Singapore Travel Diary｜Sharing 72 Hours in the Lion City with You

This trip to Singapore

was a bit rushed / yet very rich.

So, I want to share with you / my 72 hours in the Lion City.

Transiting from Chengdu via Shanghai to arrive in Singapore, immigration was smooth. July was hot but not stuffy, and the indoor air conditioning was, as usual, very strong, making it feel a bit cold after a while.

It was nearly 9 pm when I reached the city center. I found a restaurant called 【Fa Chuan Ren Bak Kut Teh】 near the hotel. The soup had a slightly heavy pepper flavor, the ribs were stewed until tender, and the fried dough sticks were crispy. The only slight shortcoming was that the little chili peppers weren't spicy enough.

Day two, rainy, slightly chilly.

I got up early and braved the rain to eat at Toast Box. After such a long time apart, what I missed the most was still that cup of Nanyang coffee. Condensed milk / evaporated milk / Nanyang coffee powder combined — how should I describe this taste? I think it's more like the thrill of a long-awaited reunion.

Paired with thick peanut toast, you could clearly taste the peanut bits even after heating. The sweetness balanced the bitterness of the coffee; everything was just right.

When the rain lightened a bit, I walked to the National Gallery Singapore and met up with a friend to go to National Kitchen by Oon Singapore, which we had booked in advance. This restaurant is a 2023 Gold Medal Restaurant on 🐬 Dianping's Food Forest list~

Very authentic Peranakan cuisine, with a colonial-era 1920s character, very stylish.

The menu was entirely in English, but there were Chinese-speaking staff who could explain the dishes. The recommended items—小金杯 (kueh pie tee) / laksa / coconut beef—were all excellent choices that didn't disappoint. For the main dish, the Hainanese chicken rice was very tasty. The dessert of purple rice soup with coconut ice cream was quite stunning, sweet but not overly cloying.

Overall, this meal was a delightful surprise, and it was very comfortable to eat and chat with friends.

When the rain stopped, I wandered over to the Old Hill Street Police Station. Though it lacked the vibrant colors of a sunny day, it had an extra touch of cool tranquility. Another advantage was that there were far fewer people taking photos; the once popular photo spots suddenly didn't seem so popular. After dark when the lights were on, I seemed to see a rainbow🌈

On the third day in the Lion City, we finally got clear weather.

It was a bit sunny and hot, but bearable. When there was a breeze under the trees, it was actually quite pleasant. We started a day of intense walking. From the hotel to Merlion Park, a distance of 1 kilometer, we just crossed a few intersections to get there.

As expected, there were many people, but the views were beautiful from every angle for photos. Of course, the best spot was the Merlion viewing platform; people were very orderly when taking photos, and after a short wait, you could get a good spot.

The first time I came here 10 years ago, the trend was to open your mouth and catch the water spraying from the Merlion, but now I didn't see a single person doing that. It seems that has become a memory of the past.

After visiting here, we went to the nearby Gardens by the Bay, crossing a very stylish bridge that closely resembled Shanghai's Waibaidu Bridge, so we jokingly called it the Waibaidu Bridge Singapore branch.

The gardens had a strong tropical atmosphere, lush and green, and staring at them for a long time made my eyes feel comfortable.

You would never guess that I went to Chinatown just for a freshly squeezed fruit juice. The architecture in Chinatown is very distinctive—modern and traditional, high-rises and colonial houses, the new and the old can all be found here.

But none of these could compare to a fresh squeeze at People's Park Centre. No sugar added, relying entirely on the natural sweetness of the fruits. With a full cup of ice, it instantly cooled me down for summer.

Taking advantage of the extra time, I took the MRT to Orchard Road. A series of connected malls—if you have shopping needs, you can take care of everything in one stop. But for me, it was different; I specifically came for the street ice cream.

There are many vendors along Orchard Road, and each one's ice cream tastes about the same. For 1.5 SGD, you get a super large piece. I prefer it sandwiched in bread, which balances the sweetness and cold of the ice cream. Mango and durian are my favorites.

At 5 pm, the highlight of this trip to Singapore arrived—the Singapore Food Festival. The address: Bayfront Event Space, 12A Bayfront Ave, Singapore.

An annual event bringing together the best food from every corner of Singapore. Classic dishes and innovative cuisine can all be found here. I bought a waffle from Hainan Bao Jia—sweet but not greasy; it might be the best waffle I've ever eaten.

When the sky was half dark and half light, the live band started to get lively. Everyone was listening to music, chatting, eating, and enjoying the pleasant evening breeze. I think if you come here, you'll like it too.

On the fourth day, I slept in naturally, then got up to eat at the pre-booked Summer Palace. Eating Cantonese cuisine in Singapore might sound a bit odd, but what can I say? I like it and haven't been to the Guangdong-Guangxi region for a long time.

Summer Palace is located in The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. The environment and service were excellent, and all the staff spoke Chinese, so communication was very convenient. After being seated, I ordered a pot of the recommended lychee oolong tea. The fragrance of oolong tea blended with the sweetness of lychee, smooth on the palate with a lingering aftertaste. The teapot and tableware were very distinctive, with a traditional freehand beauty.

I ordered a variety of items here and there, including dim sum and roast meats. Both the taste and presentation were top-notch. I loved the sweet and sour plum sauce—it was both refreshing and appetite-stimulating.

The last stop in Singapore was reserved for the very chill Haji Lane. Colorful houses, creatively graffitied walls—a short street, but still enough to keep you wandering for a long time.

I've been to Singapore🇸🇬 many times, yet I still fall for it again and again.

Well then, see you again soon.

⬇️ Below are some practical tips and notes, feel free to take what you need.

1️⃣ Visa: Can be applied for through platforms like 🐬 Ctrip, costing around 300 RMB. As long as you provide the required documents, it's usually approved.

2️⃣ Fill out the ICA and customs health declaration forms within 48 hours before departure.

3️⃣ Book tickets for attractions you want to visit, such as Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, Night Safari, etc., in advance on 🐬 Ctrip (more affordable and convenient). However, some require advance reservation, so do your homework.

4️⃣ Prepare a British standard plug adapter. Although many hotels have upgraded to universal sockets that also accept Chinese plugs, I found some to be not very convenient. Having an adapter is easier.

5️⃣ Prepare a local SIM card or a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot in advance; it's cheaper than buying a card upon arrival in Singapore. But if you want convenience and your trip is short, you can simply activate international roaming, which is more convenient.

6️⃣ Bring a small amount of cash. Many shops in Singapore now accept WeChat Pay and Alipay. For those that don't, Visa is widely accepted.

7️⃣ Prepare sunscreen and an umbrella—one that works for both sun and rain. Also, it's advisable to bring a light jacket; the indoor air conditioning in Singapore is very strong, and going from cold to hot can easily cause a cold, so having an extra layer is good.

8️⃣ Mangosteens and durians cannot be brought into hotels. Durians are not allowed in public places—you cannot carry or eat them there.

9️⃣ Eating is not allowed on the MRT, and drinking water is also prohibited. Buses do not announce stops; you need to press the stop button in advance to get off. You need to tap your card both when boarding and alighting. When crossing the road, use the pedestrian crossing (zebra crossing).