Geylang (Malay: Geylang , Simplified Chinese: 芽笼, Traditional Chinese: 芽籠; Pinyin: Yálóng; Hokkien POJ: Gê-láng; Hokkien Taiji: Gey3lang4 ) is a planning area in Singapore. It is bordered by Toa Payoh and Hougang in the north, Bedok in the west, Marine Parade in the south and Kallang in the west. The main road through the area is Geylang Road, which runs parallel to Sims Avenue and the Pan Island Expressway to its north, and with Guillemard Road and Old Airport Road to its south. The canalised Geylang River cuts through the heart of the area.
Geylang is located in Singapore Postal District 14.
The planning area of Geylang is divided into 5 neighbourhoods called "subzones". They are Aljunied, Geylang East, Kallang Way, Kampong Ubi and MacPherson.
The word Geylang is said to have been derived from the name of Kallang, which itself came from the Malay word kilang, meaning factory. This came about because the 1838 spelling placed it as Kelang, which subsequently was pronounced Geylang.
In the earliest topographical maps, Geylang is shown to be an area of marshland and coconut groves.1. Traditionally, it was the home of the local sea gypsies or Orang Laut who were known among the Malays as orang biduanda kallang
Geylang is infamous in Singapore for its red light district, which still operates discreetly today. Or perhaps not so discreetly. On my recent visit to Singapore, I was driven around the Geylang area by a friend, who pointed out to me the houses that are being used as brothels. At some of these houses, I could clearly see the prostitutes displaying themselves to awaiting customers. Even along some of the road sides, I could see them standing around. It was an eye opener to me, that prostitution is allowed in the otherwise straitlaced Singapore.
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