A Description of Singapore in 1887: The Annotated Edition

“A Description of Singapore in 1887: The Annotated Edition” is a bilingual book based on the original version published in 1895, authored by Li Chung Chu, a scholar from Imperial China who visited Singapore in mid-1887. The book comprises anecdotes and first-hand experiences, providing insights into the cultural scenes and lives of immigrants in early Singapore. It significantly contributes to the knowledge of Singapore’s landscape in the 19th century, serving as an important source of reference for researchers studying the fields of Southeast Asia and overseas Chinese history.

In order to facilitate ease of reading, the new publication features simplified Chinese characters rather than the traditional Chinese characters of the original book, judicious use of punctuation marks, and explanations of particular phrases.