Bukit Batok Nature Park - from quarry to Little Guilin

Bukit Batok Nature Park is often called the Guilin of Singapore, as it resembles the famous karst mountains of Guilin in China. Locals affectionately know it as Xiao Guilin — xiao being the Chinese word for "little" or "small". The park's granite quarry-turned-lake, framed by towering cliff walls, has become its main attraction and a favourite spot for photographers. For those living in the western part of Singapore, it offers a peaceful respite from city life.

📋 Quick Facts

Location	Bukit Batok East Ave 2 & Ave 6
Size	36 hectares
Opening hours	Open 24 hours daily
Parking	Along Bukit Batok East Ave 2 (99 lots)
Nearest MRT	Bukit Gombak (NS3) — 8 min walk
Entry fee	Free
Time needed	1.5–2 hours for a full walk

🗺️ Where Is It?

The park is not at the extreme west like Jurong Lake Gardens, but sits closer to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to the east. A 1.8 km park connector links the two nature parks, making them part of the 36 km Coast-to-Coast Trail. Some hikers combine both parks for a longer walk. Bukit Batok is also Checkpoint Number 2 on the Coast-to-Coast Trail — you can scan the checkpoint if you've downloaded the trail app.

Bukit Batok literally means "coughing hill" in Malay — bukit is hill and batok means cough. Its neighbour, Bukit Timah, means "tin hill" (timah = tin). The distance from Jurong Lake Gardens to Bukit Batok Nature Park is 7.3 km (4.5 miles), so depending on your direction, Jurong Lake Gardens can be your start or end point on the Coast-to-Coast Trail.

🚌 How to Get There

By MRT

• Bukit Gombak MRT (NS3) — 8-minute walk to the park. The most convenient option.
• Bukit Batok MRT (NS2) — About 1.9 km walk. Alternatively, take Bus 985 from Opp Blk 628 and alight 4 stops later at Opp Blk 266 (ID: 43229).
• Beauty World MRT (DT5) — About 1.6 km walk. Take Bus 852 from Exit B and alight 3 stops later at Ppis Bt Batok (ID: 43631).

By Bus

The nearest bus stop is Autobacs (ID: 43209) along Bukit Batok East Ave 6 — a 7-minute walk to the park. Buses that stop here:

61, 66, 157, 174, 178, 852, 970, 985

By Car

There is a carpark along Bukit Batok East Ave 2 with 99 car lots, 5 motorcycle lots, and 1 handicapped lot. Parking fees apply. On weekends, this carpark fills up quickly. There is also an alternative unofficial carpark near the Syonan Chureito Memorial, accessible via Lorong Sesuai.

🏞️ Little Guilin: The Star Attraction

Little Guilin was once a disused granite quarry. Just like the quarries at Pulau Ubin and Bedok Reservoir, these excavated pits have been transformed into scenic lakes. Granite quarries once dotted the island from east to west, supplying stone for bridges and buildings during Singapore's early development.

While Little Guilin is undeniably picturesque — as is the forested path leading to it — the name Little is apt. The viewing area is compact, and on busy days you may have to wait your turn for an unobstructed photo. There is, after all, only one small "mountain" reflected in the water. :)

💡 Tip: There is no signboard that says "Little Guilin" in the park. Look for the playground signage instead — the quarry viewpoint is right next to it.

Park Map

🌿 Walking the Trails

Walking or hiking around the nature park, passing through dense forest with tall trees and rustic wooden benches, is genuinely refreshing. There are some hilly sections with steps — hence the name Bukit — but all trails are well paved with brick blocks.

It is not a large park compared to its neighbour Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, yet the dense forest canopy and quarry views more than make up for its size. You will likely spot joggers along the paths. Because the terrain is hilly, unlike flat coastal parks such as East Coast Park, Pasir Ris, Coney Island, or Changi Beach, you will hardly see cyclists here. There is also no bike rental station in the park. Walking up and down the forested hills offers a different experience from the seaside parks in the east.

Scenic path leading to Little Guilin

What to Bring

• Water bottle — there is a water cooler near the playground/fitness station
• Insect repellent — mosquitoes are common in forested areas
• Comfortable walking shoes with grip — some steps can be slippery after rain
• Umbrella or raincoat — tropical downpours are sudden

🦎 Wildlife You Might Spot

Beyond Little Guilin, keep an eye out for the park's resident birds. The sociable and pretty white-crested laughing thrush is often seen in flocks of 3 to 8. Peep into the forest as you walk and you may spot them flitting between branches.

Snakes can be spotted too — though they usually keep to themselves. Signs also warn of long-tailed macaques and wild boars, but these animals are found in practically all of Singapore's nature parks, including Pulau Ubin and MacRitchie Reservoir. They are generally harmless as long as we do not feed them. Wild animals are able to find their own food in the parks by eating wild fruits and seeds, such as the common red-stem figs and pandanus fruits which are abundant here. Humans, nature, and wildlife should co-exist for a balanced ecosystem.

Other creatures recorded in the park include the Malayan colugo (a gliding mammal) and nectar bats, which help pollinate fruit trees in the area.

⚔️ World War II Memorial: Syonan Chureito

There is a World War II memorial site, Syonan Chureito, along the steps up to the Bukit Batok television transmission tower. The steps do not lead to a summit viewpoint, but sitting at the top is pleasantly chill, with views of the forest canopy below.

There used to be two memorials on this hill: a Shinto shrine built by the Japanese in 1942 to commemorate their soldiers killed in the Battle for Singapore, and a 10-foot wooden cross erected a short distance behind to honour Allied soldiers. The Shinto shrine was destroyed in 1945, and the Allied memorial was removed under unknown circumstances. Today, a giant stone "book" sits in the middle of the steps, telling the tragic history of one of the fiercest battles fought on the island.

If you are interested in WWII history, the nearby Ford Motor Factory is about a 10-minute walk down the hill. It was there that the British surrendered on 15 February 1942. You can also learn more about Singapore's wartime history at the Changi Chapel and Museum.

🏋️ Playground & Fitness Corner

An outdoor fitness station sits next to the playground — a common pairing in Singapore's parks, so the whole family can play or exercise together. There is a washroom and water cooler opposite the fitness station, making this a convenient rest stop.

🌳 Bukit Batok Town Park (Little Guilin) vs. Bukit Batok Nature Park

There is also a pleasant Bukit Batok Town Park near the nature park. A "town park" refers to a smaller green space within a housing estate — common across Singapore, so that even residents in dense high-rise flats can stay close to nature. Most nature reserves or parks are set away from dense residential estates but still within easy reach, such as Pasir Ris Mangroves Park. Pasir Ris, too, has its own town park, complete with a large fishing pond.

Do not confuse the two: Bukit Batok Town Park (also called Little Guilin by some) is the one with the famous quarry lake view and is an 8-minute walk from Bukit Gombak MRT. Bukit Batok Nature Park is the larger 36-hectare forested park with trails, the WWII memorial, and the transmission tower. They are adjacent but distinct.

📸 Photography Tips

• Best light: Early morning (7–9am) or late afternoon (5–6:30pm) for soft, golden light on the quarry cliff.
• Reflections: Calm days after rain offer mirror-like reflections in the lake.
• Weekdays: Fewer crowds mean easier shots without people in the frame.
• Rainy season: The quarry cliff looks dramatic under moody, overcast skies.

🎯 Final Tips

• A full walk around the park, including Little Guilin and the hilltop memorial, takes about 1.5 to 2 hours at a leisurely pace.
• The park is open 24 hours, but lighting is only on from 7pm to 7am. Avoid walking alone after dark.
• Pets are welcome but must be leashed at all times.
• No fishing is allowed in the quarry lake.
• If you are doing the Coast-to-Coast Trail, this is a great place to refill your water bottle and rest before continuing.

Have you visited Bukit Batok Nature Park? Share your favourite spot in the comments! For more nature walks, check out our guides to MacRitchie Reservoir and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, both are mangroves haven.