Architectural, Cultural sights in Singapore City
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A
Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
This national monument, built in the 1880s, was the headquarters of Dr Sun Yat Sen’s Chinese Revolutionary Alliance in Southeast Asia, which led to the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and the creation of the first Chinese republic. Dr Sun Yat Sen briefly stayed in the house, which was donated to the Alliance by a wealthy Chinese businessman, while touring Asia to whip up support for the cause. It’s a fine example of a colonial Victorian villa and houses a museum with items pertaining to Dr Sun’s life and work. A magnificent 60m-long bronze relief depicting the defining moments in Singapore’s history runs the length of one wall in the garden. Bus 145 from the Toa Payoh bus i…
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B
Istana
Constructed between 1867 and 1869 by Indian convicts transported from Bencoolen on Sumatra, the Istana is where Singapore’s President SR Nathan hangs out. The neo-Palladian structure, set 750m back from Orchard Rd in beautifully maintained grounds, was originally Government House, built at great expense to impress the visiting Duke of Edinburgh. It’s only open to the public on selected holidays (eg New Year’s) – bring your passport to get past the gun-toting guards. Call, or check the website, for details.
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C
Emerald Hill Road
Take time to wander through the pedestrianised Peranakan Place to Emerald Hill Road, where some original Peranakan terrace houses stand in various states of glamorous decay. The quiet atmosphere around here feels a million miles from shop-til-you-drop Orchard Rd. Check out No 45, built in 1903 with an unusually wide frontage and grand Chinese-style entrance gate, and the Art Deco-style Nos 121-129 dating from 1925. Grab a beer afterwards at No 5.
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D
Haw Par Villa
There’s no accounting for taste, really. Millionaire philanthropist and co-inventor of the Tiger Balm, Aw Boon Haw, certainly didn’t hold back when he built the Haw Par Villa, an unbelievably weird (some say tacky) and undoubtedly kitsch theme park.
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E
Katong Antique House
Owner Peter Wee will show you his large collection of Peranakan antiques including beautifully beaded slippers, wedding costumes and traditional ceramics and furniture.
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