SINGAPORE: Two points of interest in Singapore have been included in TIME Journal’s record of World’s Biggest Locations of 2026: Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s Rainforest Wild Asia and the Home of Tan Yeok Nee.
The record of 100 extraordinary new vacationer locations that opened on this previous yr contains Netflix Home in Philadelphia, Songtsam Lodge in Cizhong, China, and Soori Penang in George City, Malaysia.
“At its greatest, journey is a bridge—a chance to come across new cultures, welcome guests, and uncover how a lot the unfamiliar can really feel surprisingly acquainted,” TIME wrote concerning its record.
Audrey Phoon, who wrote in regards to the two entries from Singapore, famous how over 2,500 motels alone open throughout the globe yearly. Subsequently, having two out of all 100 entries on the record, 32 of that are in Asia, is “fairly exceptional illustration” given how small Singapore is.
“It’s additionally fascinating that the 2 locations sit at reverse ends of the spectrum – one is a Nineteenth-century heritage challenge that has been meticulously restored; the opposite is an AI-driven initiative main the way in which in zoo tourism. I believe it’s an correct snapshot of how Singapore is evolving, with one eye on preserving the previous and the opposite forging the longer term,” she added in a LinkedIn publish.
Mandai Wildlife Group’s Rainforest Wild Journey
In writing about Rainforest Wild Journey, Ms Phoon famous the way it doesn’t appear to be a conventional zoo, and known as it a “radical tackle conventional zoo tourism.”
The park has new journey actions included in admission costs, together with the Ravine Swing and the Cover Glider, the Apex and Cavern adventures, and invitations guests to spend time with 58 species of free-roaming animals, together with the Okapi and Diana Monkey, that are in Singapore for the primary time.
Home of Tan Yeok Nee
The Home of Tan Yeok Nee, in the meantime, is a nationwide monument discovered on the gateway to Orchard Street.
It was initially constructed within the Eighties and is the one survivor among the many “4 Grand Mansions” of Singapore. The house of Teochew businessman Tan Yeok Nee, whose fortune got here from opium and alcohol, options craftsmanship from its time.
Its $100 million restoration got here below the stewardship of the Karim Household Basis, which has since reopened it as a dwelling heritage house, with 4 galleries, a restaurant, workplaces, and occasion venues.
“The actual draw lies within the craftsmanship: phoenixes assembled from porcelain shards crown the rooflines, beams are hand-painted with pure gold, and even the drainpipes take the type of flourishing pomegranate bushes. Architectural imprints from the home’s previous—like Gothic lancet home windows added when an orphanage used the house as a chapel—solely add to its singular character,” wrote Ms Phoon. /TISG
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