City respite of history, art, animals and a soothing bath

Raffles Hotel Singapore. [Photo provided to China Daily]

My Singaporean friend reckons that in Singapore there is list of "1000 things to do before you die", and that one of them is to have a cup of Singapore Sling, a gin-based cocktail, at the hotel's famous long bar. ("Fling" was what jumped into my mind when I first heard about the drink.)

Singapore Sling was developed some time before 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon, a Hainanese bartender working at the Long Bar. It was initially called the gin sling, sling originally being an American drink composed of spirit and water, sweetened and flavored.

And it is impossible not to mention the Raffles, opened in 1887 by four Armenian brothers whose contemporaries considered them to be the "foremost hoteliers of the East". With a ballroom touted at one time as the biggest in the Far East, the hotel, located in the old European Town, has weathered vicissitudes with its glitter undimmed.

However, if you crave a more down-to-earth experience, head to Haji Lane, located in Arab street, nearest Bugis MRT. This tiny lane, hidden away in the heart of the Muslim quarter, exudes a bohemian feel. With fashion boutiques packed alongside cafes and bars, it is a place to shop for local designs as well as vintage clothing, and to wash away the fatigue with a glass of mojito.

Location: Raffles Singapore, 1 Beach Road