Merlion Park and the lion of the bay in Singapore
Published on 08/31/2026 at 16:24 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Merlion Park on Singapore’s Marina Bay is the waterfront home of the city’s half-lion, half-fish emblem, presented as a concrete statue that has stood here since 2002. The Merlion itself was inaugurated in 1972 and has become one of Singapore’s most recognisable built symbols, linking the modern financial district with the older mouth of the Singapore River.
The emblem made stone at Marina Bay
Merlion Park centres on a white statue of the Merlion, an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The statue stands on a pier at the Marina Bay waterfront, adjacent to the One Fullerton development and close to the mouth of the Singapore River.Marina Bay waterfront From this position it faces out across the bay towards the open water, with the central business district skyline forming a backdrop.
The original Merlion statue was designed in the 1960s as a three-dimensional version of a tourism emblem and constructed in the early 1970s by local sculptor Lim Nang Seng.constructed in 1971-72 It was unveiled on 15 September 1972 at a ceremony officiated by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, a date that anchors the Merlion firmly in the period when Singapore was establishing its national symbols.officially opened in 1972
From river mouth to reclaimed promontory
The Merlion did not always stand on the present promontory. It was first installed near the mouth of the Singapore River, where it marked the point at which the river met the harbour and acted as a sign for arriving vessels. This original Merlion Park lay beside the river bank and functioned as a small viewing area for the statue and the surrounding water.originally sited at the river mouth
The completion of the Esplanade Bridge in the late 1990s shifted the relationship between river and bay and made the original site less visible from Marina Bay. In response, Singapore’s tourism authorities expanded the waterfront area and created the present Merlion Park on reclaimed land beside One Fullerton.expanded Merlion Park on a reclaimed promontory The main statue and a smaller two-metre Merlion Cub were relocated to this new park in April 2002, with the revamped setting officially reopened in September that year.
Symbolism, dimensions and surrounding views
The Merlion’s form brings together two strands of Singapore’s identity. Its lion head refers to the name Singapura, meaning “lion city” in Sanskrit, which was adopted in honour of a reported sighting of a lion by a Sumatran prince.lion city name The fish body looks back to the island’s earlier identity as Temasek, associated with fishing and the sea, and acknowledges Singapore’s development as a port.
Physically, the main Merlion statue at Merlion Park is 8.6 m (28 ft) tall and weighs around 70 tonnes, constructed from cement fondue and finished in white.8.6-metre, 70-tonne statue in cement fondue A smaller Merlion Cub stands nearby, reinforcing the emblematic presence of the creature on the pier. Around the statues, the park offers terraces and steps that open towards Marina Bay, with clear views of landmarks such as the ArtScience Museum and the larger waterfront skyline.
Visiting Merlion Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Merlion Park occupies a small promontory beside One Fullerton on the Marina Bay waterfront in Singapore, close to the mouth of the Singapore River and opposite the central business district.
- The park consists of hard-surfaced terraces and broad steps down towards the water, with level paved areas around the Merlion statues that can become busy, and railings along the edge of the pier.
- The official language is English and the currency is the Singapore dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Merlion Park
Where in Singapore is Merlion Park located?
Merlion Park stands on a reclaimed promontory beside One Fullerton on the Marina Bay waterfront, close to the mouth of the Singapore River and opposite the business district.
What should visitors expect on a visit to Merlion Park?
Visitors encounter the main Merlion statue and its smaller cub on a compact waterfront park with paved terraces, broad steps towards the water and open views over Marina Bay.
What makes Merlion Park distinctive among Singapore’s waterfront spaces?
Merlion Park combines a nationally recognised mythical creature, a confirmed 8.6 m (28 ft) cement statue and a position linking the historic river mouth with the modern Marina Bay skyline.
