Merlion Park in Singapur and its lion?fish landmark
Published on 09/19/2026 at 15:01 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Merlion Park is the waterfront home of Singapur’s half?lion, half?fish emblem, set beside Marina Bay with the city’s skyline rising around it. The main Merlion statue, unveiled in 1972 and relocated to this expanded park in 2002, stands above the water with a stream flowing from its mouth towards the bay.The statue was first unveiled in 1972 and moved to the reclaimed promontory at One Fullerton three decades later.The statues were relocated to the new park in 2002
A national symbol on the Marina Bay waterfront
The centrepiece of Merlion Park is an 8.6?metre statue with a lion’s head and a fish’s body, standing on a sculpted base and directing a jet of water into Marina Bay.The park is recorded as covering about 2,500 square metres and the principal statue itself is widely described as 8.6 m high and around 70 tonnes in weight.Visitor descriptions consistently quote a height of 8.6 metres The creature combines Singapur’s name, which refers to a lion, with a fish tail recalling the island’s past as a fishing settlement.
The statue was designed by Kwan Sai Kheong and sculpted by Lim Nang Seng, a Singaporean artist who worked on the piece with his family.The National Library Board records Kwan Sai Kheong as designer and Lim Nang Seng as sculptor First installed at the mouth of the Singapore River, the statue was moved when Esplanade Bridge altered the view lines across the water, and now faces the broader expanse of Marina Bay from the promontory beside The Fullerton Hotel.The new site is described as a reclaimed promontory overlooking the bay
The park layout: steps, viewing terraces and the Merlion cub
Merlion Park itself is a compact waterfront space laid out with broad steps and platforms descending towards the water, giving direct sightlines to the Merlion and across the bay to Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum.The location along the Marina Bay waterfront near the mouth of the Singapore River is well documented Railings and low walls define the edge of the promenade, and the statue stands on a projecting platform near the water so that its spray reaches towards the bay.
Beside the main statue, a smaller Merlion “cub” stands on a separate pedestal set back from the water, repeating the lion?fish motif at a more modest scale.Travel descriptions refer to a roughly 2?metre Merlion cub beside the main fountain Paths around the park link the terraces with nearby commercial spaces in the One Fullerton development, and the open arrangement of steps and decks makes the statue visible from multiple angles along the waterfront promenade and from boats crossing the bay.
Context in Singapur’s cityscape and history
Merlion Park sits in central Singapur, on the Marina Bay waterfront near the mouth of the Singapore River and the Central Business District, with the Fullerton Hotel immediately behind it and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Marina Bay Sands across the water.Tourism guides consistently place the park beside The Fullerton Hotel overlooking Marina Bay The present park on the reclaimed promontory was formally established in April 2002, creating a larger setting for the statue and improving the sightlines across the bay.The current park is recorded as established on 25 April 2002
The Merlion itself belongs to a wider group of officially authorised statues across Singapur, but the original 1972 figure at Merlion Park is the best known of them.Government archives note seven authorised Merlion statues nationwide Its lion?fish form expresses both the city’s name and its maritime setting, and the combination of the statue with the harbour views has made the park a fixed point in images of Singapur’s transformation from river port to high?rise financial centre.
Visiting Merlion Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Merlion Park lies on the Marina Bay waterfront in central Singapur, beside the mouth of the Singapore River and in front of The Fullerton Hotel; the nearest MRT stop is Raffles Place station on the East?West and North?South lines.
- The park consists of stepped terraces and paved promenades leading down towards the bay, with level paths around the main statue and a short approach on foot from nearby roads and MRT exits.
- 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.
Searching for Merlion Park on social platforms
These links open searches for Merlion Park on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Merlion Park
Where is Merlion Park located in Singapur?
Merlion Park is on the Marina Bay waterfront in central Singapur, beside the mouth of the Singapore River and in front of The Fullerton Hotel near the Central Business District.
What can visitors expect during a visit to Merlion Park?
Visitors find the large lion?fish statue spouting water towards the bay, stepped terraces and promenades leading down to the waterfront, and wide views of Marina Bay Sands and the surrounding skyline.
What makes Merlion Park distinctive among Singapur’s public spaces?
Merlion Park combines the original 1972 Merlion statue with a purpose?built waterfront setting, placing the national emblem directly against the modern skyline and making its lion?fish figure part of the everyday cityscape.
