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Thailand |
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 Directions
History
Fullerton
Building
Cavenagh
Bridge
Queen
Elizabeth Walk
Lim
Bo Seng Memorial
Anderson
Bridge
Merlion
Park
Dalhousie
Obelisk
Sir
Stamford Raffles' Statue
Victoria
Theatre & Concert Hall |
Empress
Place Building
Parliament
House
Raffles'
Landing Site
Boat
Quay
Circular
Road
Elgin
Bridge
Clarke
Quay
Coleman
Bridge
Riverside
Point & Riverside Village
Tan
Si Chong Su Temple & Omar Kampong Melaka Mosque
Other
Interesting Detours |
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The purpose of this guide is to share with you what makes the
Singapore River so special -a testimony of how this island one
degree North of the equator was transformed from an obscure
fishing village to a great seaport and modern metropolis, famous
for its skyscrapers, the Merlion and "gastrono-mania".
The Singapore River was where our first immigrants eked out
their meagre living, and where the lucky few fought against all
odds to make it big. But it was also a place to relax. Now, as
it was then, you will find people unwinding after a hard day's
work, along the river banks.
This guide highlights two routes, each of which will take about
2 hours to explore. Both routes offer different experiences by
day and by night. Route I -The Rafflesian Legacy, takes the form
of a structured walking tour to help you take in all the
significant sites on this route. We would like to suggest that
you experience Route I in the cooler hours of the early morning
or late afternoon. Route 2 -The River Celebration, is best
enjoyed nearer dusk when River life is at its most vibrant.
Route 2 is deliberately unstructured, as only you can decide
which of many exciting options you'd like to zoom in on. Enjoy!
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 Commuting
to the Singapore River:
BY MRT
Alight at Raffles Place MRT Station.
BY RIVERSIDE TROLLEY
A free trolley service runs a loop, beginning at:
- a) City Hall MRT Station (look for Trolley Stop outside
the Capitol Bldg exit) Operating hours: Sam -1'.4spm, every 15
minutes, daily.
- b) Raffles Place MRT Station (take the UOB Plaza I exit,
walk away from the river, and look for Trolley Stop on Market
Street) Operating hours: 12pm -2.30pm / spm -7.30pm, every S
minutes, weekdays (excluding public holidays).
Both Trolley Services stop at:
- Clarke Quay
- Liang Court Shopping Centre.
- Riverside Point
- Merchant Court Hotel
Commuting within the Singapore River:
BY RIVER TAXI
Catch a river-taxi for about $2 from the river banks along Boat
Quay and Clarke Quay.
BY FOOT
To get from Boat Quay to Clarke Quay, walk towards South Bridge
Road and cross Elgin Bridge onto North Bridge Road. Take the
underpass on your right which will lead you to River Valley Road
where you will find a few metres ahead, another underpass, just
before Coleman Bridge which will take you to Clarke Quay.
BY RIVERSIDE TROLLEY
See above.
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The early history of Singapore is an intriguing blend of fact
and fiction, dating as far back as the third century. In the
seventh century, a Malayan Buddhist empire was established on
the island of Sumatra. Temasek, or Sea Town as Singapore was
then known, was a prosperous trading outpost of this empire.
In the thirteenth century, a member of the Royal family, Sang
Nila Utama, was sailing the seas in search of a site to build a
new city. Arriving at the sandy shores of an island, he caught
sight of a strange animal which he was told was Singa (Sanskrit
word for lion). Sang Nila Utama felt that it was a good omen and
decided to build his new city here, naming it Singapura -Lion
City.
Singapore remained a possession of the Sultanate, until that
fateful day in January 1819, when Sir Stamford Raffles of the
East India Company signed an agreement with the Sultan of Johor,
giving the British the right to establish a trading post on the
island, and to proclaim it a free port. Raffles wrote a
visionary statement which encapsulated the purpose of his
securing this little seaport. "Our object is not territory but
trade; a great commercial emporium and a fulcrum whence we may
extend our influence politically as circumstances may hereafter
require."
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A good place to start is at
Fullerton Building which is just to the right of the Raffles
Place MRT (UOB Plaza I exit). It was formerly the site of a
fort, where it had all the makings of a fortress: a lookout
point, afederal reserve of artillery and other offensive
weaponry. Since 1925, it has had more genial occupations, first
as the exclusive Singapore Club,and then as the General Post
Office and Inland Revenue Authority.It is currently closed to
the public. Battery Road, which is behind the building, took its
name from the battery of heavy artillery kept there.
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Just beside Fullerton Building is Cavenagh Bridge. Constructed
in 1868, Singapore's only suspension bridge was named after
Colonel Sir William Orfeur Cavenagh, the last India-appointed
Governor of Singapore. It was the third bridge to be built and
the oldest to be maintained in all its original splendour.
Before you cross over the bridge, look over the left railings
where you'll spy a family of Kucinta cats (Singapore's river
cats), recognised as one of the smallest breeds of cats in the
world. Cavenagh Bridge was originally named Edinburgh Bridge
because it was used for the first time when the Duke of
Edinburgh visited Singapore.
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From Cavenagh Bridge, look to your right for the underpass that
will take you to Queen Elizabeth Walk, In the I 880s, Queen
Elizabeth Walk was lined with lovely European houses and was
regarded as the charming heart of "Mayfair", Today, Queen
Elizabeth Walk overlooks a generous sweep of the River's mouth,
backed by the water-spouting Merlion.
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Further along Queen Elizabeth Walk is the Um Bo Seng Memorial.
It was erected in memory of Lim Bo Seng who was a prominent
Hokkien businessman and an anti-Japanese guerrilla during the
gruelling World War II years. Throughout the most difficult
times, Lim Bo Seng was known to be loyal to his cause, costing
the lives of many members of his family who
were seized by the soldiers and never seen again. He was
captured when the Kempeitai (Japanese secret police) discovered
that he was an undercover agent of the resistance movement.
Refusing to betray his comrades, he died under torture three
months later.
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Retrace your steps back to Anderson Bridge. Named after Sir
johnAnderson, Governor of the Straits Settlements, Anderson
Bridge was built in 1910 as Cavenagh Bridge was unable to the
stone plaque cope with the increasing traffic.
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Walk along Anderson Bridge to the Merlion Park. Half-fish, half-Iion,
the Merlion is a fitting symbol of Singapore as legend has it
that the 'Singa', or lion, which Prince Sang Nila Utama first
caught sight of on the island, was seen near this very spot.
Integrating the lion head with the body of a fish was a means of
paying tribute to Singapore's history as 'Temasek' - the ancient
sea town.
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Dalhousie Obelisk
Retrace your steps along Anderson Bridge and through the
underpass. As you emerge from the underpass, you will find on
your right the Dalhousie Obelisk. It was dedicated to Marquis
Dalhousie, the Governor General of India from 1848-1856 and who
visited Singapore merchants of the in 1850.
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Further ahead is the original bronze statue of Singapore's
founder, Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (I 781-1 826).
Sculptured by Thomas Woolner, it was unveiled at its original
site on the Padang in 1887, Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
Year. It was later shifted to its current location during
Singapore's Centenary celebrations in 1919. The statue was
spared destruction as it was kept in storage during World War II
(1942-1945).
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Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall was dedicated to the memory of
Queen Victoria, with almost half its construction cost of
$368,000 funded by the people of Singapore. While the left
portion of the building (Victoria Theatre), was built as
Singapore's Town House in 1862, the right side (Victoria Concert
Hall), only opened in 1905 and is currently home to the
Singapore Symphony
Orchestra. The gap between the buildings was filled by a central
clock tower much later.
During the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II,
this clock like all others, had chimed to Tokyo, rather than
local time. Now concerts every Friday and Saturday chime
decidedly to a much more favourable tune.
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Empress Place Building was constructed between 1864-65 and
designed by J.F McNair. It too was named after Queen Victoria,
Empress of India.
The central portion is the oldest, having Civilisations served
as a Court House.
In the past, Empress Place had also served as an immigration
department, various government offices as well as a historical
and cultural museum.It will soon open its doors again as the
second wing of the Asian Civilisations Museum.
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Located next to Empress Place Building along Parliament Lane,
this is the oldest government building in Singapore. It was
first constructed in 1827 as a residence for Scottish merchant,
john Argyle Maxwell. Due to a dispute over his legal rights to
the land, it was never lived in and instead was leased and later
bought over for government use.
It was extended and rebuilt several times, serving as a Court
House, a post office, and the Assembly House of the colonial
government before taking on the important station as the Seat of
Parliament for an independent Singapore in 1965. Look out for
the bronze elephant in front of the building, a gift from King
Chulalongkorn of Siam, who visited Singapore in 1871. The statue
is a reminder of the close relations Singapore and Thailand
enjoy.
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With his back to the River, the polymarble copy of the original
bronze statue of Sir Stamford Raffles marks his first landing
site on Singapore. From here catch a panoramic view of Boat Quay
and the Raffles Place skyline behind, and soak in the marvellous
contrast which is so uniquely Singapore.
We also highly recommend that you take a half-hour River Cruise
on board a traditional bumboat, for about $7, and experience an
intimate perspective of life along the Singapore River while
enjoying a lively commentary on the history of the River.
At the end of the cruise, request to disembark at Boat Quay
(tide permitting). This will enable you to carry on exploring at
Boat Quay and Circular Road, a road just behind Boat Quay, but
existing in a world apart. Alternatively, you can walk back to
Boat Quay and Circular , Road via Cavenagh Bridge.
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Evening time when the neon lights beckon, colourful facades and
playful thematic restaurants and pubs turn Boat Quay into the
River's most appealing pedestrian walk. Take the time to enjoy
the intoxicating blend of cocktails and cosmopolitan array of
mouth-watering cuisine, which will satisfy even the most
finnicky eater.
Imagine that only a century ago, sun-tanned coolies and swaylos
(water-hands) balanced heavy gunny-sacks of rice over their
shoulders, with springy gangplanks under their feet, loading and
unloading a bewildering plethora of produce. When Raffles signed
the agreement securing the auspicious title of free port for
Singapore, this instantly triggered a landslide of immigrants
from neighbouring countries. Within six months, Boat Quay became
a hothouse for trading, and in the 1860's,
three quarters of all shipping businesses were done at Boat
Quay. Here was the starting point of all that is Singapore
today; affluent, hardworking and adamant on success.
Immigrants were keen to erect their shophouses on the already
crammed south side of the River, because it resembled the
concaved belly of a carp, which according to Chinese belief, was
where prosperity and wealth lay.
Notice how the row of shophouses, which have been carefully
conserved, vary in height. This was a sign of each man's wealth
-the higher the shophouse, the wealthier the owner.
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Sandwiched between Boat Quay and the financial district is
Circular Road, frozen in time and almost detached in its
continual determination to survive the changing riverscape.
Circular Road resembles Singapore in the 1950s, where clans and
societies,
traders and wholesalers still eke out their modest living amidst
towering banks and entrepreneurial glitterati. Circular Road
oozes the old world charm best seen during the working hours of
10 am - 5 pm.
These shops, seeped in the family tradition of passing the
business from one generation to another, still have their
Teochew and Hokkien surnames proudly advertising their wares or
trades. As you walk by, count how many 'Tan's and 'Lim's
(Chinese surnames commonly found in Singapore) there are left of
their once bustling trade. Note the mirrors hung on doorways to
reflect away evil spirits as they convene at blind roads and
alley ways.
Look out for the mystical ba gua, or eight positions -an ancient
Chinese fortune-telling device.
After exploring Boat Quay and Circular Road, you may proceed on
to Clarke Quay (Route 2 -River
Celebration) via Elgin Bridge, or you may choose to return
later. Whatever the case, directions for how to get to Clarke
Quay and Riverside Village can be found on the "Directions" page
at the front of this map.
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This was completed in 1929 and named after the then governor
General of India, Lord Elgin. As this was the first bridge to be
built across the River, the two roads leading to it were named
North Bridge Road and South Bridge Road accordingly.
Elgin Bridge served to link the Chinese community on the south
side of the River to the Indian merchants of High Street on the
north side.
The area around the Elgin Bridge had been a popular site for
swimming and there have been many tragic stories of youngsters
who, not realising how shallow the waters were, had leapt off
this bridge to their deaths.
If you sidle up to the bronze plaques emblazoned onto the
concrete slabs, you will find a lion standing in front of a
Royal palm, sculpted and signed by R. Nolli (an Italian master
craftsman), perhaps depicting how Sang Nila Utama saw the beast
in the legend.
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From seafood to satay, Italian to
Indonesian, Singapore's first riverside village has 176
shops and more than 20 pubs and restaurants to satisfy the
shopping-hungry or the plain famished.
The emotive quality to Clarke Quay could best be described
as celebratory. In the day, you can immerse yourself in
discovering refurbished warehouses packed with curios, gifts
and speciality shops.
A flea market thrives on Sundays putting a price on the
salvaged past, be it an old poster, an antique watch or a
gramophone.
Named after SirAndrew Clarke,Singapore's second governor,
Clarke Quay had been the commercial centre where an unending
stream of lighters would transport their goods upriver to
the very warehouses that now contain shops of every
extravagant nature.
Near the entrance to Clarke Quay on River Valley Road is
Whampoa's Ice House which belonged to Hoo Ah Kay, an early
immigrant from Whampoa, China who imported ice from Boston
in the mid 1800s before ice- making facilities were
available in Singapore. Note how the Chinese and European
merchants brought their own .architectural styles to the
area.
In the evening, Clarke Quay becomes a huge night bazaar
where you can lose yourself in a maze of push-carts laden
with knick-knacks and delicious finger foods like kueh tutu,
tea eggs, steamed peanuts and dragon beard candy. Brave the
jostling crowds, savour the Satay (Malay kebabs) or taste
the most popular king of all fruits- Durians! Enjoy
exquisite Wayang -Chinese opera performances every
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:45 pm. to 8:30 pm. at
Gas Lamp Square. View the artists' dramatic makeup
techniques at the back of the stage an hour before the show.
The central Gazebo is the convergent point for all kinds of
live entertainment from pop to rock, blues to karaoke.
Come after sunset and the smell of grilled prawns and other
fruits-de-mer will lure you deeper into the heart of the
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Coleman Bridge, with its thick white pillars, was completed in
1886 and named after its Irish architect George Drumgold
Coleman, who also Aias designed St. Andrew's Cathedral and
Parliament Cirst House. This present structure that stands
before tect you is the fourth to be erected at the same site,
though the eight lamp posts have been there since its completion
in 1886 and have been re-erected through the years.
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Named after William Henry Read, an outstanding businessman
and legislator, Read Bridge was where street hawkers,
coolies and idle youths would gather nightly to hear
storytellers spin their tales.
Today Read Bridge links Clarke Quay to Merchant Court Hotel,
Riverside Point and Riverside Village where entertainment
of the twentieth century abounds. Further upriver, Ord
Bridge was constructed in 1886 and named after the -first
governor of the Straits Settlement to be appointed by the
Colonial Office in London, Sir Henry St George Ord. |
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Directly across f lies Riverside Point, one of the River's newer
attractions. Reminiscent of the old warehouses of yore, this
area used to be the seedier quarters of the secret societies,
opium dens and prostitutes. Today, if it's a haircut you need,
or authentic Asian cuisines you're itching to tryout, or if you
simply want to catch up on the latest movie, Riverside Point is
the place to go. Under the same roof, you will also find an
American-themed microbrewery-cum- restaurant where you can wash
your dinner down with a few mugs of freshly-brewed beer.
A linkway on the second floor of Riverside Point brings you to
Riverside Village, made up of several developments including
Merchant Square and Central Mall. Imagine that this was once the
infamous squatters' community where plagues of rodents and
cockroaches dwelled alongside.
Today, Riverside Village draws a different crowd. Labyrinths of
shopping complexes interconnected by passages show little of
their less-than-perfect-past.
Look out for the hip and homely new cooking school where you may
be able to catch internationally-acclaimed chefs in action.
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Tan Si Chong Su Temple & Omar
Kampong Melaka Mosque
The Tan Si Chong Su Temple was built in 1876 as the ancestral
temple and community centre of the Tan clan in Singapore.
Financed by two Fujian merchants Tan Kim Cheng and his son Tan
Beng Swee, this temple once housed a boys' school and had over
two hundred students in 1949. Today, it is considered a national
monument.
Look upwards and you'll see the blazing pearl at the centre of
the pitched roof amidst bols of ceramic flowers and dancing
dragons which symbolize celestial power and potency. At the
entrance, the ornamentally decorated facade and intricate
carvings of lotuses and phoenix symbolize endurance and
eminence.
As you enter into the courtyard, a pair of red and gold dragons
flank a pair of stone lions while the side entrances bear the
semblances of fearsome door gods who guard against evil spirits.
Just above the antique altar table hangs a signboard with four
Chinese characters which translated, means "Help the world and
the people" -an apt mantra for the philanthropic family of Tans.
Visit also the Omar Kampong Melaka Mosque, which is built on the
site of the first mosque in Singapore.
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Fort Canning -The earliest name was Forbidden Hill,
having been the place where ancient Malayan royalty took their
baths. It was the ceremonial and political centre of the ancient
14th century Temasek civilization. When Raffles came, he stayed
on Government Hill till 1859, before it finally became what we
now know as Fort Canning. Today, it is a public park and popular
venue of outdoor concerts and 'Ballet under the Stars'. Fort
Canning itself houses numerous theatre venues. Look out for the
"Battle Box" attraction which was the underground nerve centre
for the British Military Operations in Southeast Asia. Wander
also into the Spice Garden and the Keramat (sacred place) of
Iskandar Shah.
Chinatown -The resident address of the first immigrants
mostly from South China who landed in Singapore. Chinatown has a
palpable hub-bub of its own. Pick up our Chinatown "Yours to
Explore" Guide and re-live the legacy of Singapore's
forefathers.
Financial District -Where the skyline is ever changing,
and the business community ever growing, the Financial District
is chiefly Shenton Way and Robinson Road. A must go in the area
is the Lau Pa Sat, where you will find a smorgasboard of local
hawker fare.
Queen Elizabeth Walk -Breeze along Queen Elizabeth Walk
and catch a panoramic view of the stretch of river leading to
the marina at Clifford Pier. Anchored at the other end of Queen
Elizabeth Walk is The Esplanade -Theatres-on-the- Bay which is
to be developed into a central venue for plays, concerts and
musicals.
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