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.
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