Meet the myth
Half-fish and half-lion, the iconic Merlion resides at the Merlion Park waterfront.
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Half-fish and half-lion, the iconic Merlion resides at the Merlion Park waterfront.
The Merlion, which merges the symbol of a fish and a lion, is an unmissable Singapore icon.
Come see the Singapore icon that is half-fish and half-lion at the Merlion Park.
Be fascinated by the stories behind the Merlion and how Singapore came to be.
Photo by Andrew Tan
You’ve probably seen images of Singapore’s national icon, the mythical Merlion with the head of a lion and the body of a fish.
The Merlion's body symbolises Singapore's humble beginnings as a fishing village when it was called Temasek, which comes from the same root as the word tasek ('lake' in Malay).
Its head represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, or ‘lion city’ in Malay.
Today, you can glimpse this legend at Merlion Park. Spouting water from its mouth, the Merlion statue stands tall at 8.6 metres and weighs 70 tonnes.
This icon is a must-see for tourists visiting Singapore, similar to other significant landmarks around the world.
Built by local craftsman Lim Nang Seng, it was unveiled on 15 September 1972 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at the mouth of the Singapore River, to welcome all visitors to Singapore.
With the completion of Esplanade Bridge in 1997, the statue could no longer be viewed clearly from the waterfront.
So in 2002, the Merlion was relocated 120 metres away from the original position to where it stands in Merlion Park today, in front of Fullerton Hotel and overlooking Marina Bay.
The park also houses a smaller Merlion statue. Known as the ‘Merlion cub’, it stands at two metres tall and weighs three tonnes.
The original sculpture and its cub are the most well-known among the seven approved Merlion statues in Singapore.
See if you can spot the rest on your trip here: there's one at Tourism Court near Grange Road and another at Mount Faber.
Take a picture with both Merlion statues—the ‘cub’ and its ‘parent’—at the Merlion Park for a memorable keepsake.
The sweeping views from the Merlion Park across the expansive Marina Bay area are unmissable. Marvel at the collection of architectural icons that dot the impressive skyline.
From the Merlion Park, take a river cruise on a restored bumboat and explore the other famous attractions—such as Boat Quay and Clarke Quay—along the Singapore River.
This service is provided in partnership with Expedia. Clicking ‘Search’ will redirect you to Expedia’s travel portal. Do note that each booking is limited to a maximum of 6 pax in total.
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