Merlion Park and the lion-fish symbol on Singapore’s bay
Published on 09/03/2026 at 17:19 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Merlion Park on Singapore’s Marina Bay waterfront turns the city’s lion?fish emblem into a concrete presence beside the water, with broad views across the bay and the central business district. The park centres on the main Merlion statue, unveiled in 1972 and relocated in 2002 to a reclaimed promontory in front of the Fullerton Hotel, where it faces the open basin of Marina Bay.
The Merlion sculpture and its waterfront setting
Merlion Park is a compact urban park at One Fullerton on the edge of Marina Bay, directly beside Singapore’s central business district and close to the mouth of the Singapore River.Merlion Park is a compact urban park Its focus is the main Merlion statue, a concrete figure with a lion’s head and a fish’s body that has become a national personification of Singapore.a national personification of Singapore The statue stands above the edge of the bay and sends a jet of water out from its mouth into the basin, giving the park its defining image.
The Merlion at the park stands 8.6 m (28 ft) high and weighs about 70 tonnes, making it a substantial object even against the surrounding office towers.stands 8.6 m high and weighs about 70 tonnes Beside it is a smaller Merlion “cub” a few metres tall, set slightly back from the waterfront in its own fountain.a smaller Merlion “cub” Together, the two sculptures give the park a clear focal point that visitors can approach from the promenade and from viewing platforms along the edge.
From the Singapore River mouth to Marina Bay
The Merlion statue did not always stand where it does now. It was sculpted between 1971 and 1972 by Lim Nang Seng from a design by Kwan Sai Kheong, and unveiled on 15 September 1972 at the mouth of the Singapore River.unveiled on 15 September 1972 That original Merlion Park was a landscaped promontory beside the river, where the statue watched over shipping entering the inner harbour. The later construction of Esplanade Bridge changed sightlines from the bay, and the statue was moved to its present position on a new promontory in front of the Fullerton Hotel.
The new Merlion Park at Marina Bay opened in April 2002, placing the national symbol beside the broader water basin and giving it a direct alignment with the city’s modern skyline.opened in April 2002 The park itself covers around 2,500 square metres, laid out as paved terraces and steps descending towards the water.around 2,500 square metres From these terraces, visitors can see Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum, the Helix Bridge and the towers of the financial district in a single panorama, with the Merlion in the foreground linking the harbour scene to the city’s emblem.
Promenades, skyline views and city context
Beyond the statue itself, Merlion Park functions as part of a continuous waterfront promenade that curves around Marina Bay. Broad steps and platforms lead down to the water’s edge, creating informal seating facing the bay and the skyline.broad steps and viewing decks The open layout gives clear sight lines towards landmarks on the opposite shore, including Marina Bay Sands and the financial centre towers, so the park often appears as the foreground in photographs of the bay.
Shops, cafés and restaurants at One Fullerton line the rear of the park, where the promenade meets the commercial frontage.restaurants and bars located near the park The site sits at the junction of Singapore’s civic district, commercial core and waterfront, making it a natural point where office workers, residents and visitors encounter the harbour in everyday life. At night, lighting on the Merlion and the surrounding buildings turns the terraces into a vantage point for watching the illuminated bay.
Visiting Merlion Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Merlion Park lies on the Marina Bay waterfront at One Fullerton, beside Singapore’s central business district and near the mouth of the Singapore River. It is within walking distance of landmarks such as Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade.
- The terrain consists of paved promenades, terraces and broad steps down to the bay, with level access from the adjacent streets and gentle gradients along the waterfront.
- The nearest MRT station commonly used for the park is Raffles Place on the East–West and North–South lines, from which the waterfront can be reached on foot via the river and Fullerton area.
- English is an official language in Singapore and the currency is the Singapore dollar.
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Frequently asked questions about Merlion Park
Where is Merlion Park in Singapore?
Merlion Park is on the Marina Bay waterfront at One Fullerton, next to Singapore’s central business district and close to the mouth of the Singapore River.
What can visitors expect at Merlion Park?
Visitors encounter the main Merlion statue and its smaller cub beside paved promenades, terraces and steps, with wide views across Marina Bay and its skyline.
What makes Merlion Park distinctive among Singapore’s public spaces?
The park combines Singapore’s national Merlion symbol, dating to its unveiling in 1972, with a compact waterfront setting opened in 2002 that frames the city’s modern bay panorama.
