Orchard Road, Commercial street in Central Area, Singapore
Orchard Road is a two-and-a-half-kilometer shopping boulevard in central Singapore that hosts international stores, restaurants, and entertainment facilities. The avenue runs through several neighborhoods, linking together different shopping centers, hotels, and office towers along its route.
The avenue took its name from nutmeg plantations and fruit orchards that covered the surrounding land during the nineteenth century. From the 1970s onward, large shopping complexes began to rise here, transforming the agricultural zone into a commercial district.
The name recalls the nutmeg groves and fruit orchards that once grew here during the nineteenth century. Today the boulevard turns into a festival of lights each December, with street celebrations that bring together local residents and travelers from around the world.
Several metro stations along the avenue, including Orchard, Somerset, and Dhoby Ghaut, provide access to different sections of the shopping district. Most shops open around ten in the morning and stay open until late evening, especially on weekends.
The boulevard introduced a complete smoking ban in 2018 and set up designated smoking zones throughout the shopping district. This regulation applies to the entire length of the avenue and its adjoining sidewalks.
Location: Orchard
Inception: 1994
Website: http://orchardroad.org
GPS coordinates: 1.30508,103.83191
Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:33
This collection presents central trading and shopping streets across Asian cities that combine traditional commerce with contemporary retail. In Singapore, Orchard Road stretches for several miles and houses department stores, international brands and local shops. Shanghai's Nanjing Road ranks among China's most important shopping streets, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors daily. In Tokyo, Takeshita Street attracts a younger crowd with fashion and accessory stores, while Osaka's Dotonbori is known for its restaurants and illuminated signage. Other streets in this collection display distinct characteristics of their respective cities. Malaysia's Jonker Street features historic shophouses and antique dealers. Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur functions as a Chinatown market offering textiles and electronics. In Bangkok, Khao San Road serves as a hub for international travelers with hostels, restaurants and travel agencies. The collection extends from Dubai through Israel to Russia, showing the diversity of Asian commercial streets, from traditional markets to modern shopping districts.
Singapore combines modern architecture with cultural diversity within a compact area, providing photographers with varied settings just a few subway stations apart. The city features futuristic sites such as the Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, standing 25 to 50 meters tall (82 to 164 feet), Marina Bay Sands with its 200-meter (656-foot) high rooftop, and the Helix Bridge, a pedestrian walkway designed to resemble a DNA double helix. The historic districts contrast with these modern structures. Chinatown retains its Chinese temples and arcade houses, Little India its spice markets and colorful facades, while Haji Lane in Kampong Glam lines with independent boutiques and wall murals in a narrow alley. The Merlion Park at Marina Bay, with its 8.6-meter-long (28 feet) statue blending lion and fish, remains the most photographed symbol of the city-state. Sentosa’s beaches, accessible by cable car, add a coastal element to this dense urban landscape.
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Istana Heritage Gallery
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