Kreta Ayer Road ( , ) is a one-way

road A road is a thoroughfare used primarily for movement of traffic. Roads differ from streets, whose primary use is local access. They also differ from stroads, which combine the features of streets and roads. Most modern roads are paved. Th ...

located in

Chinatown Chinatown ( zh, t=唐人街) is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, O ...

within the Outram Planning Area in

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

. The road links Neil Road to New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street, and is intersected by Keong Saik Road.

Etymology and history

In the early days of Singapore, locals drawn water from a well near Ann Siang Hill and transported them using bullock carts and drove down the street. This led to the area being ''Kreta Ayer'', which means "water cart" in Malay. Similarly, the Hokkiens called the area ''gu chia chui'' while the Cantonese call it ''ngow chay shui'' ( zh, t=牛車水, j=ngau4 ce1 seoi2), both meaning "bullock water cart" (the word "road" is elided). The road was officially named Kreta Ayer Road in 1922. For the Chinese, the Chinatown area is referred also as ''tua poh'' or "greater town" district. In the 1880s, Kreta Ayer was the red light district of Chinatown. The Chinese traveller, Li Zhongjue, observed in 1887 that the street was a place of

restaurant A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

s and

brothel A brothel, strumpet house, bordello, bawdy house, ranch, house of ill repute, house of ill fame, or whorehouse is a place where people engage in Human sexual activity, sexual activity with prostitutes. For legal or cultural reasons, establis ...

s and where "filth and dirt are hidden".

Landmarks

Hok San Association (新加坡鶴山會館) has the oldest lion dance troupe in Singapore, it was established in 1920 and located at No. 21 of the shophouses along Kreta Ayer Road. Chinese Buddhist Association (新加坡中华佛教会) was founded in 1927 and located at No. 23 of the shophouses along Kreta Ayer Road. It was established after the visit of Venerable Tai Xu (太虚法师) to Singapore in 1926, and is the first Buddhist organisation established in Singapore.

Notes

References

Roads in Singapore Outram, Singapore Chinatown, Singapore {{Singapore-road-stub