timer Guide to Singapore Hawker Centres and Kimly Dimsum articles.
Follow along on Instagram @singaporetruly where I share real-time travel updates, behind-the-scenes moments from tours, and daily life in Singapore.
Join the Singapore Truly Facebook community—a supportive space for women travellers to ask questions, share tips, and connect before trips.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you—this helps me keep creating free, detailed travel guides. I only recommend services and products I genuinely use and trust after years of travel across Asia.
Pin It
