Know Singapore: Overview
Singapore is located in the heart of Southeast Asia, at the southern tier of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore is made of 1 main island, but also 60 smaller islands as well, which lie off its southern coast.
While the earliest known historical records of Singapore are shrouded in time, a third century Chinese account describes it as "Pu-luo-chung", or the "island at the end of a peninsula". Later, the city was known as Temasek ("Sea Town"), when the first settlements were established.
During the 14th century, this small but strategically-located island earned a new name. According to legend, Sang Nila Utama, a Prince from Palembang (the capital of Srivijaya), was out on a hunting trip when he caught sight of an animal he had never seen before. Taking it to be a good sign, he founded a city where the animal had been spotted, naming it “The Lion City” or Singapura, from the Sanskrit words “simha” (lion) and “pura” (city).
Modern Singapore - It’s where foodies, explorers, collectors, action seekers, culture shapers, and socialisers meet―and new experiences are created every day.
Things to Do in Singapore
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Merlion Park: Meet the myth- Half-fish and half-lion, the iconic Merlion resides at the waterfront Merlion Park.
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Singapore Zoo: Home to over 3,000 animals from 316 species, the award winning Singapore Zoo is world famous for its "open concept" layout, offering visitors the chance to get more intimate and natural experiences as the animals live in landscaped enclosures using moats and rock walls as natural barriers.
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Night Safari: The world's first night zoo, the Night Safari exposes you to the nocturnal wildlife, where you can see how the animals behave in their natural habitats at night as you explore the different trails.
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Jurong Bird Park: Jurong Bird Park is Asia's largest bird park, with a collection of more than 5,000 birds across 400 species and with some of the largest free-flying aviaries in the world.
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Gardens by the Bay: Keeping to the City in a Garden concept, Gardens by the Bay is located along the Marina Bay and spans 101 hectares, it comprises of three spaces - Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central.
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Sentosa Island: Located just 15 minutes from Singapore's city centre, Sentosa Island is an idyllic resort island filled with pristine beaches, world-class attractions, sea sports, golf and retreats.
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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS: Step into the glamorous world of movies at this world-class theme park located within Resorts World Sentosa™.
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River Safari: The newest addition in the Mandai Kingdom and nestled between the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, the River Safari is Asia's first river-themed nature attraction and focuses on freshwater ecosystems
ETHNIC QUARTERS
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Little India:
Serving as a focal point of Singapore's Indian community, Little India offers a snapshot of life as it is on the streets of New Delhi and Mumbai. Here you will find a fusion of colours, sounds and scents, as the smell of spices, flowers, incense and perfume fill the air, as thousands of people from all walks of life go about their business.
Walk through the Little India Arcade for authentic Indian food, music and fashion, all housed in shophouses which date back to the 1920s. Here you will find silk saris, gold jewellery, knick knacks, silverware, handicrafts and other such goodies, as well as an opportunity to witness jasmine flowers being intricately woven into garlands, at roadside stalls before being taken to the temples as offerings. -
China Town:
Nestled near Singapore's bustling business district, Chinatown is Singapore's largest historic quarter, where our early Chinese migrants lived.
Nowadays you will find that it is made up of exotic pre-war shophouses, where merchants still hawk their wares from delicate bales of silk and gold jewellery to traditional crafts and products.
Chinatown can be divided into four main districts - Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer, TanjongPagar and Bukit Pasoh, each with a distinctive flavour of its own. The heart of activity is in the Trengganu Street/Smith Street area. Wander around the colourful network of narrow streets and alleys where you will witness craftsmen peddle traditional crafts like calligraphy, painted masks and embroidered silk at reasonable prices, while medicine stores mix exotic ingredients to treat all sorts of ailments.
