Bukit Timah Heritage Trail

Home , Bukit Batok, Bukit Timah Hill, Bukit Timah Road, Former Ford Factory

SUGGESTED SHORT TRAIL ROUTES Located at the heart of the island, Bukit Timah was at the centre of many momentous events in Singapore’s history over the centuries. Covering different segments along Bukit Timah Road, the three thematic trails below explore the buildings, structures, religious institutions, communal spaces and sites of natural heritage that make up the area’s rich and varied history.

Leisure and Learning Trail (2 hours; on foot) WWII Legacy Trail (1.5 hours; bus and walk) Kampong Life Trail (1 hour; bus and walk) Bukit Timah consists of a number of social and leisure landmarks that During World War II (WWII), Bukit Timah was a key target for the Buildings and institutions that were once part of Bukit Timah’s Japanese as the British supply depots, reservoirs and the strategic kampong past can still be found in the area today. This trail features a are well-loved by its residents and Singaporeans. This trail covers Bukit Timah Hill were all located in the area. This trail explores some of these landmarks including popular eating destinations, former railway station as well as houses of faith that were once central WWII-related sites as well as places that carry the memories and to the religious and social lives of kampong residents and now serve Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as vital centres legacies of the Japanese Occupation.

of research and education. the same function for their respective congregations.

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Start your journey at the Bukit Timah across the road. The former Beauty From King Albert Park MRT station (exit The last stop on this short trail is Hoon H A M I T TIMAH T I K U B BUKIT BUKIT TIMAH BUKIT Begin your journey at the Botanic The buildings within the campus reflect Nature Reserve which is accessible via World was a market and entertainment A), walk west down Bukit Timah Road San Temple, which is just a street away Gardens MRT station (exit A) and walk a panoply of architectural styles including Hindhede Drive. The reserve, hub that was established during the towards the railway truss bridge. There from Masjid Al-Huda. Built in 1902 by a short distance down Bukit Timah Neo-Classical and International Modern, established by the British in the 1880s, Japanese Occupation as the Tai Tong is a path near the bridge that leads immigrants from Jiazhou village in Road to Cluny Court which comprises a and have been gazetted collectively as a contains the largest tract of primary Ah Sai Kai (“Greater East Asia World” towards the former Bukit Timah Fujian, China, the temple enshrines the row of shophouses that houses cafes National Monument. rainforest in Singapore, and also in Cantonese) amusement park. The Railway Station. Constructed in the deity Lim Tai See, whose name is and other businesses. Built in 1928, harbours a diverse range of plant and Japanese authorities allowed and 1930s, the station was part of a former reflected in the road Jalan Lim Tai See. these shophouses are conserved by the animal species. Within the reserve is encouraged gambling activities at the railway line connecting Singapore and Hoon San Temple features interlocking Urban Redevelopment Authority and the 163-metre-tall Bukit Timah Hill, park as a means to combat currency the Malay Peninsula. This single-storey wooden beams which were constructed The Bukit Timah Heritage Trail is part of the National Heritage Board’s feature ornate decorative elements, which made Bukit Timah a key target for inflation and divert resistance to their station was built in a style reminiscent in the Hokkien style, as well as intricate ongoing efforts to document and present the history and social memories of including fluted columns, bas-relief and the Japanese during WWII as the hill rule. After the war, Tai Tong Ah was of traditional European country frescos and murals themed on filial places in Singapore. We hope this trail will bring back fond memories for patterned tiles which are distinctive of provided a tactical vantage point for the renamed Beauty World and became a cottages and comprised an open piety and traditional Chinese culture. those who have worked, lived or played in the area, and serve as a useful shophouses from 1900 to 1940. invading forces. Despite Allied attempts market for Bukit Timah residents, platform with six structural bays, a Until the 1980s, performances were to defend the hill, it was captured by the source of information for visitors and new residents. housing over 160 market stalls, a stationmaster’s office, waiting areas held regularly on a permanent wayang Next, cross Bukit Timah Road to reach Japanese on 11 February 1942. A cinema and a Chinese temple. After and a signals office. The railway line ran (“street theatre” in Malay) stage near heritage marker near the Visitors’ being ravaged by fire on five separate alongside and sometimes bisected a the temple and drew crowds of Supported by Adam Food Centre which opened in 1974. The centre started as a gathering Centre provides more details of some of occasions, Beauty World finally closed number of settlements, including spectators from nearby villages. of open-air food stalls before the the battles fought in this area. in 1983. Kampong Quarry and Fuyong Estate. hawkers were relocated to its The former Raffles College grounds For children playing by the train tracks From the reserve, take a bus down Upper present-day location to make way for adjoin the Singapore Botanic Gardens or residents used to the sounds of the Bukit Timah Road to the former Ford the construction of a flyover. Here you which is the last stop on this trail. trains, the railway was part and parcel Factory. The factory had been the Ford may wish to sample the delicious nasi Established in 1859, the Gardens is of everyday life. Motor Company’s first automobile lemak (“coconut milk rice” in Malay), Singapore’s first UNESCO World assembly plant in Southeast Asia, before sup tulang (“bone marrow soup” in Heritage Site. Through the years, the Make your way back towards Bukit becoming Japanese Lieutenant-General Malay) and Indian rojak dishes (a dish Gardens played significant roles in Timah Road, where you can catch a bus Yamashita Tomoyuki’s temporary consisting of deep fried fritters and botanical science and conservation, and or the MRT to Sixth Avenue. Walk down other ingredients) which this food headquarters during the invasion of Sixth Avenue towards Jalan Haji Alias, served as the springboard for economic Singapore. It was here that the British centre is well-known for. and environmental change across the and head towards Masjid Al-Huda. Built surrender to the Japanese in 1942 took You have now come to the end of the in 1925, the mosque was central to the region. Within the Gardens, you can place, marking the start of the Japanese explore the large diversity of trees and trail! If you are hungry, you may wish to community life of Muslim villagers in Optional: If you would like to explore Occupation. In 2017, a permanent make your way to Cheong Chin Nam the area, which was previously dotted the kampong past of Bukit Timah plants in the Rain Forest, or take a stroll exhibition titled Surviving the Japanese Road, which houses a string of eateries. with kampongs until the 1980s. These further, head down Upper Bukit Timah around the serene Swan Lake, Occupation: War and its Legacies was This road and a number of connecting kampongs included Kampong Road via bus or follow the Rail Corridor constructed in 1866. You can also visit launched and it showcases the events roads are named after Cheong Chun Tin Coronation (or Kampong Tempe) and on foot to Fuyong Estate. Built in the the many conserved buildings within and memories surrounding the war and and his family members. Cheong was Kampong Holland. In the mosque, you 1950s, this estate was developed by the Gardens, including the 1868 Burkill the Japanese Occupation. Hall. This two-storey bungalow is the the first certified dentist of Chinese can find a heritage gallery that philanthropist Lee Kong Chian to only example of an Anglo-Malay descent in Singapore and had set up his showcases the heritage of the mosque. provide affordable modern housing plantation-style house left in the world. dentist practice at South Bridge Road in during Singapore’s housing shortage. It 1869. The Cheong family later went on was located next to the former to establish the Pearlie White Kampong Chamar which is known for toothpaste brand. being the childhood home of From Adam Food Centre, walk down singer-songwriter Ramli Sarip, father of Dunearn Road towards the junction the Malay rock movement. Here, you intersecting Kheam Hock Road. Cross can also explore another railway truss Dunearn and Bukit Timah roads, and bridge spanning Upper Bukit Timah you will reach the Bukit Timah Road, or grab some refreshments at the campus of the National University of Take a bus back down Upper Bukit nearby Rail Mall. Singapore. These were the grounds of Timah Road to Beauty World Centre. the former Raffles College which was This shopping mall was completed in *The area around the former Bukit Timah established in 1928 as Singapore’s 1984 to house hawkers and stallholders Railway Station will be closed for the second institution of higher learning. from the former Beauty World, located installation of water pipes until end 2018.

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Leisure and Learning Trail WWII Legacy Trail Kampong Life Trail Rail Corridor

CHEONG CHIN NAM ROAD, CHUN TIN ROAD, YUK TONG AVENUE & THAM SOONG AVENUE FORMER BEAUTY WORLD

FORMER BUKIT TIMAH RAILWAY STATION

ADAM FOOD CENTRE

CLUNY COURT SHOPHOUSES SINGAPORE MASJID AL-HUDA BOTANIC GARDENS

FORMER RAFFLES COLLEGE HOON SAN TEMPLE

HERITAGE SITES IN THE SUGGESTED SHORT TRAIL ROUTES

All information contained in this trail map is provided in good faith, and every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date at time of print. Accordingly, NHB makes no warranty or representation relating to the trail map and all information contained therein, and users relying on any of the information contained in the trail map shall do so at their own risk and diligence. BUKIT TIMAH CHEONG CHIN NAM ROAD, FORMER BEAUTY WORLD FORMER FORD FACTORY FORMER BUKIT TIMAH HOON SAN TEMPLE MASJID AL-HUDA ADAM FOOD CENTRE CLUNY COURT FORMER RAFFLES COLLEGE SINGAPORE NATURE RESERVE CHUN TIN ROAD, YUK TONG AVENUE RAILWAY STATION SHOPHOUSES BOTANIC GARDENS ©2018 National Heritage Board. All rights reserved. & THAM SOONG AVENUE