District 26 - Springleaf, Upper Thomson
Upper Thomson and Yio Chu Kang make up District 26, where there are plenty of places to see, food to eat and even a country club for leisure. Located in the North-eastern part of Singapore, it is a residential area with an assortment of facilities and amenities. Introduction/History Upper Thomson An extension of the Thomson district, this estate is bustling with activities at its golf courses, reservoirs, plant nurseries and historical places. The residential area of Upper Thomson is mainly comprised of landed property. There is a place called Teacher’s Estate in Upper Thomson. It is where public teachers and civil servants used to live and the Singapore’s Teachers’ Union is currently situated. Another fascinating street is called Tagore Avenue, named after the Nobel Prize Winner poet and artist, Rabindranath Tagore. Now, it is an industrial estate. Close to Tagore Avenue is Kalidasa Street, which is also named after another famous Indian literary genius. Located at the end of Upper Thomson is the Caldecott area, which is home to the former Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), now renamed as MediaCorp. Caldecott Hill is the broadcast centre of MediaCorp. Yio Chu Kang At close proximity to the Seletar, Serangoon districts is Yio Chu Kang, a residential precinct. Yio Chu Kang is the namesake of a Chinese immigrant, Mr Yeo who built his ‘chu’ (Chinese word for house) by the ‘kang’ (Chinese word for river). Yio Chu Kang is noted for its low-density, high-rise HDB flats and condominium estates. Amenities/Facilities Upper Thomson is served by Thomson Plaza, the local shopping centre. The roti prata in Upper Thomson is arguably the best in Singapore. Medical facilities in Upper Thomson include the Mount Alvernia Hospital, Mount Alvernia Medical Centre, Tampines Home and Assisi Home and Hospice. Charity organizations in Upper Thomson include Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Theresa’s home and Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore. For purpose of sightseeing and recreation, visit the plant nurseries by Lornie Road. Famous companies such as Far East Flora provide garden landscaping and plants and flowers delivery. Country clubs like the Island Golf Course and Singapore Polo Club offer golf and equestrian activities for businessmen and horse-riding enthusiasts. At the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, the Singapore Paranormal Investigators frequently scour the place for sightings of ghosts as it is rumored to be haunted. Yio Chu Kang is famous for its Himalayan Centre for Yoga Meditation, a place where you can be in tune with your spirituality when you take up yoga classes. The Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) branches are located at Yio Chu Kang. The 12 establishments of MINDS include The Yio Chu Kang Employment Development Centre, Yio Chu Kang Gardens School, 5 Special Schools, 3 Employment Development Centres, 2 Training and Development Centres and 2 Residential Homes. Transportation The Yio Chu Kang MRT Station provides access to major parts of Singapore and the construction of the Thomson MRT Station is underway. |