Merlion Park

Merlion Park

The Merlion in Merlion Park near the Singapore CBD is a well-known tourist icon of Singapore. The Merlion cub is visible at the bottom right.
Type Tourist attraction
Location One Fullerton, Singapore
Coordinates 1°17′12.6″N 103°51′16.3″E / 1.286833°N 103.854528°ECoordinates: 1°17′12.6″N 103°51′16.3″E / 1.286833°N 103.854528°E
Area 2,500 square meters[1]
Created 15 September 1972
Visitors 1 million per year
Status Open 24 hours daily, all year

Merlion Park, a landmark of Singapore, is a major tourist attraction at One Fullerton, Singapore, near the Central Business District (CBD). Two structures of the Merlion are located at the park. The original merlion structure measures 8.6 metres tall, whilst a Merlion cub located near the original statue measures 2 metres tall.

History

1964 to present

The park was first designed as an emblem for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 1964. On 15 September 1972, the park was officially opened at an installation ceremony of the statue, officiated by then Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.[2] The original statue of the Merlion used to stand at the mouth of the Singapore River. The statue was made from November 1971 to August 1972 by the late Singapore sculptor, Mr. Lim Nang Seng,[3] it measures 8.6 metres high and weighs 70 tons.[4][5]

Upon the completion of Esplanade Bridge in 1997, the statue could no longer be viewed clearly from the Marina Bay Waterfront,[4] so on 23 April 2002, the statue was relocated to a new pier specially built on the other side of Esplanade Bridge. With a cost of $7.5 million, the move was finished on 25 April 2002, where it is now located adjacent to One Fullerton hotel.[6]

Merlion statue damage

On 28 February 2009, between 4 pm and 5 pm, the Merlion statue was struck by lightning. Staff in the vicinity said they heard an explosion followed by a loud thud when broken pieces fell to the ground.[7] Repairs were completed in March that year, although the Merlion itself resumed spouting water on 18 March 2009.

The Merlion statue has undergone restoration in 2006 and 2012 to repair cracks and clean stains.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Merlion Park - YourSingapore.com". YourSingapore.com. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "Merlion Park". The Fullerton Heritage. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  3. ↑ Sim Lian Huat
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "A new home for the Merlion". URA Skyline (July/August 2000). p. 6–8
  5. ↑ Singapore National Library Board: Singapore Infopedia: "Merlion Statue" <http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_938_2004-12-27.html>
  6. ↑ "Merlion Park". Best Singapore guide. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Merlion statue at Singapore River struck by lightning; suffers slight damage". Channel News Asia. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merlion Park.