新加坡南部山脊之旅 - 花柏山公园、亨德森波浪桥、直落布兰雅山公园、园艺园林、肯特岗公园 、拉柏多自然保护区 The Southern Ridges - Walk in Singapore

新加坡的南部山脊（The Southern Ridges）是一条长达9公里的自然景观带，将花葩山公园 (Mount Faber Park)、直落布兰雅山公园 (Telok Blangah Hill Park)、肯特岗公园 (Kent Ridge Park)的小丘陵和拉柏多自然保护区 (Labrador Nature Reserve)连为一体，是一个具有历史价值的区域，也孕育了自然界最珍贵的一些动植物。

南部山脊 (Southern Ridges) 这里不光让您身处大自然，同时也能将城市、海港、南部岛屿全景尽收眼帘。南部山脊是一条全长 9公里的绿色开阔地带，通过风景如画的山脊和小径，将新加坡南部地区广受欢迎的公园和花园小丘陵连为一体。想象一下走在一道横跨两座小山峰之间、离地36 米高的天桥。“亨德森波浪桥” (Henderson Waves) 就让您有这种走钢丝般的刺激和快感。这是新加坡离地最高的行人天桥，造型别致，桥身结构犹如波浪，由起伏的曲线“肋骨”构成。

南部山脊包括花葩山公园、直落布兰雅山公园、园艺园林、肯特岗公园 (Kent Ridge Park)
沿着这些步道和小径，观鸟者可随时在广阔的自然栖息地中捕捉到各种鸟儿的英姿。而处处美丽的动植物和自然生态，也会让摄影爱好者弹指间的相机快门停不下来。
南部山脊的健行小径全程接通，包括花柏山公园、直落布兰雅山公园、园艺园林、肯特岗公园和拉柏多自然保护区 (Labrador Nature Reserve）在内的南部山脊将成为本地的新休闲胜地。这三项工程耗资2550万元，从提出概念到完成建设，历时7年。

亨德申波浪桥（Henderson Waves）、亚历山大拱桥（Alexandra Arch）及直落布兰雅山高架走道（Elevated Walkway）建成，民众如今可以从港湾地铁站徒步到西海岸公园，全程9公里。

亚历山大路旁将兴建公园连道，直达拉柏多自然保护区 Labrador Nature Reserve），拉柏多公园。柏莱雅溪（Berlayer Creek）的红树林则将兴建木板走道，并与岌巴港沿岸的木板走道衔接。游人最终可以从武吉慈明（Bukit Chermin）步行到怡丰城，沿途还可以眺望岌巴港和圣淘沙的沿海景色。

游人从港湾地铁站出来，可以取道玛朗小径，攀上70公尺高的花柏山顶，然后沿着花柏山径往西走，就可以来到亨德申波浪桥。越过波浪桥，继续沿着直落布兰雅山径，便来到1.3公里长的高架走道。

高架走道的终点连接亚历山大拱桥，桥的另一边是园艺园林。穿过园艺园林便是肯特岗公园，继续往前走可以穿越国大校园和金文泰林公园，最终抵达西海岸公园。将来游人也可以从园艺园林朝南前往拉柏多公园。

南部山脊健行小径全线接通，民众现在可以沿途欣赏到各种各样的景色，包括市区、组屋区和南部海域景色，以及猴子跳跃树丛间的景象、观赏平时难得一见的猪笼草等野生植物。

亨德申波浪桥不仅衔接花柏山和直落布兰雅山，还提供了一个前所未有的高角度，游人朝北可以看见市区高楼大厦风景线，往南则可以眺望到南部海岸线。亚历山大拱桥则衔接直落布兰雅山和园艺园林，游人漫步经高耸桥道越过树稍顶和车辆往来不断的亚历山大路，是一个很奇特的体验。

亨德申波浪桥也是本地最高的人行天桥。波浪桥全长274公尺，最高点离开路面36公尺，约等于12层楼高的组屋。桥身犹如后浪推前浪，有4个波峰和3个波谷，8公尺宽的桥身就在波峰浪谷之间穿过。

越过波浪桥，穿过直落布兰雅山的树林，便是在直落布兰雅山腰以之字形曲折前进的高架走道，全长1.3公里。高架走道颇具挑战性，因为走道最高点和最低点的落差达68公尺，约等于23层楼的组屋。这个高架走道也采取无障碍设计，桥面的缝隙非常细，轮椅和婴儿车都可以行走。

架走道的设计受一种称为薇甘菊的植物启发。在南部山脊很常见的薇甘菊生长极快，一天可以生长20公分，所以英文名称为“mile-a-minute”，也就是一分钟长一英里。薇甘菊的叶子呈三角形，所以高架走道主要由三角形构成。

高架走道的终点是亚历山大拱桥，越过拱桥就可以抵达园艺园林。拱桥长80公尺，宽4公尺。它的特点在于其独特及富挑战性的结构——弧形的桥身和倾斜的拱架对开，就好像亚历山大路上的一片巨型叶子。桥身和拱架也互相支撑对方的重量，让看似倒向一边的拱桥不动如山地矗立在亚历山大路上。晚上7时到午夜12时，拱桥还会呈现由4种颜色互相搭配的百变灯光效果，就像夜里与月亮争辉的彩虹。

The Southern Ridges comprise a 9-kilometre chain of green, open spaces spanning the rolling hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park before ending at West Coast Park.

It is an area steeped in history and is home to some of nature's greatest gifts of flora and fauna. It is also one of the best spots in Singapore to catch panoramic views of the city, harbtour and the Southern Islands.

Convenient connections

Two prominent connections - Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch, stand proudly along the Ridges today.

The two bridges offer better connections between the hilltop parks in the south west of Singapore. Henderson Waves spans Henderson Road, connecting Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park. Alexandra Arch crosses Alexandra Road and continues eastward as an elevated walkway from Forest Walk to HortPark.

At 36 metres above Henderson Road, the 274 metres long and 8 metres wide Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. It was built to connect the two hills of Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Hill.

The bridge has a unique wave-form made up of seven undulating curved steel "ribs" that alternately rise over and under its deck. The curved "ribs" form alcoves that function as shelters with seats within and also to accommodate large number of people during public events.

Slats of yellow balau wood, an all-weather timber found in South-East Asia, are used in the decking. Look out for carvings on the slats marking the height you are at on various points along the bridge.

During the day, one can enjoy the habour views while standing on the 12-storey high bridge. Beyond the bridge, it provides one with a soothing mood while meandering through the forest walk and the earth trails. At night, the wave-forms will be lit with attractive LED light from 7pm to 2am daily, giving the bridge an illuminative glow, offering beautiful night scenic view of the city.

The other link, Alexandra Arch, looks like an opened leaf across Alexandra Road. It continues to Forest Walk, which is made up of an elevated walkway for pedestrians and earth trail for cyclists through the secondary forest of Telok Blangah Hill Park.

Together with a series of other interesting trails, they provide a seamless link through a soothing sanctuary of greenery that was previously not accessible.