HDB - Simei Estate Wall Murals (2021 0624)
Length: 2.80Km
The name Simei was actually derived from Jalan Soo Bee (惹兰四美), a minor road still existing near Upper Changi Road today. But it remains unknown whether Jalan Soo Bee was named after the four beauties even though its Chinese name suggested so.
The main streets at Simei New Town were originally named as Xishi, Diaochan, Zhaojun and Guifei Roads. They were later renamed as Simei Street 1 to 4 in mid-1987 after the names were deemed too difficult for the non-Chinese residents living in the vicinity. Some residents also proposed changing the name of Simei to a more localised one such as Somapah New Town, but the suggestion was not taken up.
For years, it has been a common assumption that the new town of Simei (四美) is named after the four legendary beauties of ancient China (Xishi 西施, Diaochan 貂蟬, Wang Zhaojun 王昭君, Yang Yuhuan 杨玉环). It may be one of the misnomers of the names of places in Singapore, as there are few reasons to name a local housing district built in the eighties after some ancient figures in China history.
Diaochan貂嬋 , Zhaojun 昭君and Guifei 貴妃 can be found at the void decks of Block 146 (Street 2), Block 107 (Street 1) and Block 226 (Street 4) respectively, whereas there are two Xishi西施portraits at Block 116 and 123 of Simei Street 1. Over time, these void deck portraits have become a unique feature of Simei, not seen in any other new towns of Singapore.
Trail to the Murals
MRT Siemi (EW3)>
Siemi Street 3> East Point Mall>
Cross Simei Street 6>
Cross Simei Street 1 (Traffic Light Lights Crossing)>
Simei Zone 1>
Block 107 Street 1 Zhaojun 昭君> Wang Zhaojun王昭君, the third legendary figure, was a maid presented as a peace offering to the Emperor of Xiongnu by Han Emperor Yuen.
Walk along Siemi Street 1>
Turn Left before Block 119> Block 116 Street 1 Xishi西施Portraits> Xi Shi 西施, was given to the Emperor of Wu by Emperor Gou Jian of Yue. While the Emperor of Wu was indulging in Xi Shi's beauty, Emperor Gou Jian conquered the state of Wu.
Walk along Simei Street 1> Walk across the Rail Tracks (Along Siemi Street 1)> Simei Zone 2>
Block 123 Simei Street 1 Xishi西施>
Exit via Block 131> Cross Siemi Street 1> onto Simei Street 2> Simei Zone 3>
Changi Simei Community Club>
Block 146 Simei Street 2 Diaochan貂嬋> Diao Chan 貂嬋, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. A songstress, she outwitted two conspirators who were plotting to overthrow the kingdom.
Cross Siemi Street 3>
Simei Zone 4>
Walk between Block 233/234>
Simei Neighborhood Garden>
Exit Via Block 227>
Simei Street 4>
Cross Simei Street 3 (Traffic Light Crossing)>
Simei Plaza>
MRT Simei (EW3)
Comments