Image (C) Azril Yusof

Tanjong Pagar is a historic district along the fringes of Chinatown and Raffles Place, located within the Central Business District in Singapore.

History of Tanjong Pagar
In Malay, Tanjong Pagar means 'cape of stakes' which is derived from its rich historic past of being a fishing village. Today, Tanjong Pagar has transformed to become a vibrant business location characterized by soaring skyscrapers and rows of exquisitely conserved pre-World War II shophouses.

Being part of the bustling business district, Tanjong Pagar has many towering buildings, the tallest of which is the Capital Tower at 52 storeys (254 metres), and is the second tallest in Singapore after the '3 peaks' of Raffles Place. The third tallest building is Temasek Tower, also 52 storeys (235 metres). These skyscrapers houses large advertising and media agencies, offices offering financial and consultancy services, and real estate property giants.

Whats Happening in Tanjong Pagar
Within Tanjong Pagar, a small street on a hill, named Duxton Hill, sits on a former 13-hectares nutmeg plantation which was later occupied by wealthy Straits Chinese families who built lofty and exquisitely designed residences and shophouses in the 1800s. These historical shophouses now lie within the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority and are well-preserved to retain its original architecture. Many of them have been converted into restaurants and pubs, which operate late into the night and make up the dynamic nightlife in Tanjong Pagar.

A popular food hunt for Singaporeans, one will find a wide variety of authentic local favorites at affordable prices at The Maxwell Food Centre. During pre-war days, it was a fresh food market and food centre. In 1986, it was converted into a food centre, housing hawkers from the vicinity. The present existing hawker centre was renovated in 2001.

Merely a stone's throw away from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station, one will find places of interests such as Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church which played a significant role in the birth of Methodism in Singapore through English and American missionaries who preached in Chinatown and Thian Hock Keng Temple which was erected in 1821 by seamen grateful for safe passage as Tanjong Pagar was where Singapore's waterfront used to be before reclamation.

Other Informations in Tanjong Pagar District Guide