Landform Fengshui Secrets: The Dragon’s Path through Bukit Ho Swee, Pasir Panjang and Kent Ridge

Published: 20 July 2026

Journey with Singapore’s Western Dragon as it glides over the southern ridges, all the way to the western coast.

From Bukit Ho Swee’s quiet slopes to the watchful peaks of Kent Ridge, this stretch of terrain forms one of Singapore’s most protective landform formations. A sleeping herder, a divine tortoise, twin lions and the rare combination of four animals all watch over this Western corridor.

Few homeowners realise their neighbourhood sits within guarded ground near the Western Dragon’s body. Does your home fall in any of the locations below? Read on to find out what it entails to live and work in these areas.

Fengshui formations near the Western Dragon’s Body

Curious to master fengshui insights? Check out our Strategic Fengshui modules to get started or read more about Singapore’s hidden dragons here.

What is landform fengshui?

In fengshui, landforms (形势) are natural geographical features that shape the flow of qi (energy) across a site, which can influence vitality, stability and fortune for generations. In general, rounded mountains hold and radiate positive qi, while jagged or barren peaks disrupt it. Water is equally essential; slow, winding rivers gather qi, while fast, straight ones sweep it away.

Central to this is the concept of the dragon vein (龙脉), an invisible current of qi that flows through mountain ridges. Fengshui practitioners trace it across the landscape to identify powerful formations. Among landform types, the dragon formation is the most auspicious. It describes terrain that flows like a dragon’s body. Imagine a continuous path of undulating hills, ridges or waterways forming the head, body and tail.

For qi to circulate smoothly, the dragon’s body must remain unbroken without sharp disruptions. When this flow is intact, nearby areas become ideal for residential living, education, spiritual practice and long-term investment.

In Singapore, the Western Dragon forms a natural screen that complements the mountain ranges of nearby Sumatra and Malaysia. Together, they give rise to the “Three Screens Protecting the King” formation, which helps to guard the fengshui of Singapore. 

Ready to explore this Guardian Dragon up close?

Read on as we uncover the first four of seven fengshui formations near its body.

Fengshui formations near the Western Dragon’s body

Bukit Ho Swee: Squatters to Singapore’s First Major Public Housing Project

Aerial view of the Bukit Ho Swee Estate in 1961. Credits: NLB

Named after 19th-century businessman Tay Ho Swee, Bukit Ho Swee is remembered today as the catalyst for modern HDB public housing in Singapore.

Prior to 1961, this hillside settlement was a dense, unplanned kampong of wooden and attap huts, housing nearly 20,000 residents. That was before a fire swept through the terrain and destroyed thousands of homes within hours. This led to the levelling of uneven kampong ground for Singapore’s first major public housing project.

Today, Bukit Ho Swee stands as a settled residential estate. From a turbulent past to a peaceful present, its transformation reflects the stable qi of the Western Dragon‘s body, where its central location supports a slower, more settled pace of life.

Do you live or work here? Let’s delve deeper into the landform fengshui.

Bukit Ho Swee: Herder’s Spring Slumber

The landform of Bukit Ho Swee resembles a sleeping young herder, with his head resting on Taman Ho Swee and his feet at Gan Eng Seng Secondary School. Before the 1961 fire, this herder formation complemented the horse in Queenstown and buffaloes at Bukit Merah and Tiong Bahru, set amongst the area’s hills and waters. Though the fire reshaped the surrounding environment, the young herder continued his duties, quietly keeping watch over Bukit Ho Swee.

That changed in the 1980s, when the relocation of Bukit Ho Swee Community Centre placed the new site directly on the herder’s abdomen, stirring him from his slumber. Decades on, the herder has aged, and the once-lively estate now reflects a more subdued, lacklustre air.

To revive Bukit Ho Swee, large-scale upgrading works, together with new senior activity centres and sports facilities, are needed to wake the herder and restore the estate’s vibrancy. Fittingly, Bukit Ho Swee has been selected under HDB’s Silver Upgrading Programme, bringing senior-friendly enhancements to the estate in the years ahead.

Bukit Purmei: Underrated Heritage Enclave

Tang Gah Beo (东狱庙) at 6 Purmei Road. Credits: URA

Foodies in Singapore may lament the loss of the legendary Bukit Purmei Lor Mee in Bukit Purmei, but there’s more to this tranquil, often-overlooked city fringe residential enclave.

Also known as “Serene Hill” in Malay, Bukit Purmei is tucked at the foot of Mount Faber. Its hilly terrain holds two unlikely neighbours: the Church of St Teresa, a national monument famed for its rare Romano-Byzantine architecture, and Keramat Bukit Kasita, a hidden Malay royal cemetery believed to date back to the 1530s.

When HDB built the estate between 1979 and 1980, part of the original burial ground was exhumed to make way for new flats. The royal graves, though, were spared. Today, residents live just metres from a cemetery that few even know is there!

Just above the estate, the highly sought-after freehold Teresa Ville condominium sits on higher ground, offering some of the best views in the neighbourhood.

Bukit Purmei: Divine Tortoise Protecting its Young

In fengshui, a tortoise land is rare and highly favourable. Bukit Purmei is blessed with two, forming the “Divine Tortoise Protecting its Young”. The baby tortoise sits in the Silat area with its head at Tai Yeong Kon Temple, while the mature guardian rests nearby, its head marked by Tang Gah Beo.

As the head symbolises leadership, residing here is said to bring wealth and fame, though this fortune rewards kindness and charity. Only by staying on the right path can one sustain lasting success. The formation also includes the “Inverted Golden Bell”, also known as the land of scholars, which is beneficial to those in the arts and literature field.

Combined with the estate’s natural tranquillity, this scholarly air suggests potential for arts and cultural development, such as a Malay heritage village to preserve local heritage for both younger generations and visitors.

Curious about how you can benefit from the Dragon’s energy? Don’t miss Way Academy’s Strategic  Fengshui  modules.

Pasir Panjang: Long Coast of Change

Pasir Panjang. Credits: NLB

Taking its name from the sandy coastline that once ran along its shores, Pasir Panjang means “long sand” in Malay. Malay fishing villages lined this coast until the early 1960s, before extensive land reclamation began in the late 1960s and pushed the shoreline outward. The long stretch of sand gave way to wharves and the PSA Pasir Panjang Terminal, a key driver behind Singapore’s status as one of the world’s busiest ports.

Today, this area is both a quiet residential enclave inland and a global maritime gateway at its reclaimed edge, soon to be transformed once again as operations shift towards the new Tuas Megaport.

Do you work or live in Pasir Panjang? Your surroundings shape more than you think, from career and relationships to wealth. Discover how landform energy affects you through our Strategic Fengshui modules.

Pasir Panjang: Twin Lions Guarding the River

Pasir Panjang is part of the fengshui formation, “Twin Lions Guarding the River”. The head of the lioness lies near the Port of Singapore (PSA) building while her tail links to the “Snake Land” at South Buona Vista Road. The lion stands guard at Labrador Park.

In Chinese culture, lions symbolise power and are believed to be prestigious protectors. This explains the peace and prosperity of the area that includes private landed properties, businesses, sustainable F&B establishments, and most notably the ever-flourishing marine trade at PSA. Lucky you if you’re staying at The Hillshore or Terra Hill.

Guarded by the “Twin Lions”, Pasir Panjang is well suited to high-end integrated developments catering to luxury seekers. That said, its overall luck is expected to be stagnant during Period 9 (2024 to 2043). Relocating important government agencies to Pasir Panjang could help sustain the area’s continual prosperity.

Holland Road, Kent Ridge, South Buona Vista Road & Haw Par Villa: A Blend of Entertainment & Academia

Aerial views of Normanton Park, Kent Ridge Park, the city centre and southern coastline. Credits: Kingsford Development

Located along Singapore’s southwestern ridge, few may associate Holland Road, Kent Ridge, South Buona Vista Road and Haw Par Villa with one another. Yet, these four places are part of the higher terrain that continues towards Pasir Panjang. They are also leafier and lower-density than their surrounding urban neighbourhoods.

Kent Ridge (once Pasir Panjang Ridge) was the site of the Battle of Pasir Panjang, including the last stand of the Malay Regiment at Bukit Chandu. It is also dominated by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and biomedical research institutes.

Running through Kent Ridge Park, South Buona Vista Road is known locally as the “99 bends” for its winding hairpin turns. Nearby, Holland Road is anchored by Holland Village, Singapore’s bohemian enclave. Locals are no strangers to Haw Par Villa and its Hell Museum (previously 10 Courts of hell), built in 1937 by the creators of Tiger Balm.

Blending entertainment and academia, these four distinct areas thrive in greenery and quirky heritage along the same ridge. Together, they form a formation that enables each to carve out its own fortune.

Holland Road, Kent Ridge, South Buona Vista Road & Haw Par Villa: Combination of Four Animals

Holland Road takes the shape of an eagle in flight, wings spread wide in the “Flying Eagle Diving for Food” formation. Its talons touch down on the residential estates lining both sides of the road, while its wings shelter the high-class estates nearby. Residents here can expect help from foreign friends whenever they need it most. Overall, Holland Road brings strong advantages to those working in politics or the military.

Kent Ridge sits on a “Reclining Tiger Hill” formation, the same type found at Caldecott Hill and Fort Canning Hill, though Kent Ridge is the largest of the three. Perched on Singapore’s biggest tiger hill, NUS is set to keep enjoying global prestige. And there’s more to come: greater potential still awaits the day this tiger wakes from its slumber.

The winding twists of South Buona Vista Road trace the shape of a snake in motion, giving rise to the “Flying Snake Crossing Mountain” formation. This snake is on the run from the eagle at Holland Road, occasionally turning back to strike. Residents who stay in this area, such as Hudson Place Residences, should stay cautious and vigilant when pursuing their goals.

Haw Par Villa sits within a favourable fengshui formation, “Golden Leopard Dragging Money”, though its fortunes have swung up and down over the decades. This may come down to the money getting obstructed as the leopard drags it, holding back the area’s progress. The nearby flying snake adds to the mix, often leaving residents feeling frustrated. Still, with determination and good planning, this is a formation that rewards those who stay the course, retaining wealth and carrying the family business forward.

Comprising One-North, NUS and Science Park 1 & 2, this stretch from Kent Ridge sits along the body of the Western Dragon, where its steady, supportive qi continues to nurture growth and innovation.

This western region already shows strong momentum toward becoming a holistic Science and Technology hub. With comprehensive planning and the dynamic formations at play here, this corridor could well be the making of Singapore’s next Silicon Valley.

Curious about Singapore’s landform fengshui?

Representing the Metal element, the Western Dragon whispers mystery and well-concealed tracks across the hilly and undulating terrain. In this article, we have identified four locations near this Guardian Dragon’s body.

Proper alignment with the dragon’s energy can foster greater harmony in relationships and enhance the quality of life for those who reside or work in the area. In particular, staying near a dragon’s body means having support for stability and long-term growth with its gentle, stable qi. On the other hand, this may feel slow-moving for those seeking quick results or fast-paced change.

Check out our Strategic  Fengshui  modules for deeper insights into dragon landforms, terrain alignment and how to leverage these energies to enhance various aspects of life.

Also, don’t miss the next part of our series as we reveal the remaining landform fengshui secrets near the Western Dragon’s body by subscribing to our newsletter to stay in the know!

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