Merlion Park is a must-visit attraction for families with children who love art, culture, and history. This iconic landmark is a statue of a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. It is located in Marina Bay, one of Singapore’s most beautiful and popular areas.
The History of Merlion
The Merlion is a mythical creature from the legend of Sang Nila Utama, a prince who founded Singapore in the 14th century. According to the legend, Sang Nila Utama saw a lion while sailing to Singapore and named the island after it. But there has never been a lion in Singapore; the prince saw a tiger.
The first Merlion statue was built in 1964. It was designed for the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (STB) logo.
The statue was originally located at the mouth of the Singapore River. With the completion of the Esplanade Bridge in 1997, the Merlion statue could no longer be viewed clearly from the waterfront. In 2002, the STB decided to relocate the statue to a new pier specially built on the other side of the bridge, overlooking Marina Bay. In its new location, the Merlion statue faces east as it did in the old location to preserve the optimal feng shui
The Surroundings of Merlion Park
Merlion Park is in front of Marina Bay, which offers stunning views of the CBD (Central Business District) skyline, the Esplanade, and Marina Bay Sands.
Don’t miss the “Merlion cub”, a smaller statue 2 m tall. Situated behind the main statue, it is inlaid with Chinese porcelain plates and bowls as part of its design.
Why Kids Would Love Merlion Park
Kids would love Merlion Park for many reasons:
- The Merlion statue is a popular photo opp. Kids will love getting their picture taken with the iconic statue.
- After, they can play at Esplanade Park Children’s Play Area (5 min walk).
- They can eat an ice cream.
- In the evening, they can enjoy the light show Spectra.
Another great option for families to discover the Merlion is to take a boat tour with Singapore River Cruise. Thus, you will see the Merlion from the bay.
