Bukit Batok Town Park – Picturesque Sights Like Little Guilin An 8-Minute Walk From The MRT

Bukit Batok Town Park

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As one of those people who likes to say “East side, best side”, I would first like to apologise and say hats off to Bukit Batok Town Park for having postcard-worthy views. Having rarely stepped foot anywhere beyond Clementi thanks to being in NUS, I never realised that the West had such a beautiful gem.

Home to the iconic Little Guilin, a vast lake, and hiking trails, Bukit Batok Town Park is a great place to escape the mundanity of the usual rows of HDB blocks and skyscrapers we see daily.

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How to get to Bukit Batok Town Park?

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The easiest and most convenient way to get to Bukit Batok Town Park is by taking the MRT and alighting at Bukit Gombak MRT station on the North-South line. Afterwards, the park is just a quick 8-minute walk away.

Visitors can also board buses no. 871 or 871A from Tengah bus interchange and 945 from Bukit Batok bus interchange and alight at the Bt Gombak Stadium bus stop (stop ID: 43569). Buses 871 and 871A. The park is then a mere 110m away, which should take you under a minute’s walk to reach.

For visitors driving to Bukit Batok Town Park, do note that there’s no parking at the park. Instead, park your vehicle at the nearby HDB car park at Block 523-525 Bukit Batok Street 52 and walk over to the park that’s 2 minutes away. Below are the parking rates:

Period	Parking rates
Mon-Sat, 7am-10.30pm	$0.60/30 minutes
Mon-Sun, 10.30pm-7am	$0.60/30 minutes, $5 max
Sun 7am-10.30pm	Free

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History of Little Guilin

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Little Guilin in the 1990s.
Image credit: Singapore Tourist Promotion Board Collection

Bukit Batok Town Park used to be the site of a granite factory which focused on mining a type of rock called Gombak norite. But when it came time to mine the granite that was below sea level, there were concerns about how it might affect the ecosystem, and thus was left abandoned. Over time, rainwater filled the quarry, eventually giving us the lake we know it to be today.

After seeing how beautiful the quarry had become, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) added footpaths and streets, turning it into a park. In the midst of the towering granite rocks, many locals began calling the area “Little Guilin” for its similarity to the mountainous city of Guilin in China.

Image credit: Singapore Tourist Promotion Board Collection

Some even speculate that the name Bukit Batok – which translates to “coughing hill” in Malay – came from the sounds made by the factory in the 1950s. While Bukit means “hill”, Batok translates to “cough”, which was apparently what granite mining sounded like.

Other iterations of the name suggest that “batok” is a Chinese mispronunciation of the Malay word batu, which means stone – a nod to the hills and quarries in the area.

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Popular nature spot for exercise enthusiasts

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Image credit: @anmspty via Instagram

Today, Bukit Batok Town Park is a popular location for joggers, dog-walkers, and Instagrammers alike. This is probably thanks to its short distance from Bukit Gombak MRT and the otherworldly rock formation just across the lake, minimising the need for a long trek just to get a few aesthetic photos.

If you’re a hiking enthusiast looking for their next hiking trail in Singapore to conquer, you can prolong your visit by using the Hillview Park Connector. This links Little Guilin to Bukit Batok Nature Park which sits at just about a 20-minute walk away.

A Grey-headed fish eagle.
Image credit: @chefpinaki via Instagram

While you’re here, you can also look out for some wildlife. Little Guilin is known to have rich biodiversity and is home to many little critters like terrapins and all sorts of migratory birds. I’m not much of a birdwatcher myself, but it never fails to amaze me when I see something other than the pedestrian mynah or a pigeon flying across the trees.

Do note that according to NParks, fishing is strictly not allowed at Bukit Batok Town Park. Instead, cast your rod at these fishing spots in Singapore instead.

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Visit Bukit Batok Town Park

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Image credit: @ellenarium via Instagram

From rocky landscapes to towering granite cliffs, Bukit Batok Town Park is really a sight to behold, and it’s even in close proximity to public transport. Especially for those who hate long hikes just to find a good spot to relax, a stroll by this scenic quarry with loved ones is just the thing to end your week on a high note with.

For new outdoorsy things to do in Singapore:

• Chinese Garden & Japanese Garden at Jurong Lake Gardens
• Mandai Boardwalk at Mandai Wildlife Reserve
• Keppel Coastal Trail at Labrador Nature Park

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Cover image adapted from: @anmspty & @ellenarium via Instagram
Originally published on 5th August 2021. Last updated by Khoo Yong Hao on 29th March 2025.