Timings : Saturday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Last entry 15 minutes before closing
Time Required : 2 - 3 hours
Entry Fee : Permanent Galleries: SGD 15 - SGD 60, Exhibition & Permanent Galleries: SGD 12 - SGD 60 Admission to the museum is free from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Fridays
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Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore Overview
Ranked as one of the top museums in Asia, the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore displays artefacts and relics depicting the cultures and civilisations of Asia. Covering a massive area of 14,000 square metres, there are over 2000 artefacts spread across seven galleries on three levels.
The Asian Civilisations Museum is part of the four significant museums in Singapore (the other three being the National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum and Peranakan Museum), each of which holds great national and global importance. Within the museum, one can find relics from all over the world, specifically those from the civilisations of China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia, as these ethnic groups have transformed Singapore into the cultural melting pot of Asia.
Apart from indulging in the history of the different Asian cultures, one can also enjoy a refreshing coffee at the Prive ACM, dine at the Empress, a traditional Chinese restaurant found in the premises, or commemorate this enchanting trip with a unique souvenir from the museum gift shop.
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Museum Galleries
The comprehensive collection of over 2,000 exhibits present at this impressive museum have been divided into the following galleries, with each gallery equipped with a set of guideposts in the form of videos and interactive zones:
Level 1: Trade
Tang Shipwreck: (Khoo Teck Puat Gallery): One of the most prominent exhibits of the museum, the Tang Shipwreck is a 9th-century Arab ship that was found in the Java Sea in the 20th century. The discovery of the contents of the ship, comprising of over 1000 pieces of ceramic, gold and silver, has helped historians understand more about the Indian Ocean trade that existed at the time. Many of the ceramics retrieved have been attributed to the Tang Dynasty of China.
Maritime Trade and Court & Company: This gallery explores the rich culture of trading that has taken place throughout Asia for almost two thousand years. Exhibits from this section were made for the European markets, the royal courts of China, India, and Southeast Asia.
Tang Shipwreck Gallery (Source) Level 2: Faith and Belief
ILM - Science and Imagination in the Islamic World: The word ‘ilm’ means knowledge in Arabic. This section explores the various roles of knowledge in everyday life, cultural production, and religious objects concerned with the Islamic world.
Ancient Religions: The millennia-old religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and subsequent religions that cropped up across the continent of Asia can be traced back to their origins from the evidence found in this section. The use of artwork, sculptures, and abstract imagery helps symbolise the deities of the ancients.
Scholars Gallery: This gallery of Asian Civilisations Museum is meant to signify the importance of the consumption and application of knowledge by individuals in everyday life to the Chinese culture, be it in the fields of the classics, academics, writing, painting, civil service, or trade, showing the continued role of being an ideal that the scholar has played in the Chinese culture.
The Scholar's Gallery (Source) Level 3: Materials and Design This section explores the evolution of garments, accessories and textiles of the various Asian civilisations as they have moved through the ages. One can find similarities between these artefacts, simplifying the homogeneity and global nature reflected in these ancient cultures.
Ceramics Gallery: The highly coveted range of Chinese ceramics, from the delicate Dehua collections to the emperor’s dining table can be found in this section. These items tell the stories of their creation, use, and value as the Chinese civilisation progressed over the years.
Asian Civilisations Museum Ticket Prices
Permanent Galleries: Singaporeans and PRs: No Entry Fee, Foreigners: Adults: SGD 20, Family of 5: SGD 60, Students & Seniors: SGD 15,
Exhibition: (Admission pricing includes entry into both Angkor: Exploring Cambodia's Sacred City? and Permanent Galleries) Singaporeans and PRs: Adults: SGD 12, Seniors, Students & children below 6: No Entry Fee,
Foreigners: Adults: SGD 20, Family of 5: SGD 60, Students & Seniors: SGD 15
Additionally, the Asian Civilisations Museum also holds instructive programmes for the family and lectures. Prices for these events vary as per the event.
Side view of Asian Civilisations Museum building (Source)
Guided Tours
There are free guided tours organised at the museum. The schedule is as follows:
Photography without flash and videography permitted
Touching of the artefacts, paintings and other exhibits is forbidden in order to maintain the integrity of these items.
Those with worksheets are only permitted to use pencils.
Lectures held at the museum are free of cost. However, there is limited seating, and admission is either based on first-come-first-served basis or for pre-registered attendees.
Service animals are allowed to enter the museum
Visitors can avail magnifying glasses in exchange for their photo ID proof
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible cars can be parked outside the front entrance
Asian Civilisations Museum has two entrances – Front and River. Both the entrances feature ramp accessibility
The galleries are equipped with three lifts for the visitors and one lift for the staff
There are three wheelchair-accessible washrooms. One at Level 1, the other at Level 2 and the third one in the basement
All the galleries at the Asian Civilisations Museum are wheelchair friendly except Singapore River Gallery
Comfortable seating arrangements are made throughout the museum
How to Reach Asian Civilisations Museum
Car: Take the road that goes behind Victoria Theatre near Anderson Bridge. Parking is available at the basement of the New Parliament House, another at Fullerton Road and the other at Six Battery Road.
MRT: Take Exit H at Raffles Place MRT Station and walk for 5 minutes to reach the Asian Civilisations Museum.
Bus: The nearest bus stand is in Fullerton, from where the museum is located at a 2 minutes walking distance. Bus routes include 10, 57, 75, 107, 130, 162, 196, 700, 868.
