Kim Seng
Encyclopedia
Kim Seng Road is a street that forms the east boundary of the Bukit Merah
Area, is located within the Central Region
of Singapore
. It was named after Peranakan philanthropist Tan Kim Seng. Today, the boundaries of Kim Seng division are: Indus Road and Alexandra Canal in the north; Jalan Bukit Ho Swee
in the south; Kim Seng Road and Outram
Road in the east; and Lower Delta Road in the west.
It will be served by the future Thomson MRT Line
by 2018.
In 1857, Tan Kim Seng donated $13,000 to improve the town's water supply and the Commissioners erected a water fountain (now located at the Esplanade) in 1882, in appreciation of his contribution. A road and bridge also bear his name.
In the 1950s, Kim Seng and its neighbouring area, Bukit Ho Swee
were a notorious crime-filled slum area with thousands of dilapidated huts. Squalid conditions affected the health and morale of residents. Two big fires in 1961 and 1968 made 9,000 people homeless and changed all that. The burnt-out, rundown shacks were replaced by modern flats and people were rehoused in what became Bukit Ho Swee and Kim Seng Housing Estates. The newly established Housing and Development Board ensured that the estate was self-sufficient, incorporating schools, business and social amenities in its design.
The boundaries of Kim Seng Constituency have shifted over the years, due to population and re-zoning changes. The Kim Seng area was made a constituency only in 1972. Prior to this, the area was part of the Delta constituency. In 1991, Kim Seng was incorporated into the Kampong Glam Group Representation Constituency, together with the former single wards of Kampong Glam
, Cairnhill and Moulmein. The constituency is now looked after by the City Centre Town Council, located in Ganges Avenue, next to Kim Seng Community Centre. In the 1990s, the housing developments have been improved through the HDB's Main Upgrading Programme.
The landmarks here include Great World City
Complex where once stood the Great World Amusement Park entertainment and recreation centre. The later had 2 movie theatres: the Sky and Globe built in the 1960s. Famous landmarks in Kim Seng Road from the 1930s to early 1970s include the Times House, built in the early 1960s. It was demolished in April 2004 and the site was sold to Wheelock Properties previously known as Marco Polo Development, for S$118.8 million. The site is now occupied by a 36-storey high condominium, The Cosmopolitan.
In the 1990s, new developments include Tiara Condominium Apartments, Mirage Tower Apartments and King's Centre at the corner of Havelock Road; and 2 new roads named Kim Seng Walk and Kim Seng Promenade.
The street gained Tan Kim Seng's name when he contributed financially to the building of the thoroughfare. He was known as the founder of the firm of Kim Seng & Co. and was a well-known public benefactor and businessman. The Kim Seng Constituency takes its name after the person.
In Hokkien Hong Hin kio and its Cantonese variant Fung heng lo. which means "Hong Hin Bridge" where Hong Hin refers to the seal of philanthropist Tan Kim Seng.
, it is not uncommon to see tourists strolling along the pavements of the Kim Seng Road. As it is of close proximity to the chillout bars at colonial houses located in Tiong Bahru and the Great World City
, visitors can also experience a taste of Singapore's heritage at those century old temples.
Bars and clubs like Zouk
is located nearby too and youngsters will flock to this area at night, giving a vibrant youthful look to this old estate.
Bukit Merah
Bukit Merah is a hill in Singapore. Previously, it was a much larger hill that was situated at the present site of Henderson housing estate, which lies opposite the Delta Sports Complex. There was a Chinese cemetery on the reverse side of the hill. The present Bukit Merah Secondary School and...
Area, is located within the Central Region
Central Region, Singapore
The Central Region of Singapore is one of the five regions in the city-state. Comprising 13,150 hectares of land area, it includes 11 Planning Areas within the Central Area which is the immediate vicinity of the Singapore's central business district, as well as another 11 more outside it.Although...
of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. It was named after Peranakan philanthropist Tan Kim Seng. Today, the boundaries of Kim Seng division are: Indus Road and Alexandra Canal in the north; Jalan Bukit Ho Swee
Bukit Ho Swee
Bukit Ho Swee is a place in Singapore which is located near Jalan Bukit Ho Swee, near Taman Ho Swee. Built over with wood frame huts with thatched roofs, it was an unplanned self-built township of about 20,000; although, like favelas everywhere, no census was ever taken...
in the south; Kim Seng Road and Outram
Outram
Outram may refer to:Places:*Outram, Nova Scotia, an unincorporated district in Canada*Outram, New Zealand, a small town in Otago*Outram, Singapore, a district in central Singapore*Outram Island, one of the Andaman IslandsPeople:...
Road in the east; and Lower Delta Road in the west.
It will be served by the future Thomson MRT Line
Thomson MRT Line
The Thomson Line will be the sixth Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore and is currently under planning and evaluation. It will be a fully automatic and driverless system, similar to its three predecessors, and will be completely underground. Announcement of station locations is expected in...
by 2018.
History & Etymology
The Kim Seng Bridge on Kim Seng Road, the most westerly of the 9 bridges crossing the Singapore River, carries Kim Seng Road from River Valley Road to Havelock Road. It also marks the supposed source of the Singapore River, and its upper reaches flows as the Alexandra Canal.In 1857, Tan Kim Seng donated $13,000 to improve the town's water supply and the Commissioners erected a water fountain (now located at the Esplanade) in 1882, in appreciation of his contribution. A road and bridge also bear his name.
In the 1950s, Kim Seng and its neighbouring area, Bukit Ho Swee
Bukit Ho Swee
Bukit Ho Swee is a place in Singapore which is located near Jalan Bukit Ho Swee, near Taman Ho Swee. Built over with wood frame huts with thatched roofs, it was an unplanned self-built township of about 20,000; although, like favelas everywhere, no census was ever taken...
were a notorious crime-filled slum area with thousands of dilapidated huts. Squalid conditions affected the health and morale of residents. Two big fires in 1961 and 1968 made 9,000 people homeless and changed all that. The burnt-out, rundown shacks were replaced by modern flats and people were rehoused in what became Bukit Ho Swee and Kim Seng Housing Estates. The newly established Housing and Development Board ensured that the estate was self-sufficient, incorporating schools, business and social amenities in its design.
The boundaries of Kim Seng Constituency have shifted over the years, due to population and re-zoning changes. The Kim Seng area was made a constituency only in 1972. Prior to this, the area was part of the Delta constituency. In 1991, Kim Seng was incorporated into the Kampong Glam Group Representation Constituency, together with the former single wards of Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is a neighbourhood in Singapore. It is located north of the Singapore River, in the urban planning areas of Kallang and Rochor.-History:...
, Cairnhill and Moulmein. The constituency is now looked after by the City Centre Town Council, located in Ganges Avenue, next to Kim Seng Community Centre. In the 1990s, the housing developments have been improved through the HDB's Main Upgrading Programme.
The landmarks here include Great World City
Great World City
Great World City is a 6-storey shopping mall, 18-storey office building and 35-storey serviced apartment building complex on Singapore River in Central Area of Singapore. It is located between Kim Seng and Zion Roads, near River Valley Road and Kim Seng Promenade...
Complex where once stood the Great World Amusement Park entertainment and recreation centre. The later had 2 movie theatres: the Sky and Globe built in the 1960s. Famous landmarks in Kim Seng Road from the 1930s to early 1970s include the Times House, built in the early 1960s. It was demolished in April 2004 and the site was sold to Wheelock Properties previously known as Marco Polo Development, for S$118.8 million. The site is now occupied by a 36-storey high condominium, The Cosmopolitan.
In the 1990s, new developments include Tiara Condominium Apartments, Mirage Tower Apartments and King's Centre at the corner of Havelock Road; and 2 new roads named Kim Seng Walk and Kim Seng Promenade.
The street gained Tan Kim Seng's name when he contributed financially to the building of the thoroughfare. He was known as the founder of the firm of Kim Seng & Co. and was a well-known public benefactor and businessman. The Kim Seng Constituency takes its name after the person.
In Hokkien Hong Hin kio and its Cantonese variant Fung heng lo. which means "Hong Hin Bridge" where Hong Hin refers to the seal of philanthropist Tan Kim Seng.
Landmarks
Famous landmarks in this constituency today include the Giok Hiong Tian Temple (1887), which is one of the most architecturally decorative and ornate temples in Singapore, and Fuk Tak Tong Temple (1921), both on Havelock Road; the Chwee Hean Keng Temple (1927) on Zion Road; and Great World City, Former Kim Seng Plaza, Times House in Kim Seng Road.Sights & Attractions
Located next to the Singapore RiverSingapore River
The Singapore River is a river in Singapore with great historical importance. The Singapore River flows from the Central Area, which lies in the Central Region in the southern part of Singapore before emptying into the ocean...
, it is not uncommon to see tourists strolling along the pavements of the Kim Seng Road. As it is of close proximity to the chillout bars at colonial houses located in Tiong Bahru and the Great World City
Great World City
Great World City is a 6-storey shopping mall, 18-storey office building and 35-storey serviced apartment building complex on Singapore River in Central Area of Singapore. It is located between Kim Seng and Zion Roads, near River Valley Road and Kim Seng Promenade...
, visitors can also experience a taste of Singapore's heritage at those century old temples.
Bars and clubs like Zouk
Zouk
Zouk is a style of rhythmic music originating from the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe & Martinique. Zouk means "party" or "festival" in the local Antillean Creole of French, although the word originally referred to, and is still used to refer to, a popular dance, based on the Polish dance, the...
is located nearby too and youngsters will flock to this area at night, giving a vibrant youthful look to this old estate.
Bus routes
These buses ply along Kim Seng Road:| Service | Between | And | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBS Transit Trunk Services | |||
| 5 | Pasir Ris Bus Interchange Pasir Ris Bus Interchange Pasir Ris Bus Interchange is a bus station located at Pasir Ris in the eastern part of Singapore. it is adjacent to Pasir Ris MRT Station... |
Bukit Merah Bus Interchange Bukit Merah Bus Interchange The Bukit Merah Bus Interchange serves the and the interchange is located at Jalan Bukit Merah.-Routes:Bus Routes in Singapore-Berths:... |
|
| 16 | Bedok Bus Interchange Bedok Bus Interchange Bedok Bus Interchange is a bus station serving Bedok New Town in Singapore. The bus interchange was completed in the 1980s, and is centrally located, just north of the Bedok MRT Station. The interchange, with the allocated block number of 207A, is located near a food center and a community... |
Bukit Merah Bus Interchange Bukit Merah Bus Interchange The Bukit Merah Bus Interchange serves the and the interchange is located at Jalan Bukit Merah.-Routes:Bus Routes in Singapore-Berths:... |
|
| 175 | Clementi Bus Interchange Clementi Bus Interchange The Clementi Bus Interchange is an air-conditioned bus interchange in Clementi New Town, on the opposite of the Clementi MRT Station. It is located at the junction of Clementi Avenue 3 and Commonwealth Avenue West, situated within the Clementi Mall and integrated with the nearby Clementi MRT Station... |
Geylang Lorong 1 Bus Terminal | |
| 195 | Marina Centre Bus Terminal Marina Centre Bus Terminal Marina Centre Bus Terminal is a bus station located along Raffles Boulevard in Marina Centre, Singapore. It is very near to Promenade MRT Station. The bus terminal does not allow boarding or alighting, and passengers have to alight before the bus terminates at the terminal... |
Commonwealth Drive (loop) | |
| SMRT Buses Trunk Services | |||
| 75 | Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange The Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange is a bus interchange serving Bukit Panjang New Town, Singapore. It is opposite Bukit Panjang Plaza. The nearest station is the Bukit Panjang LRT Station.... |
Marina Centre Bus Terminal Marina Centre Bus Terminal Marina Centre Bus Terminal is a bus station located along Raffles Boulevard in Marina Centre, Singapore. It is very near to Promenade MRT Station. The bus terminal does not allow boarding or alighting, and passengers have to alight before the bus terminates at the terminal... |
|
| 970 | Shenton Way Bus Terminal Shenton Way Bus Terminal Shenton Way Bus Terminal is a bus station located in southern Singapore. It was opened on 20 June 1987. It is very near to Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. Commuters have to disembark/board buses at two bus stops along Palmer Road due to restriction of alighting and aboarding of buses within the... |
Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange The Bukit Panjang Bus Interchange is a bus interchange serving Bukit Panjang New Town, Singapore. It is opposite Bukit Panjang Plaza. The nearest station is the Bukit Panjang LRT Station.... |
|
| SMRT Buses NightRider Services | |||
| NR5 | Marina Centre Bus Terminal Marina Centre Bus Terminal Marina Centre Bus Terminal is a bus station located along Raffles Boulevard in Marina Centre, Singapore. It is very near to Promenade MRT Station. The bus terminal does not allow boarding or alighting, and passengers have to alight before the bus terminates at the terminal... |
Jurong West Street 75 (Loop) | |