Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Taman Jurong Heritage Trail - The Fall of the Tang ….... Village

Last Saturday, I decided to check out the remains of the Jurong Line along AYE (Ayer Rajah Expressway) opposite the Tang Village. I had noticed lots of construction work going on there and feared that the railway tracks would be removed. I parked my car near the Far East Flora Nursery and walked there. On the way, I passed the Tang Village and saw that it was being demolished. The guard at the entrance told me that by the following week, it would be gone.

So let me share with you what could well be the very last pictures of the Tang Village in Jurong. Those of us who frequently travel along the AYE will miss this familiar landmark.




Read Chun Chew’s account of his visit to the Tang Village with our late father in 1992 here.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

For once, I have overtaken Chun See in the railway exploration.

Eh, last Saturday + by the following week == end of this week?!

Lam Chun See said...

Ice. I don't understand what you trying to say. I already have the railway photos. Can post them any itme I want.

Unknown said...

I mean I have already checked out the stretch opposite Tang Village. But won't be posting them so fast; have loose ends to tie up.

Anonymous said...

Going, going gone...........I am not sure whether they firmed up any proposals for the next land use. If not, after demolition the whole place will look like a fenced-up waste land.Last time I heard it was going to be a part of the "remaking of Jurong entertainment" which will include Science Center, Snow City and the Chinese Gardens. Thank goodness they didn't demolish National Stadium otherwise also a big eye-shore. Just look at the Kallang Gaswork.

Given the economic depression (or a milder word called "recession"), I doubt any major project will take place.

Chun See did you find anything valuable that you could cart away?

Anonymous said...

I've yet to visit and it's gone...

Zen said...

It is regretable to see Tang village goes off in this way. It reflexes in our harsh treatment to such a beautiful building complex, which encompasses chinese culture and history, when it is seen to have no economic value - everything being measured by dollars and cents. This is a down-to-earth reality in Singapore today. There is hardly any room for sentiments.

Anonymous said...

I remember their terra cotta warriors above the city walls. Chun See and Peter can cart away a few to guard their house.

Anonymous said...

I still have a keychain which I'm currently using. It was bought many years back when I visited the Ghost Mansion at Tang Dynasty while it was still in operations. Sad to see it has been in disrepair without any revival.

Lam Chun See said...

timesofmylife. I know what it's like. That's the trouble with growing up in Spore. Familiar landmarks seem to disappear overnight. Take for example the old NJC. I live just a stone's throw away and always wanted to visit. But kept procastinating and then lo and behold, 1 day it just disappeared and then regrets.

Another example is Haw Par Villa. For years I wanted to re-visit the place because I only visited it once decades ago as a small kid. And then I heard that they had refurbished it and added Disneyland-type rides and was so disappointed. Fortunately they restored it to original condition and so I was able to visit it again and relive some childhood memories when John Harper came visiting.

So for older guys like us, we should conciously make a plan to revisit some of the childhood places otherwise they will be gone before you know it. And as I mentioned here, you should take lots of pictures of your neighbourhood areas and pass them to the next generation and post on your blog too.

zanas said...

i believe the demolition of these places are due to poor response of visitors. perhaps they thought that sporean are tired of such places, thus govt and developers plan to give us new entertaining places? to me the saddest one is spore national library.

Tom said...

Tom said...
why did they demolish this landmark, when I had a look at the photo I just could not believe it, I remember passing that building , when I was sitting on the back of the three ton truck, collect the Battalions rations, what caught my eye it was the type of roofs , and the walls, I always thought the building belong to a powerfull chinese man,I realy thought it was a castle, every time I had passed it, its a shame to see it go, I never got to see in side it I wish I had.

Piras said...

its ironic, it looks like a real ancient ruin.


pity it had to go

松崎 マジ said...

I remember going there for school trips and also with my sister when i was young and had always wanted to go there again, but never found the time to and now i'm free like anything and it's torn down. >..<