Orchard Road

Orchard Road is a road in Singapore that is the shopping and entertainment hub of the city-state. It is regularly frequented by the local population as well as being a major tourist attraction. Often the surrounding area is known simply as Orchard. n the 1970s, pioneering landmarks like C. K. Tangs, Plaza Singapura and the Mandarin Hotel came up and led the way for entertainment complexes. Brick by brick, and block by block, towers of glass and steel lined what used to be mud-tracks to make Orchard Road the premier shopping belt today.

Now, flanked by pedestrian malls, including several underground malls, you will find some of the biggest shopping centres in Singapore such as (from west to east) Tangs, The Forum Shopping Mall, Heeren, Wheelock Place, Shaw Centre, Lucky Plaza, Wisma Atria, Ngee Ann City (a Takashimaya branch), The Paragon, Centrepoint Shopping Centre, Plaza Singapura and the latest addition, ION Orchard featuring top designer brands for the rich and famous. This place is good for shopping with a wide selections of goods from branded clothes to different electronic gadgets.

Other Places of Visit & Attractions

Sentosa

Sentosa is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include :
- Siloso Beach (for the young and restless), Palawan Beach ( for fun sports and activities) and Tanjjong Beach for their unbeatable ambience & tranquility.
- Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon
- Fort Siloso, built in the 1880s and served as the last bastion of the British forces during the Japanese invasion of Singapore.
- Imbiah Lookout, a cluster of new and exciting attractions that will appeal to all.
- Cable car of a a 1.6km ride to and from Sentosa, offering expansive views of lush greenery and stunning coastal sights.
- Merlion, standing at 37 metres high, this half-lion & half-fish creature rewards you  with a 360° view of Sentosa and Singapore's southern shores.
- Sentosa 4D Magix, a state-of-the-art theatre offers you a whole new generation of movie magic.
- Sentosa Cineblast, Asia’s first and only experiential cinema ride!
- Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom
- MegaZip Adventure Park, one of the longest and steepest zip wires in Asia with a free-fall parachute simulator or descender and a challenging climbing wall.

In early 2010, it will welcome Resorts World at Sentosa, a new mega integrated resort with casino, hotel and Universal Studio.

Singapore Zoo & Night Safari Zoo

Set in a rainforest environment occupying 28 hectares of area, Singapore Zoo’s world famous ‘open concept’ offers the opportunity to experience and be inspired by the wonders of nature. The Singapore Zoo has earned a number of prestigious awards since its opening in 1973. In 2008, it was awarded a Michelin 3-star rating.  The animals live in beautiful, spacious landscaped enclosures, which are separated by deep moats to keep visitors safe. There are 315 species in the zoo, with 2530 specimens at last count. 16% of the animals living in the zoo are threatened species.  The zoo is open from 8:30am to 6:00pm daily. Tickets are S$18.00 for adults and S$9.00 for kids between the ages of 3 to 12 years old. Tram tickets can also be purchased at S$5.00 for adults and S$2.50 for children. The tram ride covers 2.2km. There is no limit to the number of rides within the park.

Unlike traditional nocturnal houses, which reverse the day-night cycle of animals so they will be active by day, the Night Safari is an entire open-air zoo set in a humid tropical forest that is only open at night. It is divided into eight geographical zones, which can be explored either on foot via three walking trails, or by tram. Cultural performances are a regular feature at the safari, and include tribal dances, blowpipe demonstrations and fire eating displays. There are a number of food and beverage outlets in the Night Safari which include Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant, Bongo Burgers, and Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop. Visitors can also experience dining on the move with the Cocktail Safari Express and Gourmet Safari Express.

Singapore Flyer & Marina Area

The Singapore Flyer  is currently the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. Described by its operators as an observation wheel[1], it reaches 42 stories high, with a total height of 165 m (541 ft), and is 5 m (16 ft) taller than the Star of Nanchang and 30 m (98 ft) taller than the London Eye. Located in Singapore, on the southeast tip of the Marina Centre reclaimed land, it comprises a 150 m (492 ft) diameter wheel, built over a three-story terminal building which houses shops, bars and restaurants, and offers broad views of the city centre and beyond to about 45 km (28 mi), including the Indonesian islands of Batam and Bintan, as well as Johor, Malaysia. Each of the 28 air-conditioned capsules is capable of holding 28 passengers, and a complete rotation of the wheel takes approximately 30 minutes.
        
With several 5-star hotels in the vicinity, Suntec City Mall is a shopping centre in Singapore, located within the Marina Centre, a subzone of the Marina Area. The infamous Fountain of Wealth is located at Suntec. Opened in 1995 together with initial phases of the Suntec City development, it was the largest shopping centre in Singapore with 888,000 square feet (82,500 m2) of retail space until the opening of VivoCity in 2006.

Chinatown

Singapore's Chinatown is an ethnic neighbourhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. Singapore's Chinatown evolved around 1821 when the first Chinese junk arrived from Xiamen, Fujian province in China. The passengers, all men, set up home around the south of the Singapore River which is known today as Telok Ayer. Chinatown’s local name - Niu Che Shui (Bullock Cart Water) arose from the fact each household at that time had to collect fresh water from the wells in Ann Siang Hill and Spring Street, using bullock-drawn carts. Not all parts of Chinatown are Chinese though. The Al Abrar Mosque along Telok Ayer Street, and the Jamae Mosque and Sri Mariamman Temple along South Bridge Road lay witness to the harmonious racial and religious atmosphere in Singapore.

Little India

Little India is the focal point of Singapore's Indian community. Its spice-scented streets beckon you to a cornucopia of ethnic jewellery, jasmine garlands and silk saris. From the large Tekka Centre and Little India Arcade to the small provision shops, Little India is packed with interesting things to discover. During Deepavali (usually between Oct/Nov), the Indian Festival of Lights, Little India is transformed into a fairyland of gaily decorated, brightly lit streets bustling with shoppers. Witness also the faith of devotees during the colourful and ritualistic Thaipusam in Jan/Feb each year.