Bahay Tsinoy, Manila Overview

Located on the Cabildo Streets in the city of Intramuros in metro Manila, Philippines, Bahay Tsinoy is an age old museum housed within the premises of the Kaisa-Angelo King Heritage Center building, which documents the history and contributions of the Chinese in the past life and development of the Philippines. The repository houses several dioramas, sculptures, porcelain collections, pictures and old coins that help depict the contribution of the sangleys (Chinese as called by the Spanish) in the growth of the city of Manila.

The museum also has lifelike scenes depicted from the lives of the Chinese and Mestizo (mix of Spanish and Philippino) when they lived in the ghettos. Basically, it traces a timeline of the development of the city right from the pre-Spanish Chinese trading to the Spanish era, the establishment of Chinese ghettos and the Galleon trading that happened between China and Europe through Manila. The museum is one of the top attractions in Manila and is especially popular among students and history buffs.

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History of Bahay Tsinoy

The idea was museum was conceptualized not very long ago, but very recently in the 1990s. It was designed in 1996, by the famous designer Eva Penamora in tandem with the late architect Honrado Fernandez. Very soon, the construction was completed and the museum was inaugurated in 1999.

How to Reach

You can reach the museum by taking LRT - 1 (yellow line) from any of the north stations - Roosevelt, Balintawak, or Monumento etc. Get down at Carriedo Station and take a jeepney ride bound to Pier. You can find a jeepney from the front of the Santa Cruz Church. This jeepney will drop you at Bahay Tsinoy. Alternatively, you can also get off at the Central Terminal Metro Station which is also the nearest station near the museum. From here, the museum is just 1.5 km which you can cover in a short walk.