- Bishan
englishname=Bishan
chinesename=碧山
pinyin=bìshān
malayname=Bishan
tamilname=பீஷான்Bishan is a neighbourhood of the
city-state ofSingapore situated in the Central Region, measuring approximately three by threekilometres . Primarily ahousing estate , Bishan houses the upper-middle classes. Flats here are relatively more expensive compared to other estates due to its accessibility and central location.Etymology
Bishan derived its name from the large Cantonese
burial ground , commonly known as "Peck San Theng" (zh-sp|s=碧山亭|p=bìshántīng), which means "pavilions on the green". The burial ground was established in 1870 by immigrants who largely came from the three prefectures of Kwong Chow Fu (广州府), Wai Chow Fu (惠洲府) and Siew Heng Fu (肇庆府) in Guangdong Province, China [cite web |url=http://www.kwspecksantheng.com/Left/History/Jianshi.htm |title=History of Peck San Theng |publisher= Singapore Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng |accessdate=2008-08-01 ] .Transportation
Bishan is connected to the rest of Singapore via the
Central Expressway . In addition, it has its own Mass Rapid Transit station, theBishan MRT Station , on the North South Line. The station will also serve as an Interchange Station for the Circle Line which will be completed in2011 .Bishan also has a bus interchange, with
SBS Transit services 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 410. Bus services 13, 88,156 and 162 runs alongBishan Road .[
Bishan MRT Station to be linked to the Circle Line.]Education
Currently, Bishan contains four primary schools, seven secondary schools, one junior college and a post-secondary technical education institution that are part of Singapore's education system.The schools are:
Ai Tong School , Catholic High Primary School,Guangyang Primary School ,Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School ,Bishan Park Secondary School , Catholic High School,Guangyang Secondary School ,Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School ,Peirce Secondary School ,Raffles Institution ,Whitley Secondary School ,Raffles Junior College andITE College Central (Bishan Campus).The
Ministry of Education Language Centre (MOELC) is also located in Bishan.Shopping centres
Bishan currently has 3 shopping centres.
*The
Junction 8 Shopping Centre , which is run byCapitaLand , is situated at Bishan Central near theBishan MRT Station andBishan Bus Interchange .*The
Bishan North Shopping Mall is a non-airconditioned mall which incorporates a wet market.*
Thomson Plaza is located onUpper Thomson Road .Bishan Park
The
Bishan Park is divided into two major parts — Bishan Park 1 and Bishan Park 2 — withMarymount Road serving as the main divider between these two portions. TheKallang River canal separates the park from the apartment blocks inBishan New Town which is accessible across the canal via a number of foot bridges. The park has ponds and fishing spots, and serves residents fromAng Mo Kio New Town , Bishan North, Sin Ming and Bishan New Town.Bishan Park 1 is smaller in area than Bishan Park, and is about 1.7 km in length from end to end. A park-spa has been newly built in this park. This park primarily serves walkers in the morning. Bishan Park 1 is more accessible than Bishan Park 2.
Bishan Park 2 sprawls over a larger area than Bishan Park 1 but is only about 1.1 km in length from end to end.
Bishan New Town
Bishan New Town is public housing estate in the approximate geographic centre of
Singapore . Bounded byAng Mo Kio Avenue 1 , theCentral Expressway ,Braddell Road , and along the west of private housing offUpper Thomson Road to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. Its main transport arteries into the city are theBishan MRT station , and the Central Expressway.Notes
References
*Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), "Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names", Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1
External links
* [http://www.ura.gov.sg/dgp_reports/bishan/main.html URA Planning Report (Bishan 1994)]
* [http://www.btptc.org.sg/ Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council]
* [http://www.bishantown.com/ Welcome to Our Town -Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Toa Payoh]
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