The Singapore River is approximately 3.2 kilometers long from its source at Kim Seng Bridge to where it empties into Marina Bay. The mouth of the Singapore River was the old Port of Singapore, being naturally sheltered by the southern islands. Historically, the city of Singapore initially grew around the port so the river mouth became the center of trade, commerce and finance.
At one time, Singapore River was the very lifeblood of the colony, the trade artery, the center of commercial activity, the heart of entry port trade, the vessel of importance, and the capillaries of life. From its origins as a fishing village known as “Temasek”, to its role as a trading port under the British Empire, the Lion City’s history has been inseparable from that of the Singapore River.
