The first stop on your Singapore tour: Singapore River.
The Singapore River is not long, about 3.2 kilometers. But it is the mother river of Singapore, and many exhibits in the Singapore Museum come from the Singapore River. The first stop of your trip to Singapore is the Singapore River.
In 1819, Stamford Raffles landed in the Singapore River, and the pier was the landing point that year. From then on, this place became Singapore's prosperous trading center, with ships shuttling back and forth and warehouses lining the shore. The once busy dock is now a bustling bar, restaurant and hotel. The century-old houses on the shore have witnessed Singapore's development from a simple trading station to an important trading center in Asia. The pier is perfect for an evening of enjoying the breeze, a drink and a chat.
Clarke Quay, named after Singapore’s second Governor Andrew Clarke, is located on the other side of the Singapore River, upstream from the pier, and was once a small wharf for loading and unloading cargo. Today it is Singapore's renowned nightlife center, integrating shopping, dining and entertainment. There were originally 60 warehouses and shops here. After transformation, using colors, lights and creative landscapes, Clarke Quay has become a fashionable and colorful entertainment paradise. Clarke Quay has relatively few tourists during the day and is very lively at night. There is also a flea market at Clarke Quay on Sundays, selling antiques and artworks. If you are interested, you can go and have a look. In addition, you can also take a cruise at Clarke Quay, travel across the Singapore River, and see the Esplanade, the Ferris Wheel, the Merlion, and the Marina Bay Sands from a different angle and up close.
The Esplanade is located at the mouth of the Singapore River. It consists of two circular glass domes with more than 7,000 triangular aluminum sunshades installed on them. It resembles a durian and is also called the "Durian Art Center." The Marina Bay Arts Centre is a landmark building in Singapore and a platform for showcasing Singapore’s culture and art. There are concert halls, theatres, recital rooms, an outdoor theatre, a drama centre and a visual arts centre. The Marina Bay Theatre is free to visit and is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. The guided tour service hours are 11:00 and 14:00. There is only a guided tour service at 11:00 on weekends and public holidays.
When you arrive in Singapore, you have to take a look at the Merlion and take a few photos. The Merlion is the city symbol of Singapore. Its statue stands in the Merlion Park, on the other side of the Singapore River estuary. The Merlion has a fish body and a lion head. It is a water fountain sculpture designed by Chinese designer Lin Langxin. According to the Malay Annals, in the 14th century AD, a prince named Saint Nilo Utama came to this land on his way to Malacca. As soon as he landed, he saw a monster and his followers told him it was a lion. So he named the island "Singapore". "Singapore" means lion in Sanskrit, so Singapore is also called the Lion City.
The best time to visit Merlion Park is at dusk when the lights are on, as the sun is very strong during the day. Sitting under the Marina Bay Bridge at night, feeling the cool sea breeze and appreciating the stunning night view is extremely comfortable. As far as the eye can see, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is illuminated by lights and looks magnificent, the Ferris wheel is slowly rotating with changing colors, and the buildings in the financial center are sparkling...
It doesn’t take too much time to visit this section of the Singapore River. Have dinner at Clarke Quay in the evening. Then walk along the Singapore River to the Merlion Park, which is about 1,000 meters away. If you are in a good mood, you can go to the pier for a cup of coffee or red wine.