Merlion Park in Singapore

Singapore is know by many unofficial and poetic nicknames; the Lion City being the more popular one.  So it shouldn't come as a surprise that one of most famous tourist spots here would involve a 8.6 meter high statue of this majestic beast (well, half of it is anyway).

A crowded Merlion Park on a hot Friday afternoon

Located along One Fullerton, the 2,500 sqm. Merlion Park is home to this 70 ton Singaporean heavyweight icon.  A mythical creature -- a chimera with a lion's head on top of a fish's body, spewing out water from its gigantic mouth.

The Merlion up close

The Merlion is an iconic symbol of the country; each piece representing a part of the city-state's humble past -- the fish's body to signify the country's origin as a fishing village, and the lion's head as a reminder of its former name, Singapura ("lion city").

Who know that such a simple icon can hold so much meaning to a nation and its past?

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Merlion Park 
One Fullerton
Singapore 049213
W     http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/see-and-do/family-fun/attraction/merlion-park.html


Planning to visit?  Drop by my "Getting Around Singapore" post (click here) for more details on how to get around the Lion City.