Mallika Dureja
Pulau Ubin is a small island located in the Straits of Johor to the northeast of Singapore’s mainland. The bumboat journey from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to the island takes approximately ten minutes. Pulau Ubin translates to “Granite Island” and is comprised of defunct granite quarries.
The island is also known by the Taiwanese romanization of Hokkein, tsioh sua, which translates to “stone hill.” The island is part of the Ubin-Khatib Important Bird Area and is known to contain numerous migratory and resident bird species, many of which are endangered. Pulau Ubin is one of the few locations of Singapore protected from real estate development.
Its timber house villages, wooden jetties, uncultivated wildlife, and abundance of natural wealth make it the last surviving example of the original ‘kampong’ Singapore. The island of Pulau Ubin is proud of its diverse plant and animal life. Its major attraction, the Chek Jawa wetlands, is an ecological gold mine and is home to more than ten distinct ecosystems.
Pulau Ubin is home to a number of ecological initiatives, including the Hornbill Conservation Project and the Seahorse Monitoring project, due to its abundance of wildlife. Ketam Mountain Bike Park is one of Singapore’s most prominent mountain bike trails and is located on Pulau Ubin.
The trail is well-marked along its entire length, with difficulty indicators at each segment, and traverses a variety of terrains, from open meadows to dense forests.
