Tucked away in the hilly districts adjacent to the Central Water Catchment nature reserves, District 23 is the place to be if you appreciate being close to nature and enjoying some much-need peace away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Situated in the western region of Singapore, District 23 includes:
- Dairy Farm and Bukit Panjang: A quiet residential neighbourhood with a mix of old and new developments, that has benefited from a recent MRT line.
- Choa Chu Kang: A comparatively older heartland HDB estate, Choa Chu Kang, is one of the more well-developed estates with a wide range of public amenities in the vicinity.
- Hillview: An up-market private residence enclave nestled within a predominantly military district, with historic significance and close to nature.
Parks and Sports Centres
One of the biggest draws of District 23 is its easy access to a wealth of nature hotspots nearby.
From the massive 163-hectare Bukit Timah Nature Reserve which houses a rainforest, plenty of hiking and biking trails to enjoy nature in its most pristine state, the scenic Rail Corridor Central, Hindhede Nature Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Chestnut Nature Park, Choa Chu Kang Park and more, residents have plenty of places to choose from to unwind after a busy day at work.
Prefer unwinding with sports? Most of the public sports amenities are concentrated within the HDB estates of Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang. The most significant one? The Choa Chu Kang Sports Centre, an integrated hub with a massive stadium, street soccer courts, a massive swimming complex, tennis courts, sports halls, gyms, and more.
Heritage Attractions
Once an old industrial estate before World War II, some important pieces of history have been preserved through the years, as a reminder of Singapore’s past.
Key historical places of interest in District 23 include the former Ford Motor Factory which was the historic site where the British surrender to the Japanese forces occurred in 1942, the Church of Saint Joseph, and the Bukit Batok WII memorial site amongst others.
Schools, Libraries, and Other Public Facilities
The majority of public facilities in the district are concentrated within the two heartland neighbourhoods of Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang.
With double the option when it comes to community centres, neighbourhood centres, wet markets, libraries, malls, and polyclinics, residents in District 23 have everything they need at their doorsteps.
Interestingly, even in such an offbeat location, there are plenty of educational institutions in the neighbourhood which is perfect for families with schooling kids. These includes Bukit Panjang Primary School, CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace, West View Primary School, Chua Chu Kang Primary School, Fajar Secondary School, Chua Chu Kang Secondary School, Greenridge Secondary School, Bukit Panjang Government High, and German European School Singapore, and more.
Food & Beverages (F&B) and Retail Options
Within the enclave that is Hillview, residents have convenient access to everything that they need via the stretch of cafes, restaurants, and malls like HillV2 and the neighbouring Rail Mall.
Within the heartland’s estate of Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang, residents have malls like Bukit Panjang Plaza, Hillion Mall, Junction 10, Fajar Shopping Centre, Greenridge Shopping Centre, Lot One Mall, Sunshine Place, Yew Tee Point, Yew Tee Square, for all their food and shopping needs.
Convenient Access to Downtown Core and West
With the introduction of an LRT network that services the district connecting residents to two main MRT lines – the North-South Line and Downtown Line – residents in District 23 now enjoy convenient access to the city centre and the western region of Singapore.