South East Asian Trips

The Singapore River was the lifeline of Singapore where our first immigrants eked out a meagre living and saw Singapore transform from an obscure little fishing village to a great seaport.

The history of the Singapore River can be divided into three distinct periods: pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial. Colourful tales permeate the pre-colonial history of Singapore River. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) undertook the planning of the Singapore River. New developments have become a palimpsest over old histories. When Singapore was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles, the river was home to the many merchants, businessmen and coolies, who were the forefathers of Singapore.

This is the very origin of Singapore's prosperity, with the Merlion (the city's tourism icon) steadfastly standing guard at the mouth of the river. Quaint bridges span the river, ranging from the elegant Anderson Bridge to the simple Ord Bridge. Heading upriver, you will see the historic Anderson and Cavenagh Bridges. Cavenagh Bridge, built in 1869 and now for pedestrians only, leads to Empress Place, which was named in honour of Queen Victoria. At Empress Place, you will find the elegant Victoria Concert Hall, where classical concerts by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra are held regularly.

Highlights on the banks of the Singapore River include Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, landmarks and memorials such as Merlion Park and Parliament House, museums such as the Asian Civilisations Museum as well as temples and mosques such as the Tan Si Chong Su Temple and Omar Kampong Melaka Mosque.

Marvel at these sights as you stroll along the banks of the river. Alternatively, hop onto a glass-top boat or bumboat and enjoy a leisure cruise on the river. Choose from a range of riverboat services available - loop hop-on and hop-off, river express, river taxi and leisure sightseeing tours. You can get on the boats at Clifford Pier, Raffles Place, Raffles' Landing Site, Boat Quay and Clarke Quay.

Dinning or an evening cocktail on Boat Quay is astounding and most likely the most photographed scene in Singapore. Or enjoy a sumptuous meal at the tranquil atmosphere of Robertson Quay which is located a little further down.

Guide to enjoy Singapore river:
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.

Singapore River Cruises & Leisure

Tel: (65) 6336 6111 Fax: (65) 6336 6112

Website: http://www.rivercruise.com.sg/

Singapore Explorer

Tel: (65) 6339 6833 Fax: (65) 6336 1830

Website: http://www.singaporeexplorer.com.sg/

A walking tour guide of the Singapore River is available at various Singapore Visitors Centres.

Boat Quay

The trailblazer of the Singapore entertainment scene, Boat Quay is arguably Singapore's best place to 'chill out'. With a good mix of high end restaurants and alfresco dining and lively bars and pubs, Boat Quay is the hangout for most professionals and expatriates.

Imagine that only a century ago, sun-tanned coolies and swaylos (water-hands) balanced heavy gunny-sacks of rice on 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 opened the floodgates of immigrants from neighbouring countries. Within six months, Boat Quay had become a hothouse for trading, and by the 1860's, three-quarters of all shipping business was 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.

How to Reach: Head towards the Singapore River from Raffles Place MRT (EW14/NS26).

Clarke Quay

Another popular riverside landmark in Singapore. Featuring five blocks of restored warehouses, it is home to hip entertainment, dining outlets and shops of all kinds, including second-hand and antique shops. The Satay Club with its variety of satay and barbecued seafood should not be missed. In the evening, theme pubs and bars come alive with classic rock, hard rock, the blues and music from the 60s. There are even moored Chinese junks (tongkangs) refurbished into floating pubs and restaurants.

Named after Sir Andrew 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.

Visitors can also look forward to some exciting events and activities held on a regular basis. There's also the Sunday Flea Market for great bargains (10am to 6pm) with over 70 stalls selling antiques and collectibles, handicrafts and more.

Robertson Quay

Another area of interest is Robertson Quay. This undiscovered gem of the Singapore River will provide you with an interesting array of evening entertainment. After the bright lights and loud music of Boat Quay, Robertson Quay is more laid-back, with an eclectic mix of international restaurants with alfresco dining, wine bars, arts houses, hotel cafes and high class condominiums.

In the past, the merchants built offices, warehouses and jetties at Robertson Quay, to facilitate the loading and unloading of goods. Children would often stand and wave from the old Kampung houses along the banks. Many a times, they would take off their clothes and jump in for a cool afternoon swim.

Today, Robertson Quay houses a string of hotels hugging the river as if nurtured by its flow. As competition is keen, each hotel offers different rates and packages and incentives for visitors. In addition, each has their own speciality. In particular are their big international buffets spreads of appetisers, entrees and tropical desserts! Against the background of the old godowns of old Singapore, you now see night-spots bustling with the island's hip crowd. In the past, the waterside invited languid afternoons of idle talk. Today, promenades host idle talk over Cafe Latte or Capuccino... as afternoons turn into evenings of enchantment.