Excuse me, is 牛车水 still there? According to what I know, it was an old district (or whatever you call it) that exists since world war II. At that Singapore was lack of fresh water, so people used ox-cart to supply water and that was where the name came from. I watched a TV series movie years ago called "牛车水人家" describes a lot about that area.
Yep. Still here. We call it Chinatown now... But it is nothing like in the past anymore... instead it had become a tourist attraction with quite a number of 'old looking' building... actually most are shops and restaurant now. Actually that place exist before WWII... but Singapore didn't really have too long a history (as compared to other nations) so... yeah, really not much to mention in the term history. As early as 1330, there are record of a Chinese community already settled in Singapore (although I am not too sure of the exact location), although I believe they are cramped in 牛车水. When Sir Stamford Raffles of East Indies Company (British Empire) founded Singapore in 1819 (and after signing a treaty with Sultan of Johore), with the first resident Sir William Farquhar came into Singapore mainland, that area was already pretty crowded as early settlers (mostly from China) grouped together.
Actually nothing too exciting to talk about so I will stop here in case any of you are bore to tears with Singapore history.