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Singapore District Guide
District 09 - Cairnhill, Orchard Rd, River ValleyDistrict
09 comprises Orchard Road, River Valley and Killiney. Orchard Road is arguably one of the best shopping destinations in Asia
and a must-see stopover for every tourist in Singapore.
Introduction/History
Orchard
Road
North of the Singapore River over to the west of Central Business District is the world-renowned
Orchard Road. The road got its names from the orchards and plantations that used to exist in the area up until the 20th century.
Misfortune struck when an epidemic swept through the nutmeg plantations back in the 1900s. Floods were a bane to their existence
and caused numerous problems to the orchards. The solution was to deepen and widen the Stamford Canal, which runs below the
pedestrian mall in front of Wisma Atria Shopping Centre. The 1970s was a golden age for Orchard as pioneering landmarks such
as C.K.Tangs, Plaza Singapura and Mandarin Hotel were erected along the road. Towards the eastern Bras Basah end of Orchard
Road lies colonial architecture and historical museums.
River Valley
River Valley is
a residential area with private properties for the middle and high income earners of the population. It is located north of
Orchard Boulevard, Devonshire Road and Eber Road, the south of Martin Road and Singapore River and the west of Hoot Kiam Road
and Grange Road.
Amenities/Facilities
Every year in December, tourists and locals alike
flock to Orchard Road to view its magnificent, elaborate Christmas decorations. The decorations are always picture perfect,
sometimes a little over the top because of its extravagant winter theme situated in a sunny and tropical country. Shopping
complexes at Orchard include Wheelock Place, C.K. Tangs, Wisma Atria, Lucky Plaza, Ngee Ann City/Takashimaya, Paragon, The
Heeren and Plaza Singapura.
In River Valley, there is the “River Valley Nasi Padang” which is said to be
the best place to get a steaming plate of Nasi Padang.
Transportation
On the North South
MRT Line, there are Orchard, Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut and City Hall MRT Stations. You can stop at Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station to
change to the North East Line or at City Hall MRT Station to get on the East West Line.
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