So umm, apparently, Tiong means “to die” in Hokkien, while Bahru means “new” in Malay. Which makes Tiong Bahru “new cemetery”, as it was home to many cemeteries until it was reclaimed in the 1920s.
There’s nothing gruesome or morbid about this neighborhood today, though. Amongst its distinctive art-deco style shophouses, you’ll find hipster spas, homey cafes, local gems and more.
More on The Finder:
8 Hidden Spas In Singapore’s HDB Estates That Locals Want To Keep Secret
10 Things To Do In Lavender That Prove It’s Singapore’s Most Up-And-Coming District
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By Andre Theng, The Finder (Issue 286), August 2017 / Updated by Melodi Ghui, May 2019
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The Expat Bucket List: 9 Secret Things To Do In Singapore’s HDB Estates
10 Hidden Cafes In The West Of Singapore That’ll Make You Wish You Lived There
10 Things To Do Around Singapore’s Chinatown That Don’t Involve The Usual Ol’ Temple-Hopping
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