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\nChangi Beach is a popular place for activities ranging from leisurely strolls to water sports.
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\nNever crowded and usually peaceful, Changi Village is one of the few areas in Singapore where one can go for some respite\u00a0from the chaos of city life. We look at what else makes it unique, and why you might want to visit more often.
\nBy Cheryl Marie Tay
\nChangi Village is unique in more\u00a0ways than one. Despite being famous for its food (and infamous for other things, but I will get into that later) and\u00a0often touted as an ideal weekend spot,\u00a0it has never been known to draw in large crowds.
\nIn fact, in 2005, the Singapore\u00a0government promised to attempt to\u00a0revive the area, which it then termed\u00a0a \u201cghost town\u201d. While referring to it\u00a0as such may have been a bit of an\u00a0overreach, perhaps the government has\u00a0achieved its goal.
\nThese days, Changi is still not\u00a0overflowing with people, but it is\u00a0certainly not a ghost town. And its lack\u00a0of huge crowds despite its inherent\u00a0popularity remains part of its appeal.\u00a0Its coffee shops and other eateries are\u00a0never empty, and neither are its various\u00a0bars and caf\u00e9s.
\nIn fact, just a few years ago, the\u00a0former Le Meridien Hotel in Changi\u00a0was rebranded and revamped\u00a0by Far East Hospitality under its\u00a0Village Hotels & Residences line\u00a0as Village Hotel Changi. Thanks to\u00a0the relatively peaceful environment\u00a0in which it is located, the hotel has become quite popular among those\u00a0residing in Singapore to book rooms\u00a0there for staycations.
\nAdditionally, because of its\u00a0proximity to Changi Airport, visitors\u00a0who cannot find rooms at the airport\u2019s\u00a0Crowne Plaza Hotel or who simply\u00a0prefer to stay in a quieter area often\u00a0flock to Village Hotel Changi.
\nBut first, let\u2019s take a look at the\u00a0history of Changi Village.
\nBefore Changi was Changi
\nChangi Village is \u2014 as its name suggests \u2014 located in Changi, in the easternmost region of Singapore. More specifically, it is situated at the northern tip of Changi. But before Changi became known as such, it was called Tanjong Rusa; this name was first seen on the 1604 EG de Eredia map of Singapore.
\nIt wasn\u2019t until the early 19th century that the area became known as \u201cChangi\u201d, with the southeastern tip of the country stated as Tanjong Changi on the Franklin and Jackson 1928 map of Singapore. But during surveys of the country in the 1820s and 1830s, Changi was also referred to as Franklin Point, after one of the early surveyors, Captain Franklin. The origin of the name \u201cChangi\u201d is not clear, as there are a few possible explanations regarding its etymology.
\nIt might have been derived from the Changal or Chengai tree, a heavy local timber tree found in the area. Another possible origin of the name (also related to flora) is the Changi Ular, a climbing scrub locally called Chengal Asir or Chengal Mata Kuching, which used to grow in the area.
\nPlantations and recreation
\nIn the 1800s, Changi was best known for its coconut plantations. But as early as 1945, the area was also known as a resort town, where both government and private holiday bungalows were open for use.
\nSome years later, in the 1860s, sago plantations began to flourish in Changi. Its picturesque coast also made it a popular picnic spot, and its mostly flat terrain was dotted with three hills: Battery Hill, Fairy Point Hill and Temple Hill.<\/p>\n