Merlion Park - Half Lion, Half Fish

Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

A stop on Singapore: Marina Bay to Chinatown, a free self-guided tour.

Meet the Merlion, the lion-headed fish spouting water into Marina Bay. Despite its ancient look, it is a 20th-century invention. Alec Fraser-Brunner, curator of the old Van Kleef Aquarium, designed the creature in 1964 as the logo of the tourism board, and sculptor Lim Nang Seng built this 8.6-meter statue. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew unveiled it in 1972.

The symbolism draws on old stories. The fish body recalls Temasek, the sea town that stood here centuries ago. The lion head comes from a legend in the Malay Annals: a prince named Sang Nila Utama landed on the island, glimpsed a strange beast he took for a lion, and named the place Singapura, "lion city." There have never been wild lions here, so if the prince saw anything, many suggest it was a tiger.

Look across the water: the three towers of Marina Bay Sands, the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum and, beyond them, Gardens by the Bay, a short taxi or MRT ride away for another day.

Getting here: Start on the waterfront promenade of Merlion Park, below One Fullerton. From Raffles Place MRT station, walk about 10 minutes toward the bay; follow the signs.

Did you know?: The Merlion has moved house. It first stood at the mouth of the Singapore River, but after the Esplanade Bridge blocked the view, it was shifted about 120 meters to this spot in 2002.

Photo op: Stand at the far end of the viewing deck so the Merlion's spout arcs across the frame with Marina Bay Sands behind it. Early morning gives soft light and fewer people.

More on Wikipedia: Merlion · Sang Nila Utama · Lee Kuan Yew · Gardens by the Bay

Merlion Park - Half Lion, Half Fish

Stops on this tour