The Merlion

The Merlion, the national symbol of Singapore, standing at 37 metres high is a lion head with a fish body resting amidst a wave pool with decorative suspension bridge links is the tallest replica. The late Singapore craftsman, Mr Lim Nang Seng.is credited for making the Singapore Merlion. It is made of cement fondue , its skin from porcelain plates and eyes from small red teacups.
The Merlion statue sits alongside the Merlion Walk, a 120-metre-long colourful mosaic walkway with jumping water jets and a beautiful set of Carillon bells at the end of the walkway. It brings you to the depth of the sea as you walk side-by-side with legendary sea dragons and mythical mermaids.

The Merlion commemorates the ancient name and the legend taken from the "Malay Annals" explaining how Singapore received its present name. The Merlion, with its fish-like body riding the waves of the sea, is symbolic of the ancient city of Temasek. At the same time, its majestic head recalls the legend of the discovery of the Singapore by Prince Nila Utama in the 11th century, when Singapore received its present name.

Once inside the statue, you will be fascinated with the interior, which is themed as a sunken ship, as the tower is laden with treasures and jewels complemented by sounds of waves crashing , howling winds and the cries of the seagulls.

Get a glimpse of the Merlion view where you will be rewarded with a 360° view of Sentosa and Singapore's southern shores. From the Mouth Gallery Viewing Deck on level 9, you can even spot Singapore's impressive skyline.

The Merlion was first designed as an emblem for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 1964 . It quickly became Singapore's icon to the rest of the world. It is now settled into its new home here at Merlion Park, located next to One Fullerton, overlooking scenic Marine Bay.
Today the Merlion attracts more than one million visitors a year who make the trip to the Merlion Park. There are five official Merlion statues in Singapore. They can be found at :

a. Two at Merlion Park, adjacent to One Fullerton

b. One at Sentosa Island

c. One at Mount Faber and

d. One at the headquaters of Singapore Tourism Board at Orchard Spring Lane .
The legend of the Merlion is commemorated on Sentosa island. Lovingly recreated in concrete and glass, this massive Merlion follows faithfully the details of the legend, down to the colourful trail, now called the Merlion Walk. Don’t miss this splendid view.