Last Wednesday, the youth of Singapore as a nation was highlighted at an official cultural exchange with Yorkshire county, England (corrected at 11:55AM, Jan 6).

In a book swop that marked the first of many bridging events to come, Singapore author Suchen Christine Lim presented her novel Fistful of Colours to the chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire Gary Verity. Before that, Singapore had been given a 1877 edition of Wuthering Heights, written by Yorkshire native Emily Bronte.

Lim's work was published in 1993, Bronte's before the ballpoint pen was invented. The latter also inspired Kate Bush's unforgettable wailing in a song of the same name, and was adapted into film at least three times and read by students of English literature the world over.

Bronte and her equally famous sisters, Charlotte and Anne, are not the only notable figures to hail from this part of north-west England. Yorkshire can also name drop Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath's ex-husband, renowned poet W H Auden, and rockers Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys.

With a history that dates back 2,000 years, the county has had time to build up an impressive resume. Its size helps, too. Being the largest region in England means a bigger catchment area.

Still, there's no denying Yorkshire's natural beauty. Dubbed God's Own Country, England's greenest county is home to some spectacular scenery - from the striking coastline in the east to the lush landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.

Add to this, medieval villages and grand, historic buildings and it's not hard to see why so many productions find film locations in this area. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves and Brideshead Revisited are but a few.

Yorkshire also has the distinction in being the home of five Michelin-starred restaurants, the most of any region in England aside from London. That's due to the land's bounty, said Verity. Singapore is in for a fruitful exchange. Jennifer Chen

Yorkshire's man

Today spoke to Yorkshire tourism chief Gary Verity onboard the Hull & Humber when the ship arrived in Singapore last week as the British contender in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

 

Tell us about Wuthering Heights.

The book was published in 1877. We don't give it out to just anybody. Singapore is the only place in the world to have such a copy.

 

It's quite an honour for us then ...

Singapore has excellent facilities to take of it. At least, we don't think we will see it on Ebay next week! (Chuckles)

What do you think of Singapore? There are great similarities between Yorkshire and Singapore. We both like our food.

 

How did Yorkshire get so many Michelin stars? The gods were very kind to us. We have tremendous farmland and probably the best livestock in Europe. Our sheep and beef are award-winning. That's why many of the world's great chefs come from Yorkshire and those who don't, want to come to cook in Yorkshire.

 

Good food tips? There so many choices. We have excellent fish and chips. A traditional meal is roast with Yorkshire pudding. Try it at The Blue Lion pub in East Witton.

Details of the county at yorkshire.com

TOP THREE PICKS

 

SEE Castle Howard, outside York

If seeing the magnificent home of Lady Marchmain in 1981's Brideshead Revisited made you gasp, this is where you can ogle the grand dame. The building is located on parkland sprinkled with gardens and lakes, and is considered one of England's top nine stately homes. Another is Harewood House in Leeds, where the Queen's cousin lives.

 

SIP Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms, various cities

"Bettys is a national institution," Verity said. "It's a bit like Raffles Hotel in Singapore, where visitors go for afternoon tea." People sometimes queue for an hour to have a cuppa here. Bettys has branches in Harrogate, York, Northallerton and Ilkley. In addition to tea, the cafe serves breakfasts and three course meals.

 

SHOP Victoria Quarter, Leeds

The picturesque shopping area is dubbed "The Knightsbridge of the North". There are 76 designer brands available here, including Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood and Agent Provocateur. Shopping for them, though, may be a challenge given the arcade's eye-catching architecture. Shop or snap? Ready the camera if not the credit card.