The Merlion is the official mascot of Singapore. It is depicted as a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The Merlion was first used in Singapore as the logo for the tourism board. Its name combines "mer", meaning the sea, and "lion". The fish body represents Singapore's origin as a fishing village when it was called Temasek, which means "sea town" in Javanese. The lion head represents Singapore's original name - Singapura - meaning "lion city". The symbol was designed by Alec Fraser-Brunner for the logo of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in use from 26 March 1964 to 1997 and has been its trademarked symbol since 20 July 1966.

Spouting water from its mouth, the Merlion statue stands at 8.6 metres and weighs 70 tonnes located at Merlion Park. Originally located at the mouth of the Singapore River, it was built by local craftsman Lim Nang Seng, designed by Kwan Sai Kheong, and unveiled on 15 September 1972 by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. It has subsequently been joined by a Merlion cub, 2 metres tall, located near the original statue.

With the completion of Esplanade Bridge in 1997, the statue could no longer be viewed clearly from the waterfront and was relocated to the Merlion Park, which stands in front of Fullerton Hotel and overlooking Marina Bay. On 23 April 2002, the statue was relocated to a new pier specially built on the other side of The Esplanade Bridge adjacent to The Fullerton hotel. The move, which cost $7.5 million, was completed on 25 April 2002. On 15 September 2002, then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew ceremonially welcome the Merlion again on its new location, the current Merlion Park, which is four times bigger than the original site.

Getting there:

Alight at Raffles Place MRT station, take Exit H. walk towards The Fullerton Hotel and take the underpass to cross over to One Fullerton, the Merlion Park is at the corner of One Fullerton.

Via Bus 10, 10e, 57, 70, 75, 100, 107, 130, 131, 162, 167, 196, 196e, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 868E, 951E or 971 alight at Fullerton Square (03011), take the underpass inside The Fullerton Hotel.

Via Bus 10, 10e, 57, 70, 75, 100, 107, 130, 131, 131A, 162, 167, 196, 196A, 196e, 652, 656, 660, 663, 665, 850E, 951E or 971 alight at OUE Bayfront (03019), walk towards One Fullerton.

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