Singapore Area Guides: Singapore North

Yishun & Sembawang Area Guide

School Versus Education

“I am extremely anxious about the generation that is growing up literate but uneducated. They can read; they can write; they can pass examinations. But they are not really educated; they have not formed; they have not developed. They are not effective digits for the community.”

Lee Kuan Yew

1st Prime Minister of Singapore

Yishun & Sembawang

Singapore North, UAE

Updated:

9th Nov 2020

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Located in the north-east corner of Singapore’s North district, Yishun is a developing neighbourhood with plenty of amenities and community facilities. Perhaps best-known by many as being where President Halimah Yacob has her family home, Yishun has a great location with plenty of natural parks and a large reservoir. It has also caught the attention of many expats since the opening of the international school, GEMS World Academy in 2016.

Although Yishun has often been reported in an unfavourable light – and had its fair share of bad news – it is an up and coming area. As well as having one of the largest multiplex cinemas in Asia, housing here is more affordable than neighbouring districts. Also, as one of several mature areas to be revamped under the government’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme, Yishun is fast becoming a thriving hub for living, working and playing.

undefined — One of Yishun's many hawker centres

Transport 
Yishun is well connected by public transport with the Yishun MRT station on the North South line. If driving, the Seletar (SLE) and the Bukit Timah (BTE) Expressways link Woodlands to the city centre. Once completed in 2020, the new North-South Expressway (NSE) will help to keep traffic moving between northern areas such as Woodlands and the Central Business District.

Schools
There is one international school here, GEMS World Academy.

Healthcare
The closest hospitals are Yishun Community Hospital and Thye Hua Kwan Hospital in Ang Mo Kio, and an acute care hospital is under development at the new Woodlands Health Campus.

Shopping
The largest mall is Northpoint City and there are plenty of smaller shopping centres in the neighbourhood, and it’s only a short drive across the causeway bridge to shops (and cheaper prices) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Popular markets include Chong Pang City and Yishun Park Hawker Centre.

Attractions
There’s a wide choice of leisure activities here, with the ORTO 24-hour park serving up prawning, fishing, trampoline park, drift karting and Longkang fishing. Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari is just a 10-minute drive away. Head across to Malaysia for a day trip and you’ll find plenty of temples and museums in Johor Bahru.

Bars and restaurants
There are plenty of dining options at Northpoint City and within the district’s many hawker centres.