Springleaf Park is located at Upper Thomson Road Singapore. The park is 6 hectare big in size but it is a really calm and serene place for you to jog or cycling around. The path is very smooth and good for both runners and cyclists.
Cafe and Toilet Facilites
There is a car park at the entrance of the park and next to the car park, there are toilets available. There is even a cafe next to the toilet and water cooler facilities. The cafe has both indoor and outdoor to offer for their customer to sit and enjoy their meal with the nature view.
Singapore’s Pioneers
Some old pictures and history of the people who lives here back in the olden days.
Earlier people here are called Orang Laut or Sea People
Some of the earliest immigrants who came to Singapore were known as Orang Laut or “Sea People”. They came in the pre-colonial days and lived along Singapore coastlines and rivers. The group that occupied the Sungei Seletar estuary was known as the Orang Seletar. As demand for firewood and construction timber grew due the the settlement of Singapore town, the Orang Seletar, who fished and hunted for a living, engaged in the harvesting of bakau (mangrove timber).
The nature park stretches on both sides of the river, Sungei Seletar. You will notice the greenish path surrounded by trees and sometimes several types of birds and animals do appear here.
The former name of this place was called Chan Chu Kang village – named after the headman Chan Ah Lak who acquired the land near Seletar River to cultivate gambier and pepper. In total there were about 10 other villeges nearby, including Kampong Telok Soo, Kampong Jalan Kula Simpang and Sembawang village.
Why so many Chu Kang in Singapore?
“Kang” means river and “chu” means lord of owner of the clan. So back in the old days there are various leaders of Kangchu, the name of each region was named after the headman’s surname. The Springleaf previous name is called Chan Chu Kang so the leader of the clan here was “Chan”. But not many chukang left in Singapore now, only Yio Chu Kang, Choa Chu Kang and Lim Chu Kang.
Man with his fishing rod
80 species of Birds
Springleaf Nature Park is an area of high biodiversity, you can find over 80 species of birds here. Bring along your binoculars and go up to the observation deck, there is one located in the middle of the park to check out the cute birdies.
The forests near Chan Chu Kang were also favoured for the collection of botanical and zoological specimens.
This is the perfect place for someone who need some peace time!
Bike Sharing
With Bike sharing available these days, I was lucky to have rented one. My whole journey of cycling took about 1 hour to complete.
Dinner at 928 Ngee Fou Ampang Yueng Tow Fu
The Yong Tau Foo here serve Ampang Style. Ampang is a place near KL which is famous for it Yong Tau Foo. Ampang style has the special ingredient used both the “pork mince” and fish paste to fill in each item. The one in 928 used only fish paste these days. The 928 Yong Tau Foo is serve in their special gravy which tasted very special and goes well with their Yong Tau Foo. Another star item you can’t really get from other usual Yong Tau Foo stall is their fried bean curd. The fried bean curd tasted different from usual you can see people usually order more pieces. Kangkong vegetables were given generously.
- Address: 928 Upper Thomson Rd, 787121
The parking in this area is really a headache, very limited car park space. You can park your car at the car park in Springleaf Nature Park and walk about 5 mins to 928 Ampang Yueng Tow Fu.