Kusu Island

Kusu Island is a small 8.5-hectare island in Singapore's Southern Islands, about 5.6 km south of the main island. Meaning Tortoise Island in Chinese, it is known for its tranquil lagoons, beaches, and two places of worship. The island was enlarged through land reclamation in 1975 and is now a popular day-trip destination accessible only by ferry, combining natural scenery with cultural heritage.

Visitors arrive by ferry at a small jetty and can explore a compact, tranquil island with paved footpaths, swimming lagoons, sandy beaches, and shaded pavilions. Key areas include the Chinese Da Bo Gong Temple and the Malay Keramat shrines on a hilltop reached by 152 steps, a tortoise sanctuary with ponds, and picnic areas. There are no shops or accommodation, so the setting is quiet and low-density, focused on sightseeing, temple visits, and beach relaxation.

Originally two small islets and reefs known as Pulau Tembakul, the island was enlarged to 8.5 hectares through land reclamation in 1975. Local legend says a giant tortoise saved shipwrecked Malay and Chinese sailors by turning into an island, giving rise to the name Kusu meaning tortoise. The Da Bo Gong Temple was built in 1923 and the keramats commemorate pious figures from the 19th century.

Kusu Island is a significant inter-religious pilgrimage site housing the Da Bo Gong Temple, popular with devotees praying for prosperity, good health and fertility, and three Keramat shrines revered by Malay devotees. Each year during the ninth lunar month, thousands of pilgrims visit for the Kusu Pilgrimage to climb the hill and offer prayers, reflecting Singapore's multicultural heritage.