District 9 is Singapore’s shopping paradise being home to world-famous Orchard Road. It is also an affluent residential enclave comprising luxury landed and high-rise properties.
Beyond that, District 9 is an art and education hub where one can find the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), Singapore Management University (SMU), School of the Arts (SOTA), LaSalle College of the Arts, and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).
Parks in this area include Mt. Emily Park, the Istana Park, Bras Basah Park and Fort Canning Park.
Fort Canning Park
Orchard
If Paris has the Champs-Élysées, Los Angeles has Hollywood Boulevard and Tokyo has Ginza, then Singapore has Orchard Road – ranked as one of the ten most famous streets in the world.
Best known as a shopping mecca, the 2.5km Orchard Road is lined with high-end shopping malls and glitzy international hotels, namely Tang Plaza, ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City/Takashimaya, Lucky Plaza, The Heeren, Mandarin Gallery, Wisma Atria, Paragon, Palais Renaissance, Plaza Singapura, Shaw House, Wheelock Place and the list goes on.
Brimming with high-end department stores, upmarket restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, shops and more shops, Orchard Road literally lets you shop until you drop.
A must-visit for all visitors to Singapore, Orchard Road is especially buzzing during the year-end holiday season. This is when it pulls out all the stops to ring in the New Year with the most elaborate of festive decorations – from giant Christmas trees to snow and reindeers, and of course, scintillating light displays all night long.
Orchard Road Christmas light-up
Taking its name from the nutmeg and fruit orchards that once occupied this area, Orchard Road is also home to the Istana, the official residence of the President of Singapore.
The Istana
To the west of Orchard Road is the famed Singapore Botanic Gardens, which is the only tropical garden in the world that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Orchard Road is currently served by 3 MRT stops along the North-South (red) line, namely Orchard, Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut.
Residential enclaves close to Orchard Road are Cairnhill, Claymore, Mount Sophia, as well as Leonie Hill and Paterson.
Cairnhill
Named after Charles Carnie, Cairnhill refers to the areas surrounding Cairnhill Road, which connects Scotts Road and Orchard Road. Among the landmarks here are the Tan Chin Tuan Mansion, Cairnhill Arts Centre, two-storey terrace houses and Al-Falah Mosque.
The Tan Chin Tuan Mansion is one of Cairnhill’s key landmarks
Cairnhill enjoys easy access to Orchard, Somerset and Newton MRT stations. The Cairnhill and Emerald Hill conservation areas are especially popular among property investors who desire prestigious homes with a touch of history.
Leonie Hill
Leonie Hill is a good residential choice for those who do not drive because it is just a few minutes’ stroll to Somerset, Orchard and Great World (future) MRT stations. There are many luxury condos here along with international schools.
Great World (formerly Great World City) is less than 10 minutes’ walk away from Leonie Hill. This mixed-used development offers a 6-storey shopping mall with a myriad of shops to meet all shopping needs.
Great World sits on the site of the former Great World Amusement Park
Killiney
Get a taste of old Singapore on Killiney Road with its rows of colonial shophouses, quaint residences and modern condos. Having been transported back in time, one would be surprised that Killiney Road is located just off the ever-glitzy Orchard Road.
Killiney Road is famous for its eateries that include the iconic Killiney Kopitiam, Indonesian nasi padang, Chinese dishes and delicacies, as well as Thai, Vietnamese and French fare.
Have a hearty breakfast at Killiney Kopitiam
Oxley
Named after a surgeon of the 1800s, the 500m Oxley Road links two busy roads – Orchard Road and River Valley Road. As a matter of fact, Oxley Road is often used as a shortcut between both roads.
Residences here are a mix of old and new freehold bungalows, condos and walk-up apartments, which are mainly occupied by foreigners who appreciate the area’s convenience, privacy and greenery.
38 Oxley Road
An introduction to Oxley Road will not be complete without mentioning its most famous house. No. 38 Oxley Road was the home of Singapore’s former Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Once heavily guarded, today it is a favourite spot for photo taking among locals and tourists.
In this article, we’ve given you a good overview of Singapore’s District 9. If you want to know more about the area, particularly about its residences, schedule a visit with us or book a free consultation with our trusted and renowned representatives.
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