Esplanade, Singapore

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Queen Elizabeth Walk on the Esplanade, Singapore

Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay.

The Esplanade is a waterfront location just north of the mouth of the Singapore River in downtown Singapore. It is primarily occupied by the Esplanade Park, and was the venue where one of Singapore's largest congregation of satay outlets until their relocation to Clarke Quay as a result of the construction of a major performance arts venue, the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, which took its name from this location.

Apart from the shows, Singaporeans usually visit the Esplanade for its scenic outdoor view. It overlooks the Singapore river and is in between the Singapore Flyer and Merlion park, making for a good stroll around the vicinity. River ferries stops have been added recently, enhancing its accessibility.

Etymology and history

In the 1850s, the Esplanade referred to what is now the Padang, previously known as The Plain, in front of City Hall. It is best captured in John Turnbull Thomson's 1851 painting, "The Esplanade from Scandal Point".

With land reclamation in 1943, the term Esplanade then referred to the area of the present Queen Elizabeth Walk. Both the Esplanade Park and Queen Elizabeth Walk were built on the reclaimed land. In the park are several memorials, including The Cenotaph (completed in 1922), the Former Indian National Army Monument, the Tan Kim Seng Fountain (moved here in 1925 from Fullerton Square), and the Lim Bo Seng Memorial (which was unveiled in 1954).

The Esplanade, c. 1900

Queen Elizabeth Walk covers an area of approximately 9.5 acres (38,000 m²). The walk was substantially completed in 1953 and was named in honour of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth's coronation in the same year. It was declared open on Coronation Day, 30 May 1953 by T.P.F. McNiece. There was an open air bandstand near the Lim Bo Seng Memorial.

The Tamils call the Esplanade "January thidal" or "January place" because of the former sports activities held there on New Year's Day. The Chinese called the place tua kok cheng chau po or "the grass field in front of the great court", referring to the Padang in front of the Supreme Court.

References

Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2004), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern University Press, ISBN 981-210-364-3

External links

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Central	Alexandra Ayer Rajah Balestier Bartley Bishan Marymount Sin Ming Bukit Timah Buona Vista Holland Village one-north Ghim Moh Chinatown Clarke Quay Kreta Ayer Telok Ayer Kent Ridge Kim Seng Little India Farrer Park Jalan Besar MacPherson Marina Bay Esplanade Marina Bay Sands Marina Centre Marina East Marina South Mount Faber Mount Vernon Museum Newton Novena Orchard Road Dhoby Ghaut Emerald Hill Tanglin Outram Pasir Panjang Potong Pasir Rochor-Kampong Glam Bencoolen Bugis Queenstown Dover Commonwealth Raffles Place River Valley Singapore River Southern Islands Tanjong Pagar Shenton Way Telok Blangah Bukit Chandu Bukit Purmei HarbourFront Keppel Radin Mas Mount Faber Tiong Bahru Bukit Ho Swee Bukit Merah Toa Payoh Bukit Brown Caldecott Hill Thomson Whampoa St. Michael's

East	Aljunied Bedok Bedok Reservoir Chai Chee Kaki Bukit Tanah Merah Changi Changi Bay Changi East Changi Village East Coast Eunos Geylang Joo Chiat Katong Kallang Kallang Bahru Kallang Basin Tanjong Rhu Mountbatten Kolam Ayer Old Airport Lavender Boon Keng Kembangan Pasir Ris Elias Lorong Halus Loyang Marine Parade Paya Lebar Siglap Tampines Simei Ubi

North	Central Catchment Nature Reserve Kranji Lentor Lim Chu Kang Neo Tiew Sungei Gedong Mandai Sembawang Senoko Simpang Sungei Kadut Woodlands Admiralty Innova Marsiling Woodgrove Yishun Chong Pang

North-East	Ang Mo Kio Cheng San Chong Boon Kebun Baru Teck Ghee Yio Chu Kang Hougang Defu Kovan Lorong Chuan North-Eastern Islands Punggol Punggol Point Punggol New Town Seletar Sengkang Sengkang New Town Rivervale Compassvale (Buangkok) Anchorvale Fernvale Jalan Kayu Serangoon Serangoon Gardens Serangoon North

West	Boon Lay Tukang Liu Fang Samulun Shipyard Bukit Batok Bukit Gombak Hillview Brickworks Guilin West Central East South Bukit Panjang Choa Chu Kang Yew Tee Clementi Toh Tuck West Coast Pandan Jurong East Toh Guan International Business Park Teban Gardens Penjuru Yuhua Jurong Regional Centre Lake River Port Jurong West Hong Kah Taman Jurong Wenya Boon Lay Chin Bee Yunnan Central Kian Teck Safti Lim Chu Kang Pioneer Joo Koon Gul Circle Pioneer Sector Tengah Tuas Wrexham Promenade Pioneer Soon Lee Tuas South Western Islands Planning Area Western Water Catchment Murai Sarimbun

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