Ang Mo Kio

Located next to Yio Chu Kang Sports Stadium, Lower Seletar Reservoir, and Seletar Country Clubs, residents enjoy easy access to various recreational facilities including in a game of golf and a healthy workout. Already well served by Yio Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio MRT stations, bus interchanges and two expressways, the neighborhood will see further improvements to public transport services as the expansion of two new MRT stations (Lentor and Mayflower) within the area makes travelling even more convenient. With an upcoming land development near the established private housing estate of Seletar Hills, more residents can look forward to new and alternative homes surrounded by numerous schools such as Presbyterian High School, Anderson Junior College, and Nanyang Polytechnic. On top of that, childcare centers, kindergartens and special schools like Pathlight School and Chaoyang School, catering to children with autism and intellectual disability can also be found. Private housing estates include Thomson Hills Estate, Castle Green, Grandeur 8, The Gardens At Bishan and Seasons Park.

Public transport and amenities in Ang Mo Kio

Ang Mo Kio, which translates from the Hokkien dialect to “Bridge of the Caucasian”, is a neighbourhood that is located in the North-East Region of Singapore. There has been much speculation regarding the reason behind the district's name, but the most widely accepted explanation is that the area was named after a bridge, which was built in colonial times. This bridge, in turn, earned that name among the locals due to it being built by John Turnbull Thomson, who had distinctive red-coloured hair. (“Ang Mo” literally translates to “Red hair” and is a slang term used in Singapore to refer to Caucasians.) Ang Mo Kio is Singapore's 8th most populous neighbourhood, and is divided into twelve subzones for planning and statistical purposes, including the Ang Mo Kio Town Centre and Yio Chu Kang North, East, and West. In 1983, the design of the town won the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) Outstanding Buildings Award, while the swimming complex in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 won the 1986 SIA Architectural Award.

Stay - Ang Mo Kio

There is a mix of old and new HDB flats in Ang Mo Kio; the older flats are constructed in the more traditional style of 12-storey long blocks with units accessible through a common corridor, or 25-storey point blocks, which have 4 units per floor. On the other hand, newer flats tend to be taller, towering over the older flats. There are many private residential developments currently underway in the neighbourhood, but currently available private condominiums include Grandeur 8 and Castle Green. There are also several landed properties in the district, including semi-detached houses, bungalows, as well as shop houses.

Eat - Ang Mo Kio

There has been significant hype around the recent opening of a vending machine cafe at Ang Mo Kio MRT Station, Chef-in-Box VendCafe, which serves you your meal in seconds - literally. It is said to be a prime option for commuters on-the-go, and is definitely worth a try at least for the experience. As for hawker fare, one of the dishes that comes highly recommended is Eng Ho Hokkien Mee, at 409A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10; there are countless food blogs that rave about it! Another hawker favourite is Hong Heng Beef Noodle Soup & Laksa, at Kebun Baru Market and Food Centre. 99.co recommends these two stalls as must-try in the area! Bak Kut Teh lovers should definitely head to Hong Ji Bak Kut Teh, whose Bak Kut Teh (Pork Bone Broth) is peppery, thick, and served in a claypot.

Try out some western food at Murphy's, a food chain which originates from the United Kingdom and so, is predictably well-known for its fish & chips. Alternatively, have a satisfyingly authentic and affordable Italian meal at PocoLoco. For a sweet treat, head to Pine Garden to enjoy their butter cream cakes, which brings back the nostalgic taste of neighbourhood bakeries, or try Twenty Grammes' artisan waffles and ice cream.

Drink - Ang Mo Kio

With quite a number of good cafes that offer quality food and desserts, the cafe scene at Ang Mo Kio is up and coming. However, finding a cafe that well... actually serves good coffee is a significantly harder challenge. Hence, coffee lovers would definitely rejoice when visiting Yahava KoffeeWorks, or Prodigal Roasters, which are both speciality coffee shops. On the other hand, those looking to unwind with a couple of drinks after work can head to Club48 inside the Grassroots Club, which is open to the public, has a pool table and even a live band on some nights; the prices there are said to be very affordable as well.

Shop - Ang Mo Kio

There are a total of four shopping malls in Ang Mo Kio: AMK Hub, Jubilee Square, Broadway Plaza, and Djitsun Mall. AMK Hub is the largest of these four malls, with a cineplex, supermarkets, and a variety of food and fashion outlets. The four shopping malls together aim to meet every daily need of the residents of Ang Mo Kio, and have tenants such as tuition centers, gyms, restaurants, as well as various other services.

Play - Ang Mo Kio

There are a number of town parks within the neighbourhood, as well as the well known Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, which runs along the boundary of both neighbourhoods it is named after. These are prime locations to exercise or to spend a relaxing evening.

In addition, residents can also head to Ang Mo Kio Swimming Complex, Yio Chu Kang Swimming Complex, or Yio Chu Kang Stadium, for a fitness workout; all three facilities are open to the public. A wide range of classes are offered at the Ang Mo Kio Community Centre, such as Cooking, Martial Arts, Dance and Modern Living. These programmes are catered to all ages, and many are offered at discounted prices for senior citizens. The major community hospital, Ang Mo Kio Thye Hua Kwan Hospital, is also located in the district. It offers rehabilitative services.

Learn - Ang Mo Kio

There are many schools that cater to all ages and levels of education, from preschools to tertiary institutions such as Anderson Junior College, ITE College Central, and Nanyang Polytechnic. There are nine primary schools and nine secondary schools, as well as schools catering to children with special needs. Chaoyang School specialises in children aged 7 to 12 with mild intellectual disability, and Pathlight School has both a primary and secondary school campus that caters to children with Autism.

Move - Ang Mo Kio

Ang Mo Kio Station is located in the centre of the district and runs along the North-South line. It is directly linked to Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange. Similarly, Yio Chu Kang MRT runs along the North-South line and is linked to Yio Chu Kang Interchange.

Public Libraries - Ang Mo Kio

Aside from the wide variety of books and magazines in all four of Singapore’s official languages, visitors can expect a lot more at Ang Mo Kio Public Library. In fact, it carries one of the most comprehensive and varied collections of printed and non-printed materials in Tamil, in comparison to other public libraries across Singapore. One of the highlights of Ang Mo Kio Public Library is the Vaasagar Vattam club which aims to create awareness of the recent changes happening in the Tamil literary world. The club’s discussion is also centred on understanding the latest trends and technology involving Tamil writing and connecting people worldwide with similar tastes. Another club you might be interested in is the Taxi Sifu & Friends Reading Club. Over the years, participation in the club’s sessions has been growing. Not only are the members of the group made up of drivers but also people from all walks of life such as teens, working adults, to senior citizens who share a common interest. On top of this, the Ang Mo Kio Public Library provides residents with a variety of reading materials on a wide range of topics that have been used during the book discussions, including Chinese classics, history, and biography.

Parks and Gardens - Ang Mo Kio

You will never run out of options when it comes to open spaces and greenery in Ang Mo Kio. Among the favourite destinations is Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park which is one of the largest urban parks in central Singapore. With open lawns and grassy banks along the river, it is an excellent place for families to have a fun day out where they can have picnics and gatherings while enjoying the beauty and tranquillity of the waterway. The 62-hectare park is also home to a wide array of interesting fauna and flora, making it ideal for nature lovers. In addition, there is also the Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West is also a great place for nature lovers and fitness enthusiasts alike. Built on a small hill with lush and spreading greenery, the park offers joggers many footpaths meandering through the forest and flowing over the hilly terrain. The secondary forest in this park has plants such as Dillenia and Vitex growing plentiful and in their most beautiful forms. Meanwhile, another destination that the Ang Mo Kio Neighbourhood has to offer is the Ang Mo Kio Town Garden East, which is home to Rubber trees as well as other economically important trees such as Nutmeg and Cinnamon. Ang Mo Kio Garden East is also tranquil and peaceful, making it a popular place for nearby residents to conduct recreational activities as well.

Sports Facilities - Ang Mo Kio

Located on Ang Mo Kio Ave 9, Yio Chu Kang Sports Centre offers a spacious layout that best resembles a clubhouse. Facilities housed in this sports centre include a gym, a sports hall, a squash centre, a stadium, a swimming complex, and a tennis centre. Its location beside the Yio Chu Kang MRT station and bus interchange makes it extremely accessible for residents of Ang Mo Kio and the surrounding neighbourhoods. Aside from this sports centre, residents can expect another public gym managed by Sport Singapore at the Ang Mo Kio Community Centre. What is unique about this gym is that it features exercise equipment suitable for elderly people. Although the machines are commonly found in gyms, these ones are pneumatic or adjusted using air pressure which means it has a low impact on the joints. Additionally, the gym also has health screening equipment for users to keep track of their fitness level. For instance, there is a gait motion sensor that measures a user's walking speed and posture to analyse the risk of falls.

(All images are sourced from Pixabay and may not be representative of items and places mentioned in the article.)