Changi

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Sunset at Changi Beach

Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia after Singapore's fall in February 1942.

Being close to the sea, Changi also has 2 commercial ferry terminals, Changi Point Ferry Terminal at Changi Creek and Changi Ferry Terminal near to Changi Naval Base.

James Clavell based his novel King Rat on his experiences as a World War 2 Allied prisoner of war at Changi Prison.

Etymology

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Singapore Changi Airport

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Changi Airport (inside view)

Template:Unreferenced section The early Malay place name of Changi was Tanjong Rusa, which is found in the 1604 E.G. de Eredia map of Singapore.

The native place name Changi is found very early in Singapore's history. In the 1828 map by Franklin and Jackson, the extreme southeastern tip of the island is referred to as Tanjong Changi. The local name Changi must have been a significant point for the Malays, especially in the days of the sixteenth century Johor kingdom located on the Johor River. Vessels using the Johor Straits would have to pass by Changi.

There are many versions for the etymological roots of the name Changi. One source says that it comes from a climbing shrub, the changi ular (Apama corymbosa), which grew in the area. Another claims that it gets its name from a tall tree, the chengai (Balanscarpus heimii), which abounded in the area in the early nineteenth century. Changi could also be a variation of the local timber named chengai. This heavy local timber is commonly used for buildings and furniture, and is valued for its strength and renowned for its deep rich colour.

During the early surveys in the 1820s to 1830s of Singapore island, Changi was also named Franklin Point after Captain Franklin who was involved as one of the early surveyors of Singapore island. It would seem that the colonial authorities had decided to latch on their own place name to the existing Malay name for Changi.

Around the 1900s, Changi was the favourite haunt for tigers. The female tigers were said to swim from Johore to Pulau Ubin to rest, before completing their journey to Singapore. The tigers would land at Ferry Point and give birth in this neighbourhood, and so the tigers on the island were generally young.

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A montage of Changi Point, showing images of Sungei Changi (Changi River), Changi Beach Park, Changi Golf Club, Changi Point Coastal Walk, Changi Point Ferry Terminal, and Changi Village Hotel.

Economy

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Airline House, the corporate head office of Singapore Airlines, is in the background

Singapore Airlines is headquartered at Airline House, by Changi Airport in Changi.

See also

• Changi Boardwalk
• Changi Village
• Singapore University of Technology and Design

References

Bibliography

• Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1
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