Singapore Sights

Singapore - one of the most unusual cities in Asia. The largest shopping center in the region and one of the main ports of Asia, he since its inception has attracted the attention of millions of visitors from all over the world. Old colonial districts and ultra modern skyscrapers, temples and green parks, lively shopping streets and one of the largest sea ports in the world - all these are concentrated in a relatively small area, forming a unique aura of the city-state. Major tourist attractions in Singapore relatively evenly distributed in three main areas - CBD (Central Business District) or Raffles-Kwai, the island of Sentosa and Jurong.

Colonial Center
The central part of Singapore's established business districts south of the river and the administrative center of the city, its old colonial part, located slightly to the north. They say that preserved the spirit of the city's founder - Sir Stamford Raffles, planned and built this part of Singapore is almost entirely. The local attractions include the imposing building Impress Place Building (1865) Victorian style (now there is a museum, art galleries and chic restaurant), Concert Hall and the Victoria Theater, the Parliament building (XIX century.), The Supreme Court, Municipality and cricket club, a complex of Padang, the proverbial luxury finishes his hotel Raffles Hotel, the Anglican Cathedral of St. Andrew's Catholic Cathedral and the Good Shepherd, the Armenian Church of St. Gregor, St. (the oldest church in Singapore) and the cemetery on the hill fort -Canning Hill. It is worth to see one of the most beautiful buildings of the colonial era - the Institute of St. Joseph, the Singapore Art Museum at Bras Bassa Road, the National Museum at Stamford Road, the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, beautiful buildings Syuprim's Court and City Hall, and numerous skyscrapers such as the Singapore Land Tower, or the Art Deco-Kalteks House, Bridges, Benjamin Schwartz, Elgin Bridge and North Bridge, the Merlion Park, market heifers, Iyer (Lau Pa), and picturesque, boat areas "Clark-Qui and Boat Qui-transformed into fashionable entertainment and shopping centers, as well as the famous street of skyscrapers Orched Road c its palaces and Peranakan Istana or Chettiar, Hindu temple.

Orched Road - an area of concentration of first-class hotels, shopping centers, nightclubs, restaurants, bars and concert halls, a real showcase for the demonstration of wealth and success of the local elite. At the western end of Orched Road is Singapore's Botanical Gardens, founded in 1859, the oldest parks in the country save the last pristine areas of moist forest, once occupied the whole island. Fine rosary, numerous examples of landscape art, fern conservatory, Palm Valley and the small but very picturesque lake. One of the gems of the Botanical Garden is a National Park Orchid "Mandala", which contains in its territory for more than 60 thousand of these beautiful plants (local craftsmen, even made from precious orchids, covering a thin layer of gold with fresh flowers).

Ethnic Quarters
Chinatown, which lies west of the CBD, is the cultural heart of Singapore and is still proud of the old Chinese architecture, numerous temples, decorated terraces and a huge accumulation of markets and shops. Unfortunately, much of Chinatown was almost destroyed in the middle of XX century and extensively restored. Here are interesting old shops quarter-Tanjong Pagar, the temple of Tian-Kang (Tian-Hawk-Kyung, 1840, one of the most interesting Chinese temples in Singapore), temples Wak Hai Cheng Biot, uplands, Durga Shrine, Kong - Myung-Sun, Siong-Lim and others, as well as one of the most beautiful mosques of the city - Al-Abrar and the oldest Hindu temple town - Sri Mariamman (1827).

"Arab street", Kampong Glam - Muslim center of Singapore, which lies northeast of the colonial city center. This is a bustling shopping district and the traditional "Textile District", famous for its batik, silk, carpets, manufacture of sarong and other light clothing. Here are the main city mosque - Masjid Sultan (1925) with a golden dome and the old market Sulfur, palace, Istana Kampong Glam, (now works here Malay Museum), a tiny mosque Jamaat, colorful "Indian mosque, unusual mosque Haji - Fatima with falling minaret, Golden Mile Complex and the "Thai Village".

District "Little India" lies to the north of the colonial center. This is a fairly modest but colorful area of shops, spicy aromas, bright saris, bustling markets, great restaurants and Hindi language - now relieved pretentious modern business districts of the city. Major area attractions - Zhudziao Center (Center Tekke, chief market ") and various spices, colorful shops nearby, the arcade in Little India, fifteen sitting Buddha, Viramakaliamman temple, the temple of Sri Srinivasa Perumal and charming," Temple of 1000 lights on Flight -Course Road.

Parks in Singapore
In the city a lot of parks that are here do not only the role of green spaces, but also contain within their territory many cultural and recreational or sports facilities. The most interesting heifers-Blanga Hill Park Tiong Bahru Park, Pearls Hill City Park, mornings Park and Mount Faber Park in the southern part of the city, Crawford Park in the north, East Coast Park and Marina City Park to the east, as well as small parks in the historic part of town - Espleneyd Park, War Memorial Park, Fort Canning Park, the famous Japanese and Chinese gardens, cultural and historical park "City of the Tang Dynasty" (reconstruction of ancient Chinese capital Chaani) and others.

Singapore Zoo - a fairly well-known part of the tourist image of the city. A characteristic feature is the complete absence of any lattice and fences around the habitats of animals, and there are more than 2000 species. Planned with great skill, the zoo simply isolates the viewer from the animal's natural barriers, it is not striking and provide its inhabitants free existence. Also here is organized by the night safari, passing on the most interesting nooks and crannies of the park and the surrounding forest.

Jurong
Jurong District, which lies south-west of the city center, actually more like an independent city. The ultra modern port, a huge industrial center and one of the largest refining complex world, it is the real engine of the Singapore economy, while remaining surprisingly clean area, where its enormous industrial potential recall just non-stop roar of the port here and there visible smokestacks. So here it is in freedom to publish such well-known sights such as Villa Au-Pere with the Chinese fleet, the largest in South-East Asia Bird Park with the huge variety of birds (more than 600 species, up to the penguins), reptile park (about 2,5 thousand various reptiles), as well as the center of research and scientific technology "Discovery".

The city has a fleet Museum, Museum of fish, Air Force Museum, a memorial to World War II (including part of the Japanese concentration camps), the Asian Civilizations Museum, the Museum of Malay culture in Geylang, and many small private collections. And, of course, throughout the city can find a statue of the mythical lion-fish "Merlion - symbol of the island.

In the north-eastern part of the island built a new "model city of the XXI century". It will combine spacious beaches, parks, sports and social clubs, shopping malls and supermarkets, markets, shops, restaurants, cinemas and other entertainment.

Sentosa
Sentosa Island - a small (3 square. Kms.) Island resort, located south of the main island. Recognized center of recreation and entertainment, Sentosa has a great selection of parks, attractions, sports and other entertainment for all ages. Here are a fort Silos, amusement park Vulkanolend 'famous musical fountain, the Museum of Singapore's founding, the Museum of Rare Stones, the Maritime Museum, Butterfly Park and Insect (more than 5,5 thousand species), Flower Terrace and Garden Spice, Wax Museum, oceanarium "Andervater-World" with a transparent underwater tunnel 100 m long and the Dolphin Lagoon, Dolphin Lagoon, "a virtual reality theater" Cinemania, "ultra-entertaining complex" Imeydzhis of Singapore Eksibishn, Cultural and Historical Park Village of the Tang Dynasty " museum of terracotta warriors, the tallest observation tower in Singapore, Sky Tower, numerous gardens with fountains, as well as more than 3 km. beaches with white sand (it regularly here are imported from the islands of Oceania). All kinds of automobile traffic is prohibited on Sentosa, here ply only special tourist buses, but here was laid more than 50 km. pedestrian and bicycle paths.

Pulau Ubin
Island of Pulau Ubin, which lies near the northeastern coast glavynogo island, is an oasis of silence after constantly bubbling Singapore or Sentosa. Here, surrounded by fishing villages, kelongov framed by palm trees and desert coast, there are several tiny churches, the main attractions of the island - many colorful restaurants with seafood, as well as plantations and the original marine fauna.

Southern Islands
While many of the southern islands are used as an industrial base, some of them are of some interest. Sister Islands-Aylendz good for swimming and have a true coral reef, which makes them attractive for diving. Island, Lazarus Island (Pulau Sakidzhang-Pelepa), Pulau Buran Darat, Terumba-Reta-Laut and Pulau Renggit widely known as a center for active and "wild" holiday. Also here excellent facilities for sailing and windsurfing, especially during the monsoons.