Keong Saik Road

Cundhi Gong Temple, Keong Saik Road, Singapore

Keong Saik Road was named in 1926 after the Malacca-born Chinese businessman, Tan Keong Saik (Chinese: 陈恭锡; pinyin: Chén Gōngxī), the son of Tan Choon Tian. The street in Chinatown is named in remembrance to his contribution to the Chinese community.[1]

Keong Saik Road became a prominent red-light district with a high concentration of brothels located in the three-storey high shophouses flanking either side of the street in the 1960s. The street, along with Sago Lane areas became notoriously known as one of the "turfs" operated by the Sio Loh Kuan secret society.[2] The 1990s opened a new chapter for the road, with the site sprouting many "boutique hotels" like Naumi Liora, Hotel 1929, the Regal Inn and Keong Saik Hotel. Keong Saik Road now mainly houses coffee shops, art galleries and other shops for commercial use.[3]

Keong Saik Road is located within a conservation area known as the Bukit Pasoh Conservation Area, which was given conservation status by the Urban Redevelopment Authority on 7 July 1989. The buildings in the area mainly consist of two and three-storey shophouses in transitional, late and art deco architectural styles.[4] In 2017, it was selected as one of the top ten destinations in Asia by Lonely Planet Magazine.[5]

One of the most sightworthy buildings is Cundhi Gong Temple (準提宫) at No. 13 Keong Saik Road, which was built in 1928 in the Nanyang style.[6] The temple, which is dedicated to the Guan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, is a two storey building without a forecourt and has an area of 400 square metres.[7] Sri Layan Sithi Vinayar Temple at (no. 73 Keong Saik Road was built in 1925.[8] The temple was consecrated in 1973, 1989, 2007 and in 2019.[9] The five storey Rajagopuram was added in 2007 when the temple was renovated and redesigned.[10]