Kreta Ayer

Kreta Ayer District is the junction of Neil Road with New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Road, which intersects Keong Saik Road. Kreta Ayer Street was officially named in 1922.

In the early 19th and 20th centuries, water was drawn from nearby wells. Ann Siang Hill was transported by bullock cart known today as Kreta Ayer, which means "water truck" in Malay. The Hokkien people call this area gu chia chung, and the Cantonese call it ngow chay shui which means "water ox cart" that once passed through this street. In the 1800s, many roads were developed in the district, such as Fujian Street, China Street, Sago Street, and Temple Street.

Kreta Ayer is part of the Kreta Ayer Chinatown Reserve and is home to many preserved shops. HDB buildings, shops and places to eat also line this street. Several developments have been renovated and modernized, known today as the Kreta Ayer Center: Kreta Ayer Community Center, originally known as Banda Street Community Center because of its location on Banda Hills. People's Theatre, part of the Kreta Ayer Community Center. Kreta Ayer Complex was later renamed Chinatown Complex,  the residential and shopping development we just passed.