The granite face of a former quarry gives Bukit Batok Town Park its colloquial name, Little Guilin or Xia Guilin. Located close to Bukit Gombak MRT Station, the park is a spot of nature that is popular with photographers and wedding couples.
Bukit Batok Town Park is actually one of two significant parks in the Bukit Batok estate – the other one being Bukit Batok Nature Park. At a glance, Bukit Batok Town Park resembles the scenic sights found in Guilin, China and hence its name.
Coughing Hills
Interestingly, the words “Bukit” and “Batok” means “hill” and “cough” respectively in Malay. This was the result of the hills “coughing” from the blasting works in the granite quarry. The granite quarry ceased operations in the 1980s.
Today, the disused granite quarry is flooded, giving it the appearance of mountains in the distance above a lake.
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A stone pathway makes its way around the edge of the water. Along the foot path, there are still granite chunks, a reminder of the underlying geography of the location.
Two dome-shaped seating areas serve as rest stops for park visitors and jogger going by.
The hillock in the park also provides another vantage point to look out over the still water of the Bukit Batok Town Park lake.
There is a path that leads off into the forested area at the far end of the park. However, that path is restricted after a distance. This is the remnants of the old Bukit Gombak Trail. However, the trail was closed off in 2007 due to landslides in the area.
There isn’t much else at Bukit Batok Town Park. The attraction is its man-made, yet natural beauty.
Bukit Batok Town Park does make a nice place for kids to enjoy some fresh air. With the lake and granite cliffs, it is also a place which makes for atmospheric lantern walks during the mid-autumn festival.
Bukit Batok Town Park (Little Guilin)
Where: Along Bukit Batok East Avenue 5
