Woodlands Heritage Trail

Hong Tho Bilw Temple, also commonly known as Feng Tu Miao, is dedicated to Guan Di Gong, a god of war and wealth. The original temple was built in the 1940s in Kampong Hock Choon.
Places
Hong Tho Bilw Temple

The original Hong Tho Bilw Temple was built in the 1940s in Kampong Hock Choon.

Shang Di Miao Chai Kong Temple was established in 1935. Its main deity is Xuan Tian Shang Di, a Taoist god who controls the elements. The original temple was sited along the former Lorong Woodlands Kechil.
Places
Shang Di Miao Chai Kong Temple

The original Shang Di Miao Chai Kong Temple was built in 1935 and sited along the former Lorong Woodlands Kechil.

Completed in 1996, Sri Siva-Krishna Temple was originally established in Sembawang in 1962. It is the only temple in Singapore dedicated to Lord Siva-Krishna, a unique deity that is a combination of Lord Siva and Lord Krishna.
Places
Sri Siva-Krishna Temple

Completed in 1966, Sri Siva-Krishna Temple is the only temple in Singapore dedicated to Lord Siva-Krishna.

Opened in 1975, Marsiling Lane Market & Food Centre was the first market to serve the Marsiling HDB estate. Today, it remains a popular destination for residents who enjoy its many old-school stalls and shops.
Places
Marsiling Lane Market & Food Centre

Opened in 1975, Marsiling Lane Market & Food Centre was the first market to serve the Marsiling HDB estate.

Opened on 20 April 1980, Masjid An-Nur was the first mosque built in Woodlands. It serves as a place of worship and a community space for Woodlands’ Muslim residents as well as Malaysians working in Singapore.
Places
Masjid An-Nur

Opened on 20 April 1980, Masjid An-Nur was the first mosque built in Woodlands.

The first park to open in Woodlands is Woodlands Town Garden in 1983. It was renovated and reopend as Marsiling Park in 2018.
Places
Marsiling Park

The first park to open in Woodlands is Woodlands Town Garden in 1983.

Opened on 23 April 1994 by Archbishop Gregory Yong, the Church of St Anthony of Padua has a unique history as a parish that was established as a rural settlement for refugees from China.
Places
Church of St Anthony of Padua

The Church of St Anthony of Padua began in the 1920s when Catholic Teochews from China found refuge in Mandai.

Woodlands has the largest park in the north, Admiralty Park, which opened in 2007. The name of this park is a reminder that the nearby area was once a naval base operated by the British Admiralty.
Places
Admiralty Park

Woodlands has the largest park in the north, Admiralty Park, which opened in 2007.

KD Malaya served as the headquarters of the Royal Malaysian Navy until the early 1980s, when Malaysia opened a new naval base in Lumut, Perak.
Places
Former KD Malaya

KD Malaya served as the headquarters of the Royal Malaysian Navy until the early 1980s, when Malaysia opened a new naval base in Lumut, Perak.

Completed in 1966, the former Malaysian Base Jetty is a 400-metre-long structure that was once part of a Malaysian naval base called KD Malaya.
Places
Former Malaysian Base Jetty

Completed in 1966, the former Malaysian Base Jetty is a 400-metre-long structure that was once part of a Malaysian naval base called KD Malaya.

The Cause was officially opened on 28 June 1924. It facilitates travel between Singapore and Malaysia. During World War II, it was blown up to prevent the Japanese from crossing over into Singapore.
Places
The Causeway

The Cause was officially opened on 28 June 1924.

Two cemeteries of national significance are housed at this site: Kranji War Cemetery is a burial site for soldiers who died defending Singapore and Malaya during World War II, and Kranji State Cemetery is a burial site for two former presidents of Singapore.
Places
Kranji War Cemetery and Kranji State Cemetery

Kranji War Cemetery is a burial site for soldiers who died defending Singapore and Malaya during World War II, and Kranji State Cemetery is a burial site for two former presidents of Singapore.

Opened in 2010, Ulu Sembawang Park Connector is a walking and cycling track that was formerly part of Jalan Ulu Sembawang, a road that connected Mandai Road with parts of Woodlands and Sembawang.
Places
Ulu Sembawang Park Connector

Ulu Sembawang Park Connector was formerly part of Jalan Ulu Sembawang, a rural track that ran through Mandai Tekong Village and a Catholic Teochew Village.

The history of Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple dates back to the early 20th century, when it was founded as a religious and social space for Ceylonese Tamils residing in the Woodlands area.
Places
Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple

The history of Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple dates back to the early 20th century, when it was founded as a religious and social space for Ceylonese Tamils residing in the Woodlands area.

This is a self-guided trail.

  1. Hong Tho Bilw Temple
  2. Shang Di Miao Chai Kong Temple
  3. Sri Siva-Krishna Temple
  4. Marsiling Lane Market & Food Centre
  5. Masjid An-Nur
  6. Marsiling Park
  7. Church of St Anthony of Padua
  8. Admiralty Park
  9. Former KD Malaya
  10. Former Malaysian Base Jetty
  11. The Causeway
  12. Kranji War Cemetery and Kranji State Cemetery
  13. Ulu Sembawang Park Connector
  14. Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple

Hong Tho Bilw Temple, also commonly known as Feng Tu Miao, is dedicated to Guan Di Gong, a god of war and wealth. The original temple was built in the 1940s in Kampong Hock Choon.
Shang Di Miao Chai Kong Temple was established in 1935. Its main deity is Xuan Tian Shang Di, a Taoist god who controls the elements. The original temple was sited along the former Lorong Woodlands Kechil.
Completed in 1996, Sri Siva-Krishna Temple was originally established in Sembawang in 1962. It is the only temple in Singapore dedicated to Lord Siva-Krishna, a unique deity that is a combination of Lord Siva and Lord Krishna.
Opened in 1975, Marsiling Lane Market & Food Centre was the first market to serve the Marsiling HDB estate. Today, it remains a popular destination for residents who enjoy its many old-school stalls and shops.
Opened on 20 April 1980, Masjid An-Nur was the first mosque built in Woodlands. It serves as a place of worship and a community space for Woodlands’ Muslim residents as well as Malaysians working in Singapore.
Opened on 23 April 1994 by Archbishop Gregory Yong, the Church of St Anthony of Padua has a unique history as a parish that was established as a rural settlement for refugees from China.
Woodlands has the largest park in the north, Admiralty Park, which opened in 2007. The name of this park is a reminder that the nearby area was once a naval base operated by the British Admiralty.
KD Malaya served as the headquarters of the Royal Malaysian Navy until the early 1980s, when Malaysia opened a new naval base in Lumut, Perak.
Completed in 1966, the former Malaysian Base Jetty is a 400-metre-long structure that was once part of a Malaysian naval base called KD Malaya.
The Cause was officially opened on 28 June 1924. It facilitates travel between Singapore and Malaysia. During World War II, it was blown up to prevent the Japanese from crossing over into Singapore.
Two cemeteries of national significance are housed at this site: Kranji War Cemetery is a burial site for soldiers who died defending Singapore and Malaya during World War II, and Kranji State Cemetery is a burial site for two former presidents of Singapore.
Opened in 2010, Ulu Sembawang Park Connector is a walking and cycling track that was formerly part of Jalan Ulu Sembawang, a road that connected Mandai Road with parts of Woodlands and Sembawang.
The history of Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple dates back to the early 20th century, when it was founded as a religious and social space for Ceylonese Tamils residing in the Woodlands area.

What does Woodlands mean to you? 

For many Singaporeans, Woodlands is their gateway to Malaysia. Indeed, Woodlands has served as a gateway to Johor since 1845, when Kranji Road was completed. Back then, people had to take a ferry across the Johor Strait, before the Causeway opened in 1924, paving the way, literally, for road and rail trips to the peninsula. 

However, Woodlands is not just a pit-stop for travellers to Malaysia. This northern corner has a rich history of its own and provided a home for many communities. In the 19th century, nomadic Orang Seletar foraged in the waters off Kranji. Meanwhile, the interior was cultivated by Teochew gambier planters.

Gambier plantations gave way to rubber estates in the 20th century and Woodlands’ Marsiling area is a reminder of this legacy, being the name of a former rubber plantation. Rural communities such as Mandai Tekong Village and Kampong Hock Choon also emerged in the wake of the rubber estates. 

Woodlands was also an important military site. From 1938 until 1971, the British had a naval base along much of Woodlands’ coast. They also blew up the Causeway during World War II, forcing the Japanese to invade via Kranji. Kranji also housed a prisoner-of-war camp and cemetery, which later became the Kranji War Cemetery. 

Today, many reminders of Woodlands’ past are still visible. These include religious institutions such as Masjid An-Nur, Sri Arasakesari Sivan Temple, the Church of St Anthony of Padua and a 400-metre-long jetty that was once part of a Malaysian naval base. Discover these landmarks and more through the Woodlands Heritage Trail, which charts the development of this northern gateway and the memories of people who call Woodlands “home”. 

Other Suggested Short Trail Routes

Explore the Suggested Short Trail Routes:
- Communities of Woodlands, 1.5 hours with public transport (4km)
- Woodlands at War, 2 hours with public transport (9km)
- A Journey through the Woods, 1.5 hours on bike; 2.5 hours on foot with public transport (15km)

 

Downloads

Woodlands Heritage Trail Booklet
Woodlands Heritage Trail Map - English
Woodlands Heritage Trail Map - Chinese
Woodlands Heritage Trail Map - Malay
Woodlands Heritage Trail Map - Tamil
Woodlands Heritage Trail Markers - Chinese
Woodlands Heritage Trail Markers - Malay
Woodlands Heritage Trail Markers - Tamil

 

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