Geylang, which stands for mill, factory or press in Malay, was one of Singapore's slowest areas to be developed. As the name suggests, the area was once dotted with numerous mills and factories as well as shophouses during the early 1900s. During the 1930s, many Malay districts were founded, including the Kampung Melayu village.  

It wasn't until the 1960s that the area saw a redevelopment. It was the Geylang Serai Housing Redevelopment Scheme, carried out in three phases, that upgrade the region and added modern homes to replace the kampungs. And, by the time the 1980s was over, all the kampungs had been replaced. 

Today, Geylang is a multi-cultural town with many reminders of the Malay's heritage. Around 150,000 people call the HDB residences their home. Many of these residences are three-to-four bedrooms and offer the basic and modern facilities that make it a place worth living in. 

 

Geylang Focuses More On Residential Living 

Geylang, which is located east of central Singapore and near the Central Business District, has been broken down into sub-zones to help with the development stages:

• Aljunied
• Geylang East
• Kallang Way
• Kampong Ubi 
• MacPherson 

Great care was taken in Geylang's development, making sure it had plenty of amenities and facilities that allow for further growth by individuals and families.  Although the area is rich with architectural history, more people are looking to live here than they are for anything else it could offer. As such, additional condos are being developed in Geylang. 

There is a scarcity in landed properties such as bungalows, terrace houses, shophouses and conservation. Scarce but still around, if condo living is not what you are after. 

With more families moving into the area, schools, churches, hospitals, shops, restaurants and entertainment activities have become a necessity. Therefore, the area is offering amenities and facilities that will meet residents' demands. For example, parents have their choices of several schools, from early education to higher education. Some of these schools include:

• Primary Schools – Geylang Methodist Primary School, Guillemard Gardens School and MacPherson Primary School  
• Secondary Schools – Geylang Methodist Secondary School, MacPherson Secondary School and Manjusri Secondary School
• Higher-Education Schools – Geylang Serai Vocational Training Center, Lasalle-Sia College of the Arts, Singapore Institute of Commerce 

The Geylang East Community Library is available for anybody who wants to visit, but it can certainly help students further their education and get an understanding of the school material. 

With religion a big thing in the area, residents can find a religious community that works for and speaks to them. This includes the Abdul Aleem Siddique Mosque, Geylang Evangelical Free Church Ltd and Leong Nan Temple. Bear in mind that these are just three of the many available in the area. 

Places to turn for your health needs include East Shore Hospital, Marine Parade Polyclinic and S T Medical Center. 

 

Where To Find The Necessities In Geylang

When it comes to shopping, Geylang doesn't have a huge mall as you'd see with other towns in Singapore. The two small shopping centers, known as Tanjong Katong Complex and City Plaza, are reminiscent of the 1990s-style of malls with boutique stores that don't offer a lot of international brands. Still, it's a fascinating experience with many bargains to be discovered. 

Buying groceries is often done on the first floor of the Geylang Serai Market. The second floor is dedicated to local products such as traditional Malay outfits, spices and delicacies. Joo Chiat Complex offers many of the same stores as the other two malls but also offer household tools, fabrics, etc. 

 

The Entertainment Life Of Geylang 

Geylang is home to the largest indoor climbing gym in Singapore. It's called Onsight and is ideal for any sports enthusiasts or thrill-seekers who love heights. It's also useful for people trying to overcome their fear of heights.  You can also have fun at the Geylang West Community Center, MacPherson Community Club and Mountbatten Community Club. 

Other things that you can do for a night on the town include visiting Aljunied Park, Mandarin Theater and Overseas Golden Cinema Hall.

Residents can also enjoy any one of the multiple coffee shops available – to drink beer and talk. Think of this as Singapore's version of a pub. 

Geylang is known for its many restaurants, including the Cavana, Turtle House Seafood Restaurant and Ci Hang Western and Chinese Vegetarian Fast Food.  

Of course, Geylang is mostly known for its dish, "Frog Porridge." For some people, the very idea of eating frogs may seem wrong. However, it's a Chinese delicacy that tastes very similar to chicken. If you feel "froggy" and want to try this dish, visit the G7 Sin Ma Claypot Live Frog or the Eminent Frog Porridge. 

Geylang offers many exotic dishes that go beyond frogs, such as the turtle soup. However, if exotic foods are not on your menu plan, you can also try restaurants like Geylang Claypot Rice or Penang Seafood Restaurant. Another must-try is the Kwong Satay restaurant. And, if you're in the mood for Italian food, there is La Barca restaurant. 

Geylang offers a number of ways to get around, including public transport like buses. Getting to and from places easily without a lot of walking involved. You can also make use of the taxis and carpools to help you get from place to place. 

 

Interesting Tidbits About Geylang

• The Tanjong Katong Complex was the first air-conditioned HDB shopping building in eastern Singapore, and with continued upgrades, it's become the must-go-to shopping spot.
• Geylang Serai Market and Food Center incorporated the Sri Geylang Serai public housing, making it a busy wet market – Singapore's busiest of all. 
• Geylang was once a red-light district but is well-known more for its food variety.
• Geylang Serai's Malay Village is the country's oldest Malay settlement. 

 

HDB Resale Flats Prices in Geylang

Geylang HDB Resale Flat Prices
Flat type	Average Price
1-room	N/A
2-room	$190,000
3-room	$265,000
4-room	$504,000
5-room	$673,000
Executive	$736,000
Multi-Generation	N/A

Source: HDB resale price index portal, average transaction prices, June 2019 to June 2020

 

Although Geylang is home to the red-light district in Singapore, it does have its redeeming qualities, which includes an active restaurant scene and nightlife. Because it is centrally located, it offers residents superb connectivity on public transport, which has attracted the attention of developers. 

A 4-room HDB resale flat will cost an average of $500,000. Even though this may seem expensive, it is well worth the price considering the central location and the fact that this is a mature estate. 

Since the URA rezoned Geylang in 2015 to allow residential areas to be redeveloped for commercial use, more businesses are moving in, which means fewer homes. Furthermore, Geylang is a 10-minute drive to the central business district and to Paya Lebar, a newly developed commercial hub.