Private Tour - Early Housing of Singapore - Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru, one of Singapore's most iconic neighborhoods, holds significant historical value as one of the largest public housing projects undertaken by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT). Established by the colonial government to address severe overcrowding in the city.

The pre-war architecture, employing a modified form of the "Streamline Moderne" architecture style, features designed to resemble cars, train, ocean liners and aeroplanes with sweeping, streamlined and aerodynamic lines.

Qi Tian Gong, also known as Tiong Bahru Monkey God Temple was founded in 1920 in a small attap hut before it was moved to its current location in 1938.

The temple today housed more than 10 statues of the Monkey God, the oldest of which is almost a century old.

For many years, the junction in Tiong Bahru became a well-known landmark due to the presence of a prominent bird corner beside a coffeeshop called Wah Heng. The idea for the bird corner originated when the owner of Wah Heng noticed that a pet shop across the road was attracting large crowds by displaying bird cages outside, drawing visitors who wanted to see and hear the birds.

In the early 1980s, inspired by this, the owner of Wah Heng installed a metal structure outside his coffeeshop to allow bird owners to hang their bird cages while they sipped coffee and chatted. The corner became very popular among bird owners and became a distinctive feature in Tiong Bahru.

Graves of Tan Tock Seng, Chua Seah Neo & Wuing Neo (Will point out from opposite side of the road)

Tan Tock Seng, one of Singapore's early pioneers and a philanthropist, passed away in 1850. His son, Tan Kim Ching, acquired land in 1877 as a family burial plot, where several members of the family were laid to rest. Kim Ching's wife, Chua Seah Neo, was buried there upon her passing in 1882. It is believed that Tan Tock Seng's remains were exhumed and re-interred in this spot around the same time. Additionally, Tan Tock Seng's granddaughter-in-law, Wuing Neo, was also buried in this family plot.

The first wet market in Tiong Bahru, established in 1945, was a makeshift setup housed in two converted shophouses along Tiong Poh Road. This early market quickly became a bustling hub for vendors selling fresh produce and itinerant hawkers offering a variety of goods.

A proper facility, named Seng Poh Market was finally completed and opened on 21 January 1951. Over the last 50 years, the market remained largely unchanged, yet it grew in popularity, becoming a beloved eating spot for people from all over Singapore.

Seng Poh Market shut down in 2004 for a complete overhaul. When the market reopened after renovations, it was renamed Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre. The upgraded facility featured modern amenities while preserving the market's legacy as a popular food destination.

**Note : If tours fall on a Monday, there will be no wet market visit, and only the food centre tour will be conducted, as wet markets are closed on Mondays.