Bishan

English	Bishan
Chinese	碧山
(Pinyin	Bìshān)
Malay	Bishan
Tamil	பீஷான்

Bishan is a neighbourhood of the city-state of Singapore situated in the Central Region, measuring approximately three by three kilometres. Primarily a housing estate, Flats here are generally more expensive compared to other estates due to its location in the central region, which commands a higher price over other estates that are further away from the city.

[edit] Etymology

Bishan derived its name from the large Cantonese burial ground, commonly known as Peck San Theng (simplified Chinese: 碧山亭; pinyin: 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 (惠州府) and Siew Heng Fu (肇庆府) in Guangdong Province, China^[1].

Bishan town center.

[edit] Transportation

Bishan is connected to the rest of Singapore via the Central Expressway. In addition, it has its own Mass Rapid Transit station, the Bishan MRT Station, on the North South Line and Circle Line. 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 along Bishan Road.

[edit] 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 and ITE College Central (Bishan Campus).

One campus of the Ministry of Education Language Centre (MOELC) is also located in Bishan, the other being located in Ghim Moh.

[edit] Shopping centres

Bishan currently has 3 shopping centres.

• The Junction 8 Shopping Centre, run by CapitaLand, is situated at Bishan Central near the Bishan MRT Station and Bishan Bus Interchange.

• The Bishan North Shopping Mall is a non-airconditioned complex comprising of shops that specialize in the sale of day-to-day products. It features a wet market. Contrary to its name, it is not a shopping mall.

• Thomson Plaza is located on Upper Thomson Road.

[edit] Bishan Park

The Bishan Park is divided into two major parts — Bishan Park 1 and Bishan Park 2 — with Marymount Road serving as the main divider between these two portions. The Kallang River canal separates the park from the apartment blocks in Bishan New Town which is accessible across the canal via a number of foot bridges. The park has ponds and fishing spots, and serves residents from Ang 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.

Panoramic view of Bishan Park and the surrounding apartment blocks, as seen from Ang Mo Kio

[edit] Bishan New Town

Housing estate in Bishan.

Bishan New Town is public housing estate in the approximate geographic centre of Singapore. Bounded by Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, the Central Expressway, Braddell Road, and along the west of private housing off Upper Thomson Road to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. Its main transport arteries into the city are the Bishan MRT station, and the Central Expressway.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1

[edit] External links

• URA Planning Report (Bishan 1994)
• Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council
• Welcome to Our Town -Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Toa Payoh