Heritage of Tiong Bahru

Tucked away from the bustle of downtown, you will stumble across Tiong Bahru a charming neighborhood filled with chic Art Deco housing estates and swirling staircases modeled in the Bauhaus architectural aesthetic. Tiong Bahru is an eclectic mix of new and old, with recently opened coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques built alongside old family businesses that date back three generations. The neighborhood is a rich tapestry of people, stories, buildings, and history that guarantee a delightful and fun tour for everyone.

During this heritage tour, we will discover the meaning behind the name Tiong Bahru, the reasons why was it was once known as the “the neighborhood of beautiful women,” and learn why Block 78 has three addresses?

We will meet local residents of the neighborhood, including a cobbler who conducts business from her street-level apartment window, as well as taste Mrs. Cheng’s award-winning Gula Melaka Chiffon Cake.
We will see the unique pre- and post-war architecture designed by SIT (Singapore Improvement Trust), hear stories about prominent people, of whom the neighborhood streets are named after, and stroll along the narrow streets where we can see murals by Singaporean artist Yip Yew Chong.

We will also see the location of the air raid shelter built before the war, the world famous abandoned songbirds corner, the local wet market, the Monkey God Temple built in 1938.

Your guide, Sarah Lev, is a resident of Tiong Bahru and is proud to introduce visitors to her neighborhood’s unique heritage.

Free for children under 6 years old with each accompanying adult.