Your Guide to Old Changi Hospital, Singapore’s Haunted WWII Landmark
Old Changi Hospital has an undeniable chill, even when I view it from afar. Once a colonial military hospital and later a WWII prisoner-of-war camp, its weathered walls hold eerie tales and deep historical scars.
Whether you’re drawn by its wartime legacy or haunted folklore (like me!), this off-limits landmark remains both haunting and fascinating—a cornerstone of Singapore’s urban legends.
I’ll be sharing what makes Old Changi Hospital so fascinating—from its wartime history to its haunted lore.
Things to Know
Location: 24 Halton Road
Tours and programs: Please note tours are only available on the hospital’s exterior and vicinity.
Rules and restrictions:
✖ No unauthorised access
✖ No unauthorised filming or photography
✖ No vandalism
✖ No littering
✖ No smoking
How to Get There
Closest MRT: Take the East West Line to Tanah Merah MRT Station (EW4). From there, transfer to bus service 2, which will take you to the bus stop near the hospital’s location. Please note that the hospital itself is off-limits to the public, so visits are allowed within its vicinity only.
Closest bus station: From the Tanah Merah MRT Station (EW4), transfer to bus service 2, which will take you to the bus stop near the hospital’s location.
The Origins of Old Changi Hospital
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Old Changi Hospital traces its roots back to 1935, originally built as part of the Kitchener Barracks to serve the British Royal Engineers. Designed as a military hospital, it provided care for British troops and their families, its colonial architecture reflecting a time of structured order and imperial presence.
During WWII, the hospital took on a grim new role, becoming a wartime facility under Japanese occupation. Its corridors, once bustling with healing efforts, witnessed unimaginable horrors, leaving behind a heavy silence that remains today.
Dark Days During the Japanese Occupation
When the Japanese occupied Singapore in 1942, Old Changi Hospital became a grim detention centre for prisoners of war. Its once-healing halls were repurposed into alleged Kempeitai torture chambers, with chilling rumours of chains and bloodstained floors.
Survivors have recounted the harrowing mistreatment they endured within these walls, painting a haunting picture of the horrors that unfolded. Standing outside today, it’s hard not to feel the heavy weight of its dark wartime past lingering in the air.
Post-War Changes and Closure
After WWII, Old Changi Hospital was returned to British control and became the Royal Air Force (RAF) Changi Hospital. It later transitioned through several roles and names, including ANZUK Hospital and the UK Military Hospital, reflecting Singapore’s evolving military alliances.
In its final chapter, it served as SAF Hospital before closing in 1997 after merging with Toa Payoh Hospital to form Changi General Hospital. Though abandoned, its silent halls still seem to echo with decades of history and transformation.
Tales of the Supernatural
Old Changi Hospital is infamous for its ghost stories, with sightings of Japanese soldiers, nurses, and the chilling “Woman in White” among its most popular legends. Its infamous spots, like the morgue, Devil’s Room, and abandoned surgical wards, are said to be hotspots for paranormal activity.
Visitors and thrill-seekers have reported eerie sounds, shadowy figures, and spine-tingling apparitions, leaving many shaken long after they leave. Even standing near the hospital, I can’t help but feel the weight of its haunted reputation pressing down on me.
Old Changi Hospital in Popular Culture
Haunted Changi and Incredible Tales
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Old Changi Hospital has earned its place in popular culture as one of Singapore’s most haunted locations. The movie Haunted Changi brought its eerie reputation to the big screen, blending real footage with fictional scares that left viewers questioning what’s real and what’s imagined.
The hospital has also appeared in the supernatural anthology Incredible Tales, with chilling episodes inspired by its ghost stories. These portrayals have only deepened its mystique, making it a symbol of Singapore’s fascination with the paranormal.
Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights
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Old Changi Hospital’s eerie reputation has seeped into popular culture, even being recreated as a haunted house for Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. Walking through the chilling setup, I got a taste of its ghostly legends brought to life in a terrifyingly immersive experience.
This haunted house reimagined the hospital’s sinister tales, from shadowy figures to eerie hospital beds, making it a highlight of the event. It’s a stark reminder of how deeply its haunted legacy has captured imaginations far beyond its abandoned walls.