Walking Tour: Memory Palace – The Worlds & Words of Bukit Larangan

Name: Walking Tour: Memory Palace – The Worlds & Words of Bukit Larangan
Start: 7/26/2026 12:00:00 AM +08:00
End: 8/2/2026 12:00:00 AM +08:00

Ng Yi-Sheng (Singapore)

26 Jul 2026, Sun, 9am

2 Aug 2026, Sun, 9am

1hr 30mins

(Intermission: None)

Fort Canning Hill (Meeting point: Entrance of National Museum of Singapore)

$30

Ticket sales will close on 21 Jul, 11.59pm (for 26 Jul) and 28 Jul, 11.59pm (for 2 Aug), or earlier if sold out.

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Synopsis

This walk—conducted by two-time Singapore Literature Prize winner Ng Yi-Sheng—will explore the lasting cultural legacy of precolonial Singapore. Visiting multiple sites in the vicinity of Fort Canning Hill, Yi-Sheng will reveal how the 14th-century kingdom lives on in the form of folk memories, rituals, monuments, theatre, and fictions.

Inspired by the research behind his mythic historical novel, Utama, which re-imagines the rise of Sang Nila Utama, Yi-Sheng ponders the contradictory stories around the lineage of the legendary founder of the island of Temasek, and the clash of empires in that era which shaped the Malay Archipelago we know today. Historical fact is layered with myth and re-invention, and spiced up with imagination.

Amongst other locations, the walk will take you to the National Archives, the Sang Nila Utama Garden, the Keramat Iskandar Shah, and the Archaeological Dig Exhibition. At each stop, Yi-Sheng will share personal memories and titbits of Singaporean cultural history, while also inviting you to share your own recollections.

This is a companion programme to Fragments of Tuah (24 – 26 Jul 2026) at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The Studios companion programmes are an invitation to deepen engagement with the artistic works and conversations raised in the season.

Advisory:

Participants below the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult (aged 18 and above).
Each participant will be required to sign an indemnity form.
Please dress comfortably and wear shoes suitable for walking. Conditions will be slippery or muddy during or after rain.
You will be required to walk on uneven ground and will encounter a lot of stairs and slopes.
We encourage you to bring:
- A raincoat or umbrella in case of rain
- A cap or hat for protection against the sun
- Insect repellent
- Drinking water
This is a rain or shine programme and will only be cancelled in the event of heavy rain, thunder and lightning.
Please arrive at the meeting point 30 minutes before the scheduled start time to register, fill in pre-event forms and visit the restroom.
Latecomers will not be allowed to join the walk once it begins.
More details about this programme will be sent to ticket holders on the week of the event.

Admission Age:

13 and above.

Language: English

Things to Note:

Ticketing: Prices exclude ticketing agent’s booking fees. Entry to performance venues is granted to patrons with tickets that have been purchased through authorised ticket agents only. Read about ticketing or check our FAQs.

For information about late seating, photography and more, please read our general advisory.

With the growing threat of online phishing scams, please remain vigilant. Use official ticketing channels such as Esplanade.com or Sistic.com.sg and check that you are on legitimate websites before logging in to book tickets.

Artist Information

Ng Yi-Sheng

Website | Instagram

Ng Yi-Sheng is a writer, researcher and activist with a keen interest in the forgotten histories of Southeast Asia. His books include the historical fantasy novel Utama (shortlisted for the 2025 Epigram Books Fiction Prize), the short-story collection Lion City (winner of the 2020 Singapore Literature Prize) and the bestselling children’s history book Twisted Temasek.

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Date & Time

26 Jul 2026, Sun

9am

Fort Canning Park (Meeting point: Entrance of National Museum of Singapore)

2 Aug 2026, Sun

9am

Fort Canning Park (Meeting point: Entrance of National Museum of Singapore)

Tickets & Prices

	Standard
Price	$30

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