There are a total of eight blocks, numbered 86 to 92, at Zion Road. With the exception of block 86 and 87, the rest are located beside Great World City, separated by Singapore River.
Built at around 1973, 11-storey block 92 is the most prominent block with its unique curvature design, situated at the bend of Zion Road and Havelock Road. The curvature rivals that of Block 332 of Jurong East.
The quiet estate is famous for the zi char and fish soup stalls operating in two kopitiams at block 89 and 91. Due to the en-bloc program, they are required to move out by October 2011.
Housing and Development Board (HDB) proposed the en-bloc offer to the residents of Zion Road in 2006. By end of 2011, the blocks of 88 to 92, almost 40 years of age, will be torn down to make way for premium private housing.
Surrounded by Great World City and Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, it is inevitable that the prime land will be used for further development. Other premium condominiums such as Centennia Suites and The Trillium are located just a street away.
There is a small temple called Shui Xian Temple or Chwee Hean Keng (水显宫) located beside the Zion Road flats. It is dedicated to Sam Tiong Ong (三忠王), the three loyal officials-turned-deities of the Song Dynasty, namely Wen Tian Xiang 文天祥, Lu Xiu Fu 陆秀夫 and Zhang Shi Jie 张世杰, and has been around in that area for more than 70 years.
The temple is said to have witnessed the 1961 Bukit Ho Swee fire, where there was a legend that the great fire destroyed everything in its path until it stopped miraculously in front of the temple. Many devotees were attracted to the temple by the legend but its popularity has declined in modern days. Today, it sits almost unnoticed along Zion Road.
The temple was involved in a disagreement with HDB in 2006 regarding the compensation and relocation due to the en-bloc program, but it really deserves to preserve its rich history here, having witnessed the development of its surrounding over so many decades.
Published: 06 October 2011
thank you for writing about my estate.
And soon you’ll have to blog about Rochor estate. Sigh.
When will singapore govt realise that what we’re really lacking is a culture and sense of belonging. It’s all about money isn’t it?
Great blog by the way! Was hoping one day you can do up a Gay World article, which used to be in between geylang and kallang, i think?
Thanks! I have written about Rochor Flats some weeks ago..
Anyway, it’s no wonder this island is called Singapore Pte Ltd nowadays
Yar..I’ve heard about the rochor blks going to give way for the new expressway which will be connecting from woodlands to east coast…Its sad to see historical places/blks/monuments being brought down. Frankly speaking, I just feel that Singapore have no history at all.
Thanks for the photo and introduction of the temple. It’s a pity that the Chwee Hean Keng or Shui Xian Gong has to be gone forever in the estate. This poor temple has no new place to relocate. It has a history and this temple has no licence registered in the past where the temple-caretaker has no knowledge in this. Hopefully, this poor temple can find a new site to continue with the belief of their deities.
Yah, I hope the authority can help the temple to relocate to a nearby site, or even to the opposite side of Zion Road where the remaining two blocks (86 & 87) of the blue flats still stand…
This area is pretty unique is it is surrounded by commercial buildings and private housing. I believe there is another one or 2 point(5 room) blooks just opposite the road(beside the boy’s brigade HQ). Are these affected too?
Nope, block 86 and 87 are not under the SERS program.
There is actually another surviving curved HDB block, Blk 34 Whampoa West. I am not sure whether it is the longest curved HDB block in Singapore but it is certainly a very long 12-storey 3-room HDB curved block to me, I think it was built roughly around early 1970′s. It spans from Serangoon Rd on one end to Bendemeer Rd on the other end.
I do believe there is a mistake when you mentioned about the fire that broke out in Bukit Ho Swee. The legendary temple you mentioned was the wrong one. The great Temple that stopped the fire from spreading further is the one behind the shell petrol kiosk, the ‘Tian Gong Dian’ we all go for prayers during Chinese New Year…
Where’s the fish soup moved???
Think it moved to Toa Payoh…