Sandwiched between two national monuments, the Thian Hock Keng temple and Nagore Durgha Shrine, Telok Ayer Green sits hidden from the usually busy main streets. Telok Ayer used to be the landing site for immigrants in Singapore and the park is also designed after the original shoreline. You'll find some sculptures in the park which pay tribute to its history like a sampan used to carry goods, a Chinese lantern procession and an Indian milk trader.
Similar to Ann Siang Hill and Club Street, Telok Ayer has transformed itself into a buzzing lifestyle district, teeming with hip cafés, restaurants and bars to feed the CBD office crowd. But before it became one of the coolest 'hoods in Singapore, it was the coastal road situated along the island's old waterfront (before land reclamation), which explains its name which translates to 'bay' and 'water' in Malay, respectively. The area was mainly populated by Chinese immigrants back in the day.
Today, it's a lively rendezvous for people from all corners of Singapore, as well as tourists. Pay a visit to one of the museums around the area or pop into the lean shophouses that dot the strip, where boutiques, fitness studios, and even speakeasies are tucked away.
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