Travelogue-Jurong

Hello everyone,

This is a travelogue to tell you more about Jurong. This travelogue will be showing you the past and the present of Jurong. I hope you will like Jurong and visit it more.

Map of Jurong

History of Jurong

In the early 1900s, Jurong was uncharted territory. In 1929, the first road in Jurong connected it to Bukit Timah. Jurong remained a sleepy rural area until 1959, when Singapore became a self-governing colony.

3 main Places in Jurong

- Science Centre

- Jurong Bird Park

- Chinese Garden

past

History of Science Centre

The Science Centre was born out of a governmental initiative in hiving off the scientific-related exhibits from the then National Museum of Singapore into a separate institution so that the latter could specialise in its artistic and historical collections. This idea was first mooted in 1969 by the Science Council of Singapore, and was subsequently approved by the government, who was keen to promote scientific education in the rapidly modernising country keen to tap into the technological sector.

The SCS building's architecture was decided by an architectural design competition organised by the Science Centre Board. Raymond Woo's entry was selected, and was thus commissioned as the architect for the project. Built at a cost of S$12 million on a 60,000 m² site in Jurong East, it was officially opened on 10 December 1977 by Dr Toh Chin Chye, who was the Minister-in-charge of the Science Centre Board.

On 7 December 2007, the Science Centre rebranded itself to be known as "Science Centre Singapore

History of Jurong Bird Park

The idea of a permanent bird exhibit was first conceived by late Dr Goh Keng Swee, the then Minister for Finance, in 1968. During a World Bank Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Dr Goh visited its zoological garden and was impressed with its free-flight aviary. He sought to see that Jurong would be more than an industrial zone that Singaporeans would have a place where they could escape from urban life, where people could relax with nature. On 3 January 1971, Jurong Bird Park, built at a cost of S$3.5 million, was opened to the public.

Jurong Bird Park is now a world-famous bird zoo wherein there are specimens of magnificent bird life from around the world, including a flock of one thousand and one flamingos. It is currently the world's largest bird park in terms of number of birds and second largest in terms of land area after Germany's Vogelpark Walsrode. There are 4,600 birds of 380 species in Jurong Bird Park. Of those, 29 are of endangered species.

In 2006, Jurong Bird Park completed its S$10-million makeover.

History of Chinese garden

The garden was built in 1975 and designed by Prof. Yuen-chen Yu, a well-known architect from Taiwan, the Chinese Garden’s concept is based on Chinese gardening art. The main characteristic is the integration of splendid architectural features with the natural environment. The Chinese Garden is modeled along the northern Chinese imperial style of architecture and landscaping.

Present

Science centre

The Science Centre is the perfect place for kids. It has over 1000 interactive exhibits depicting the wonder and beauty of science. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours here. There's even a science shop that sells all manner of toys that are science related.

Opening hours: 10.00a.m. to 7.0p.m. (Closed on Mondays except school and public holidays.)

Admission Charges: Child (3- 16 years): S$5.00

Adult: S$9.00

Senior Citizens (55 years and above): S$6.00

Address: 15 Science Centre Road Singapore 609081

Tel: (65) 6425-2500

Fax: (65) 6565-9533

Jurong Bird Park

Jurong Bird Park has large open concept displays; four large walk-in aviaries for birds from South East Asia, Africa, South America and Lory Loft. Its interesting highlights are African Waterfall, Aviary Bird Discovery Centre, Hornbill and Toucan exhibit, Lory Loft Pelican Cove, Southeast Asian Birds, Aviary Windows on Paradise.

Opening Hours: 8.30a.m. to 6.00p.m. (Last ticket sale at 5.30p.m.)

Admission Charges: Child (3- 12 years): S$12.00

Adult: S$18.00

Address: 2 Jurong Hill Singapore 628925

Tel: (65)6265 0022

Fax: (65)6261 1869

Chinese Gardens

The Chinese and Japanese Gardens are off Yuan Ching Road, and adjoin Jurong Bird Park. Situated on two islands in Jurong lake, the gardens are reached by an overpass and joined by the Bridge of Double Beauty.

Within the Chinese Gardens, there is a large bonsai garden housing a huge variety of species spread among several Chinese styled pavilions. A narrow channel connecting the two large lakes of the park borders the bonsai garden on the north side. Across the channel you can see the eight storey pagoda on a short hill.

Its main features are the Stone Lion, the Bridge, the Main Arch Building, the Stone Boat and Tea House, the Pagoda, he pavilion, Plateau, Tower, the Bonsai Garden, the Garden of Abundance, The Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum, The East Entrance.

Opening Hours: Main Garden: 6.00p.m. to 11.00p.m. (daily)

Bonsai Garden and Garden of Abundance: 9.00a.m. to 6.00p.m. (daily)

Admission charges: Main Garden: Free

Bonsai Garden and Garden of Abundance: Children (3- 12 years): S$1.00

Adult: S$2.00

Senior Citizens (55 years and above): S$1.00

Address: 1 Chinese Garden Singapore 619795

Tel: (65)6261 3632

Fax: (65)6261 1390