Merlion Park and Singapore’s lion-headed waterfront symbol
Published on 09/24/2026 at 01:11 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Merlion Park places Singapore’s lion-headed, fish-tailed symbol beside Marina Bay. The white sculpture rises above the waterfront with water streaming from its mouth, while the Singapore River meets the bay nearby. Its form joins a lion’s head with a fish’s body, creating a civic landmark that is both sculpture and emblem.
Merlion Park: a sculpture with two identities
The Merlion combines two visual references associated with Singapore. The lion recalls Singapura, the historic name linked with the island, while the fish body connects the figure with Singapore’s maritime setting and early fishing community. The result is a creature that belongs equally to land and water.
The main statue measures 8.6 metres and weighs 70 tonnes. Its surface is white, its body faces the water, and its open mouth sends a continuous jet into the bay. A smaller Merlion Cub stands nearby, giving the site a second scale of the same symbol.
From a tourism emblem to a national symbol
The Merlion was created for the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board in 1964 as a promotional logo for the island. Artist and educator Kwan Sai Kheong designed the figure, and local craftsman Lim Nang Seng constructed the sculpture from concrete wrapped around a steel frame. Merlion construction details
The statue was unveiled on 15 September 1972 by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at the mouth of the Singapore River. It occupied that waterfront setting until the Esplanade Bridge altered the view across the river mouth. In 2002, the sculpture moved to its position beside One Fullerton, where Merlion Park overlooks Marina Bay. The statue’s relocation history
Water, skyline and the mouth of the Singapore River
Merlion Park occupies a compact waterfront setting at One Fullerton, close to the central business district. The Merlion faces Marina Bay, with the Singapore River opening beside it. The arrangement places the figure between flowing water, historic riverfront buildings and the city’s high-rise skyline.
The sculpture’s physical details remain central to the view. The lion’s mane frames the head, the fish scales cover the body, and the tail curves into the base. Water links the statue directly with the bay, while the nearby cub repeats the same hybrid form on a smaller scale.
The park also records a change in Singapore’s urban waterfront. The statue began at the river mouth in 1972 and moved within the same broader waterside district in 2002. The setting therefore contains both the original maritime reference and the cityscape that surrounds Marina Bay.
Visiting Merlion Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Merlion Park is at One Fullerton beside the Singapore River and Marina Bay. Raffles Place MRT station and the Fullerton Hotel are nearby reference points.
- The site is a paved waterfront area with views across Marina Bay. The Merlion stands beside the water, while the smaller Merlion Cub is close to the main sculpture.
- The official language is English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil, and the currency is the Singapore dollar.
Searching for Merlion Park on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Merlion Park
Where is Merlion Park?
Merlion Park is beside Marina Bay at One Fullerton, near the mouth of the Singapore River and the Fullerton Hotel.
What can visitors see there?
The main Merlion sculpture stands 8.6 metres tall and spouts water into the bay. A smaller Merlion Cub stands nearby.
What makes the Merlion distinctive?
The sculpture combines a lion’s head with a fish’s body. The design links Singapore’s historic name with its maritime setting and tourism history.
