Dragon's Teeth Gate Recreated!

Do you know that there is actually a Dragon's Teeth Gate in Singapore still?

Boys, do you know where it is found ? Do read on and find out !

In 1819, the first Resident of Singapore William Farquhar found a deep-water harbour at the site. This became New Harbour, and later, Keppel Harbour.

The British blew up Long Yan Men to widen the gateway of the channel to Keppel Harbour in mid 1848. Fortunately, a painting of Long Ya Men by J T Thomson still exists. Using historical records and that painting, Long Ya Men was re-created near its original point next to Labrador Nature Reserve.

Today, all maritme trade along the Straits of Singapore must still pass by the Dragon’s Teeth Gate.

Raffles Town Plan Tour in March 2008

Raffles landing site is situated near the Boat Quay. This is the place where Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826), an agent of the British East India Company, is believed to have set foot on Singapore soil in January 1819.

Raffles hoped to establish Singapore as a British port that can compete with the other Dutch ports in the region. He wanted to make Singapore a free port and an ideal stopping route for traders along the shortest sea route between India and China. On 30th January 1819, Raffles signed a treaty with the Temenggong, the local chief, and Sultan Hussein of Johore-Riau to establish a British trading port in Singapore.

However the Dutch protested. The dispute was finally resolved with the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty in March 1824. According to the treaty, the British acquired Malacca,Penang and Singapore, while the Dutch gained the control of Bencoolen and Indonesia.
In August 1824, a Treaty of Friendship and Alliance was signed with the Temenggong and the Sultan, which gave the governance of the island to the British. Currently there is a statue of Sir Stamford Raffles in that place where Raffles first stepped on Singapore soil.

"On this historic site Sir Thomas Stamford Rafflesfirst landed in Singaporeon 28 January 1819and with genius and perceptionchanged the destiny of Singaporefrom an obscure fishing villageto a great seaportand modern metropolis