Information
Landmark: MerlionCity: Central Region
Country: Singapore
Continent: Asia
Merlion, Central Region, Singapore, Asia
Overview
The Merlion, with the head of a lion and the tail of a fish, stands as one of Singapore’s most famous landmarks, capturing the city’s history and heritage in a single, sea-sprayed statue.With a lion’s fierce head and a fish’s shimmering tail, this mythical creature stands at the heart of Singapore’s identity and draws countless visitors to its shores.First.In 1964, the Singapore Tourism Board created the Merlion as the city’s emblem, a creature with a lion’s head and a fish’s tail that gleams white against the harbor.The lion’s head stands for the name “Singapura,” drawn from the Malay words “Singa,” meaning lion, and “Pura,” meaning city.Legend has it that when the Sumatran prince Sang Nila Utama landed on the shore, he spotted a lion and called the place “Singapura,” meaning “Lion City.” The creature’s fish tail recalls Singapore’s beginnings as a humble fishing village, and “Temasek” in Old Javanese translates to “sea town.”The Merlion stands for Singapore’s deep roots in the sea and its rise as a lively city‑state, where fishing boats once bobbed in the harbor.Number two.Standing 8.6 meters high and weighing 70 tons, the Merlion statue towers above visitors, its white scales catching the sun.Its body mimics a fish, scales glinting like wet silver, and its tail sweeps back in a graceful curve, while the lion’s head gapes wide, endlessly pouring water into Marina Bay.The water fountain is a standout feature of the Merlion, and tourists flock to snap photos as its spray catches the sunlight.You’ll find Merlion statues all over Singapore, but the most iconic stands in Merlion Park by Marina Bay, gazing toward the water and Marina Bay Sands with the city skyline rising behind it.Three.Merlion Park is the city’s best-known spot to see the original Merlion statue, its white stone head rising over the bay.Crowds flock to the park for its sweeping view of Marina Bay Sands, with the glass towers of Singapore’s skyline glittering just beyond.It sits at the mouth of the Singapore River, a spot where briny air drifts in, marking the city’s deep connection to both the river and the sea.The park has a smaller Merlion, nicknamed the “Baby Merlion,” standing just 2 meters high-about the height of a tall doorway.Number four.The Merlion stands as a lasting emblem of Singapore, capturing its journey from a modest fishing village where nets dried in the sun to the bustling, modern metropolis it is today.It captures Singapore’s maritime story-its grit, its rise, and the power that once sent sails snapping in the harbor wind.Tourism: The Merlion, a favorite stop for visitors, appears on countless postcards, keychains, and travel shows about Singapore, cementing its place as a symbol recognized around the world.People often snap photos of the statue with the Marina Bay skyline spread out behind it and the Marina Bay Sands hotel rising like a sail in the distance.The Merlion stands as one of Singapore’s most famous symbols, mixing the city’s sleek modern skyline with the timeless pull of legend and history-its lion’s head and fish’s tail telling both stories at once.Number five glared back from the page, a small ink mark that seemed sharper than it should.Besides the main Merlion at Merlion Park, you’ll find others around Singapore-like the towering Sentosa Merlion, rising above the island’s palm-lined paths on this well-loved resort getaway.At 37 meters high, the towering Merlion dominates Sentosa’s skyline, built to mark the island’s place at the heart of Singapore’s tourism.Visitors can step inside the statue, where an exhibition tells the Merlion’s story-its history, its meaning-and even shows weathered photos from decades past.Smaller versions of the Merlion pop up all over Singapore-you might spot one gleaming by a mall entrance or tucked into a busy tourist square-each standing as a proud symbol of the nation’s history and culture.Number six.Beyond its symbolism, the Merlion has grown into one of Singapore’s most recognizable brands, its lion’s head and fish’s tail appearing on everything from keychains to travel posters.You’ll spot it on mugs, keychains, and glossy brochures, and it shows up in ads that pitch Singapore as a world-class destination for travel, business, and trade.Seven.The Merlion may be Singapore’s beloved icon, but it still stirs the occasional argument over what it truly represents and whether it still matters.Some people say it’s nothing more than a marketing logo, while others wonder if a fire-breathing beast is really the right emblem for the country.Even so, it’s lasted through generations, a flag still snapping in the wind as one of the strongest symbols of the nation’s identity and heritage.The Merlion isn’t just a statue-it’s a vivid symbol of Singapore’s history, identity, and place in the world, like a sentinel watching over Marina Bay.It reflects the nation’s deep roots while showing how it’s grown into a vibrant, modern city‑state, alive with the hum of busy streets and new ideas.The Merlion, whether seen as a cultural icon or a must-see landmark, still holds a special place in the hearts of locals and travelers alike, its stone mane glinting in the afternoon sun.
