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The River Merchants

The River Merchants stands along the Singapore River, directly before Maybank Tower, as a bronze sculpture by Singaporean artist Aw Tee Hong. Two groups recreate the river’s nineteenth-century trading activity in vivid detail.

Alexander Laurie Johnston mediates between a Malay chief and a Chinese trader on one side. Johnston founded A. L. Johnston & Co. here in 1820, at Tanjong Tangkap, the nearest godown to the river mouth. Across the sculpture, Chinese and Indian labourers load sacks onto a bullock cart, recalling the work that kept river trade moving.

The scene brings merchants, traders and labourers together around one cart.

City
Singapore
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What is myTuur?

myTuur is a free city-guide app. Its tours are built from spots, and each spot carries a story that starts when you get there, to read or to listen to as you like.