6 Things To Know About The Merlion in Singapore

The Singapore's tallest Merlion statue will make way for a thematic link between the north and south banks of Sentosa, as part of plans to give the resort island and its Pulau Brani a facelift. Here are six things you need to know about one of Singapore's most famous icons when having a trip to Singapore.

1. A TRIBUTE TO MYTHS

Include a lion's head and a fish body, the Merlion was designed in 1964 by British zoologist Alec Fraser-Brunner to be the logo of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, which is now the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The fish is said to refer to the country's beginnings as a "fishing village" - a narrative since debunked by historical documents showing that Singapore was a prosperous port as early as the 14th century.

The lion refers to Sang Nila Utama, prince Srivijaya who claimed to have named the island Singapore, or "city of the lion" in Sanskrit, after having spotted the animal. However, Lions were never from this region.

2.  THE ORIGINAL STATUE WAS AT THE SINGAPORE RIVER

The original statue of the creature, at the mouth of the Singapore River, was created by sculptor Lim Nang Seng and unveiled by founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1972.

It was designed by Mr. Kwan Sai Kheong, late Ambassador to the Philippines and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Singapore, now the National University of Singapore.

The view of the Merlion was obstructed during the construction of the Esplanade bridge in 1997, so that the statue moved 120 meters from its original position in 2002.

At 8 meters high and weighing 70 tonnes, the creature is now in Merlion Park, overlooking Marina Bay.

The statue is not alone. His cub, which is a quarter of the height of the original and has porcelain plates and bowls included in its design, lies some distance behind him.It also accompanied the largest statue when it was previously on the Singapore River. The main Merlion was closed to the public due to restoration work from February to May this year.

3. THERE ARE SEVEN MERLIONS IN SINGAPORE

There are a sum of seven Merlions in Singapore, including the Sentosa Merlion and the two statues in Merlion Park. 

Two of the other four statues, 3 meters high, are at the highest point of Mount Faber and the STB central command close to Grange Road. 

The two outstanding Merlions are a couple on a basic level, in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. Flanking the passage to a parking garage that prompts squares 216 to 222, the animals were worked in 1998 for $ 30,000 by the private advisory group of Ang Mo Kio.

4. THEY BUILT SENTOSA MERLION IN 1995

Planned by Australian stone carver James Martin and inherent 1995, the $8 million statue in Sentosa is the tallest Merlion in Singapore. 

The 37m-tall Merlion houses displays, for example, a three-dimensional energized storey of how Sang Nila Utama found Singapore. 

Until it closes, Singapore inhabitants can follow through on limited costs of $7.50 (for grown-ups) and $6.20 (for youngsters) to visit it. Neighbourhood seniors matured 60 or more will get free section just by blazing their NRIC at the passageway.

5. SLEEPING WITH THE MERLION

In 2011, Japanese craftsman Tatzu Nishi structured a spring up lodging, which highlighted the first statue encased in an extravagance suite. 

It was completely reserved inside an hour of being open for reservations. 

The month-long craftsmanship establishment, dispatched for the Singapore Biennale, was arranged alongside the Fullerton Hotel.

6. GUEST APPEARANCES OVERSEAS

In addition to being one of the national icons of Singapore, the Merlion is popular abroad, some countries reproducing the mythical creature.

In Hakodate, a Merlion statue symbolizes the friendship between the third-largest city of Hokkaido and Singapore.

At 8.6m, it's exactly the same height as the original statue here.

It was erected in 1989, with the blessing of the STB's predecessor, at Nanaehama Beach as the guardian deity of navigation safety, monitoring the ships going to the port of Hakodate.

There is also a Merlion at the Nambo Paradise Botanical Gardens in Tateyama, Chiba, to show its association with the Singapore Botanic Gardens .