The Merlion has been the emblem of the Singapore Tourism Board since its establishment as the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (STPB) in 1964.

The Statue with water fountain was designed by Kwan Sai Kheong, then Vice Chancellor of the University of Singapore, and Ambassador to the Philippines. Local craftsman Lim Nang Seng sculpted and built the statue, which was completed in August, 1972. It was officially installed by Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister, on 15th September 1972, at a cost of S$ 165,000.

The official word on the Merlion from the Singapore Tourist Board.

Over the years, the Merlion symbol has become well-known through its wide use and has come to be identified with Singapore.

The Merlion was first recommended for use as a crest of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) - then known as the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board - on 26 March 1964. Mr Fraser Brunner a member of the Souvenir Committee and curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium, was the originator of the design. Registration of the Merlion as a trademark was finalised on 20 July 1966.

With the change of the Board's corporate identity in 1997, a new corporate logo was adopted. The Merlion, however, continues to be a symbol protected under the Singapore Tourism Board Act and the prior approval of the Board has to be obtained before the Merlion symbol can be used.

The Merlion and its Significance
The choice of the Merlion as a symbol for Singapore has its roots in history. The Merlion commemorates the ancient name and the legend taken from the "Malay Annals" (literary and historical work from the 15th or 16th century) explaining how Singapore a received its present name.

In ancient times, Singapore was known as Temasek which is Javanese for the sea. It was then, as it is today, a center of trade. At the end of the 4th century A.D, Temasek was destroyed by the Siamese, according to some historians, but by the Javanese according to others. As recorded in the legend in the Malay Annals," Prince Nila Utrama of the Sri Vijaya empire rediscovered the island later in the 11th century A.D. On seeing a strange beast (which he later learnt was a lion) upon his landing he named the island Singapura which I a Sanskirt word for Lion (Singa) City (Pura).

The Merlion, with its fish-like body riding the waves of the sea, is symbolic of the ancient city of Temasek. At the same time, its majestic head recalls the legend of the discovery of Singapore by Prince Nila Utama in the 11th century, when Singapore received its present name.

The Merlion was located at the mouth of the Singapore River on the tip of a small promontory from 1972 to 2002.

It was moved to a new Merlion Park built on reclaimed land on the Marina Bay side of the Esplanade Bridge on 28 April 2002.

The Merlion Park is popular to the tourists.

There are always many tourists in the Merlion Park. It is not likely that you have the chance to take a picture with the Merlion alone. You have to be sharp and fast, otherwise other tourists may be the main characters of your picture.

Some tourists like to take a picture showing the Merlion spraying into their mouths. You need to have good co-ordination with the photographer to get a good picture of that. A tourist was very excited when he got what he desired.

There were tourists who were not considerate. They went over the railing and took the picture with the Merlion. It is rude and dangerous.
Please take note and be considerate. Otherwise what you did might make known to the whole world through Internet.

Welcome to Singapore!