Merlion

Across Esplanade Dr from the Fullerton Hotel you'll find a statue of Singapore's mascot, the Merlion. The Merlion's fish-like body symbolizes Singapore's origins as a fishing village, while its leonine head represents the city's original name, Singapura (meaning "lion city" in Sanskrit). Spouting water from its jaws, the Merlion is 8.6m high and weighs 70 tonnes. Originally located at the mouth of the Singapore River, the S$165,000 statue was unveiled on 15 September 1972. While the sculpture makes for fun photos, the creature itself isn't worth a special trip to see it – but the Marina Bay views make a visit worthwhile. Don't forget to jump on a boat cruise for a complete circuit of Singapore's changing waterways!