Henry Wang Hengle, 7Ca, BASIS International School Shenzhen

The Republic of Singapore sits on the edge of the equator, and this dominion with a history of merely half a century has risen to the rank as high as that of the American and European metropolises. This incredible aggrandizement of economic, cultural, and political status was played out in such a short time that its industrialization was considered one of the most successful in Asia. Adding on to its plentiful museums and learning institutions, Singapore has become a perfect destination for educational visits.

My very first impression of the country when I arrived at Changi International Airport. Apart from being uncomfortably hot, I was impressed by the cleanness, whether at the airport front entrance, on the major freeway, or at the backstreets. It was even cleaner than the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula. You need to scavenge through the streets a whole day to find even a single piece of waste tissue, which is so common on the streets of other countries.

The strict legalist laws here helped to maintain this high level of cleanness, and it came with a price. Even in the near past, strict and harsh corporal punishments were permitted and incorporated for the enforcement of laws and decrees of the Singaporean government. It not only addressed the issue of hygiene, but also extended to all aspects of life. All these made it one of the most livable cities in the world.

The demographics of Singapore consist of various ethnicities and nationalities, representing different nations of Asia and the world, some coming to Singapore in search of a better life after being attracted by its high standard of education, social care and environment. This phenomenon has made Singapore a melting pot of languages, cultures and religions, making it one of the most diverse countries in Asia. But there is also a feeling of belonging in everybody to their shared country, proud of their home and proud of its history. This is what made Singapore unique in the world.

Singapore is a haven for creativity and innovation, and it is probably partly due to its diversity in culture. I could say Chinese people are good at innovation, and the new Singaporean Republic is carrying on this tradition with renewed and increased vigor. This is not only due to the large percentage of Chinese people inhabiting Singapore, but also due to the people’s willingness to contribute to the society in new and inspiring ways.

The people’s wish to make the world better has partly given rise to the flourishment of creativity in the country, whether in the subjects of technological invention or new and modern art.

Singapore is a major contributor in culture, arts, science and technology. The newest and most groundbreaking inventions are always encouraged. But apart from the technology that usually identifies a strong country, development of the arts and culture could also be used as a characteristic of a country in its Golden Age.

Thus, in my visit to Singapore, I explicitly explored the aspects of Singaporean society not usually mentioned about. I stayed on this visit in the lively district of Tiong Bahru, an arts and culture hub initially developed back in the 1950s and 60s. Although it was not as lively as before, you could still see remnants of the once-glorious district that reminded us of its artistic past. Frescoes dominated the walls of cafés, informing us of the district’s living history, and painted walls and windows suggested of its especially colorful past, when musicians, artisans and poets crowded the region. This thriving period is now gone, but it still tells us how important a role art played in the development of Singapore.