Singapore

The earliest written record of Singapore is thought to be an entry in a Chinese book dating back to the third century. It mentions an island called Pu Luo Chung, which is proposed to be related to the Malay ‘Pulau Ujong’ meaning Island at the End.

By the time of the 14th century, a trading settlement existed on the island. This was started in 1320, when the Mongol Empire sent a trade mission to Long Ya Men (translated roughly to Dragon’s Teeth Gate), believed to be Keppel Harbour near the south of the island. A Chinese traveller - Wang Dayuan - noted that Long Ya Men was two distinct settlements, with Dan Ma Xi as the main settlement, and Ban Zu, which is thought to be present day Fort Canning Hill.