A Trip To The 7 Merlions in Singapore

Unlike mermaids and unicorns - whose legends were created by generations of sailors struck by scurvy - the Merlion was entirely thought out by a single individual. Given Singapore's reputation for productivity, this is entirely appropriate.

The Merlion was commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board and created by Alec Fraser-Brunner to personify our country. The lion head refers to the ancient name of Singapore, Singapore (Lion City), while the body and the tail of the fish represent the beginnings of our island as a small fishing village.

Today, there are 7 Merlion statues scattered across Singapore that you can visit and take selfies with. Don't forget to bring one or two Singapore flags for an extra atmosphere!

In homage to National Day, here is our overview of the Singapore Merlions, sorted by value.

Sentosa Merlion

Overlooking tanned antics with every 37 meters of its majestic height, the Sentosa Merlion is the only one in which you can actually climb. Two views are offered - a glimpse of his gaping mouth or a panoramic view from the top of his head. There's even a cafe where you can grab a bite or two.

But this Merlion is not only intended to amuse holidaymakers. In fact, it serves a fairly important purpose - safeguarding Singapore's prosperity. No seriously. In fact, the four canines in the Merlion's mouth represent our four main breeds; the idea is to safeguard the prosperity of all Singaporeans.

To help him fulfill his sacred duties, the scales on the body of the Sentosa Merlion are designed to resemble a stylized version of Bagua, the central symbol of Taoist beliefs. And, for more power, we assume that the entire status rests on a Bagua platform.

What it costs: $ 8 million

Mount Faber Merlion

Singapore's fourth Merlion is located on Mount Faber at Faber Point. If you look on Google Earth, it's the little white bump at the edge of the circular area.

This 3-meter-high Merlion is a sentinel from the serene Mont Faber National Park. Owned by NParks, Mount Faber Merlion was installed in 1998, following redevelopment work in the region.

Tourism Court Merlion

The fifth Merlion on the list is located at the Tourism Court. But no, it's not the one located in the lobby of the Singapore Tourism Board. Instead, she stands outside, surrounded by greenery near the taxi drop-off point.

Built-in 1995, the 3-meter-high Merlion tourism court is said to have been manufactured in the Philippines. He also seems much thinner than his sisters on the list. Frankly, we find this one a little strange.

The original Merlion (and Merlion Cub)

Next on our list is the Original Merlion, which is probably also the most Instagram of all Merlions.

Yes, he's the one standing at Merlion Park, with torrents of seawater gushing out of his mouth at all hours of the day. We call it Original Merlion because, as you probably guessed, it was the first Merlion statue to be created.

Designed and built between 1971 and 1972, the Original Merlion is 8.6 m high. It was originally located at the mouth of the Singapore River, but the completion of the Esplanade Bridge in 1997 resulted in relocation. (The new bridge obscured the view of the Merlion from the Marina Bay waterfront.)

There is a second, smaller statue of Merlion at Merlion Park. Located a few minutes from its largest cousin, the latter (affectionately known as "Merlion Cub") is 2 meters high. Its design (yes, all Merlions are women) incorporates inlays of plates and bowls in Chinese pottery.

What it costs: The original Merlion was built at a cost of 165,000 Singaporean dollars, but the relocation and expansion of Merlion Park cost 7.5 million Singaporean dollars.

The Ang Mo Kio Merlion twins

Our love for the Merlions is so great that the residents of Ang Mo Kio decided to build a pair for their neighborhood in 1998.

There is some controversy surrounding the origins of the duo, which today stands at the entrance to the Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 parking lot, Blks 216-220.

The Singapore Tourism Board, which is the custodian of the right to use and reproduce the resemblance of the Merlion, would have initially disowned the twins. Apparently, this is due to the fact that the Ang Mo Kio Merlions were built without first obtaining the appropriate permits.

But we are happy to report that the authorities have since reversed their position. Today, the two statues are recognized as official Merlions.

What they cost: Rumorously, 30,000 Singapore dollars