Wan Qin Yuan 晚晴园 Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall in Singapore

Did you  know that Singapore played a significant role in the success of Dr Sun Yat Sen's 1911 Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命) also known as Chinese revolution in China? For hundreds of years, Han Chinese had been plotting to overthrow the Qing rulers after the downfall of Ming dynasty since 1644. Also did you know Taiwan Nationalist flag was first sewn in Singapore by a local merchant's wife? 

Taiwan Flag

Wan Qin Yuan was built and completed in 1902, this double-storey villa was initailly brought by a local Chinese merchant, Teo Eng Hock for his elderly mother. Being a supporter of the Chinese revolutionary cause, he offered this villa to Dr Sun Yat Sen for his revolutionary activities to overthrow the Qing rulers. 

Singapore was the Tong Meng Hui headquarter of the revolutionary movement in Southeast Asia. At Wan Qin Yuan, Sun Yat Sen lived and planned revolutionary activities against the Qing authority . Frustrated with the weak Qing authority who signed several unfair treaties with other nations, ceding Hong Kong to the British for example, Dr Sun was determined to overthrow the Qing dynasty to establish a Republic where everyone is equal. 

At Wan Qin Yuan, you learn more about the history of the villa and its significant role in modern China history. 

How to get to Wan Qin Yuan?

Address: 12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874

You can take MRT transport and alight at Toa Payoh MRT station (N19). Take bus 145 at Toa Payoh Bus station which is just above the MRT. Alight when you see Guan Yin Temple (about 5 stops away) and you can reach by about 5 minutes of walk. 

Entrance is free for Singaporeans and Permanent residents

$2 to $4 for tourists and foreigners.

Opening Hours

Tuesday to Sunday
10am to 5pm

Closed on Mondays

For more information visit Wan Qin Yuan Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall website at http://www.sysnmh.org.sg/SYEPortal/

First published on 21 Dec 2013

 A statue of the great revolutionary leader Dr Sun Yat Sen at Wan Qing Yuan or Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall at Tai Gin Road.

The Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics who supported China's wartime efforts against the Japanese between 1939 and 1942

Sharing by Mr Wong Kan Seng, Singapore minister

From left, Mr Teo Eng Hock, Dr Sun Yat Sen and Mr Tan Chor Lam. Mr Teo and Mr Tan contributed greatly to Dr Sun's revolutionary goal.

 Portrait of Mr Lim Nee Soon, a local Chinese businessman who contributed financially to Dr Sun revolution.

 Chinese calligraphy from Dr Sun Yat Sen (Sun Wen was his actual name) to Teo Beng Wan. The words 博爱 bo ai means Universal Love.

 Portrait of Mr Tan Chor Lam who was great writer who wrote Chinese newspapers commentaries condemning the corrupt Qing imperial authority and  to help to spread revolutionary message. He also helped to set up more alliance branches. 

 Woodblock print of the Boxer Rebellion 1900

The Six Men who Saved Wan Qing Yuan exhibition. One of the six men was Mr Lee Kong Chian.

The second floor exhibition

 Advertisement advocating support of Chinese goods made by Chinese.

Portrait of Dr Sun Wen

 Graduation certificate of our former President Mr Ong Teng Chong who graduated from Chinese High School, one of the top schools in Singapore.

 Painting of Dr Sun and his supporters.

Sook Ching during world war 2. (Sook Ching is the massacre of the Chinese in Singapore by japanese soldiers to retaliate the Chinese community in Singapore who supported China)

 Message by Dr Sun 

 Chinatown in the late 19th century

This is a movie about the revolution against the Qing dynasty lead by Dr Sun Wen or Dr Sun Yat Sen.

National Gallery of Singapore

Yesterday, I met up with my buddy to explore National Gallery Singapore. For me, my main purpose was to see Wu GuanZhong art gallery. Wu GuanZhong had generously donated 113 of his paintings to Singapore. He combined western style to his Chinese ink painting and the outcome is a really unique contemporary form of art. 

Besides Wu GuanZhong's artworks, I also like Singaporeans artists like Liu Kang and other Chinese paintings. Generally I love most of the paintings in the art gallery except for one section which made me feel uncomfortable. Arts is a form of expression, an outlet of emotions. But if the arts make people feel uncomfortable and fearful, then it should not be exhibited. This section features Singaporeans' artwork which feature nudity and a video of someone washing off the yellow paint. I dislike that gallery as it made me feel uncomfortable. I guess that be the last time I visit that section and I rather spend my time admiring the artworks by Wu GuanZhong. Well, I'm just surprised not all his works are displayed. 

For Singaporeans, good news for you. Just bring your identification card and you enjoy free entry to the national gallery. For non-SIngaporeans, standard ticket is priced at S$20.

Nearest MRT: City Hall MRT

 Horses 

 I like this watercolour painting, titled Kampong Hut by Lim Cheng Hoe

Finally, I get to see Wu GuanZhong gallery. The artists generously donated about 113 of his paintings to Singapore.

 Paintings by Wu GuanZhong.

Another Wu GuanZhong work.

I'm attracted to this painting. Up the Kashmir mountain by Chen Chong Swee.

Modern arts

Liu Kang

Samsui women built tall architecture in the early days of Singapore.

I also like paintings by Georgette Chen.

Arts by Singaporean artists.

DuanWu Dumpling Festival

Today is DuanWu or dumpling festival to commemorate the death of loyal poet, Qu Yuan who died about 2000 years ago. Now we celebrate dumpling festival with dragon boat competition and eating of rice dumplings. 

My mother is a great cook and I only eat dumplings prepared by my mum. The fragrant glutinous rice dumplings are filled with aromatic five-spiced marinated diced pork and chestnut. I don't like too much rice and prefer little rice but with lots of filling. For me, I just eat dumplings and don't really participate in dragonboat race. 

Time to Apply for NDP Tickets!

Singapore will be celebrating 52 years of independence on 9 August. If you want to apply for National Day parade tickets, click here to apply. This year parade will be held at The Float @ Marina Bay.

Date of application is from 23 May to 4 June and only Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can apply for tickets to the two Previews and National Day Parade (NDP).

Just for Laugh: Teaching Teochew Language

Saw this funny post by SGAG and it made me laugh. Haha, yes Teochew, a dialect of Southern part of China, Chaozhou is pretty tough. Different tone of the same word will gives different meaning. In Singapore, Teochew people are the second-largest Chinese group in Singapore  which comprise about 21% of the Chinese population. My maternal and paternal grandfathers came from Chaozhou different areas respectively, Chaoyang and Jieyang. I'll visit those two places maybe next year. 

New Taiwanese Cake Shop at Tampines 1

At Tampines 1 shopping mall basement, there is always a long queue for the famous Taiwanese cake shop selling something like our local steamed egg cake, though this is more like baked egg cake and the other is filled with cheese. 

I really dislike their order system. When I said I wanted to order, they asked me to come back at 5.30pm then they will take my order. I think it is really ridiculous. Since I'm early, I can just order the cake and collect later. So in the end, I did not order because I think its really a waste of my time to wait till 5.30pm to order the cake.  

Well, coincidentally, on the day that I visited the cake shop, my relative gave me the baked egg cake. Well, it taste like what my mum cooked, the steamed egg cake, though this is baked egg cake. It costs around $9plus. Quite expensive, considering the ingredients are only egg and flour. I haven't try the one in Taiwan. But I read from review Taiwan version is much better than Singapore one. 

Anyway, I have to thank my relatives for the cake! Thank you so much! 

 At basement 1 at Tampines 1 shopping mall.

This is the baked egg cake. Costs around $9 plus. 

The World's Largest Luxury Car 'Vending Machine' is in Singapore!

In Singapore, you can find the world's largest luxury car 'vending machine'. Amazing. I didn't know we have this until I saw this video. 

Sunset in Singapore

After admiring the beautiful tulips at Gardens by the Bay this Wednesday, I went to Marina Bay sands area to look at sunset at Singapore financial city. 

Mandarin Singing App 爱欢歌

Thanks to my buddy, recently I was introduced to this wonderful singing app. This is like a karaoke and you can choose to sing solo or with others online singers using the app. If you are an awesome singer like my friend who has more than 500 fans from Taiwan, HongKong, Malaysia and Singapore, you can also receive gifts from your fans! 

Although I love singing, I'm not a really a great singer like my friend who has beautiful soprano voice. For me, I can't reach those high notes like her. In secondary school, when I was in the school choir, I sang alto and mostly sang background. But its ok as I love singing and I love listening to choir. Now whenever I'm free, I will go to Kbox to sing as I enjoy singing and listening to my singing voice. Hmm, I have to admit, sometimes I'm a bit narcissistic.

To use this karaoke singing app, you need a mini mike and earphone. Then just download this app 爱欢歌 created by a Taiwanese. You can select many popular Mandarin and English songs. If you are a confident singer, you can record and share your song. If not, you can just sing live in one of the empty room. In this app, there are many online karaoke room with different themes. You can choose to join any of the karaoke room to sing with other online users or if you are like me, not a very confident singer, you can just go look for an empty room and sing to yourself. I just started using this singing app yesterday and need to explore more. 

My friend brought me a mini-mike to sing with this singing app!

Select the songs you want to sing!

I love singing songs by Fish Leong, especially this song.

I also like to sing Jay Chou songs. 

Visiting Our Ancestral Home in China Chaozhou 潮州

My father recently went to our ancestral home in Chaozhou Jieyang  (潮州揭阳) with his cousin to visit their relatives. My late paternal grandfather left Chaozhou Jieyang for Singapore with his parents when he was a teenager. 

To read more, click my travel blog here.