The first thing you will see once you get out of Chinatown station is a whole stretch of touristy stalls selling souvenirs. This is the street markets surrounding Pagoda St. The market is definetly less lively than the ones you see in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or even Kuala Lumpur. The only time I think it will get rowdy is during Chinese New Year, which is quite an interesting experience where thousands of people will line up the streets to celebrate the Chinese New Year festivities.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.