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Singapore is an island city-state and the smallest country
in Southeast Asia. It is located on the southern tip of the
Malay Peninsula, south of the Malaysian state of Johor, and
north of the Indonesian Riau Islands. It is just 137 kilometres
(85 miles) north of the Equator.
Singapore has a highly developed market-based economy, and
is often considered to be a developed nation. It ranks 25th
on the Human Development Index which measures standard of living,
and second in the Index of Economic Freedom.
Singapore has traded in its rough-and-ready opium dens and
pearl luggers for towers of concrete and glass, and its steamy
rickshaw image for hi-tech wizardry, but you can still recapture
the colonial era with a gin sling under the languorous ceiling
fans at Raffles Hotel.
At first glance, Singapore appears shockingly modern and anonymous,
but this is an undeniably Asian city with Chinese, Malay and
Indian traditions from feng shui to ancestor worship creating
part of the everyday landscape. It's these contrasts that bring
the city to life.
Facts
Capital : Singapore
Largest city : Singapore
Official language(s) : Malay (National),
Mandarin Chinese, English, Tamil
Government : Parliamentary republic
President : Sellapan Ramanathan
Prime Minister : Lee Hsien Loong
Independence : Unilateral declaration
: (from the UK) August 31, 1963
- Officially : from UK (as a state of Malaysia) September 16,
1963
- From Malaysia August 9, 1965
Area : Total 699 sq. km, 264 sq.
miles
Population : July 2005 est. 4,326,000
(120th)
Currency : Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Religion : 42% Buddhist, 15% Muslim,
14% Christian, 9% Taoist, 4% Hindu
When To Go
Go anyTime. Climate is not a major consideration, as Singapore
gets fairly steady annual rainfall. Co-ordinate your visit with
one of the various festivals and events: Thaipusam is a spectacular
festival, occurring around February. If shopping and eating
are major concerns, April brings the Singapore Time Festival
and the Great Singapore Sale is held in June.
Major Attaractions
Night Safari
Hundreds of exotic animals rule the night at this unique
nature park near the Singapore Zoo.
Attraction type: Garden; Zoo; Wildlife park
Singapore Zoo
The world's largest captive orangutan group lives at this open-moat,
free-ranging zoo, which spans over 220-acres.
Attraction type: Zoo
Chinatown
Tourism is continually infesting this cultural section of Singapore,
with shops and sreet vendors offering a glimpse into the days
of old.
Attraction type: Neighborhood
Asian Civilisations Museum
Exhibit highlights of this diverse cultural museum include a
ninth-century Buddha and a Chinese snuff box.
Attraction type: Art museum
Singapore Botanic Gardens
This national park is open daily and features beautiful lakes,
animals, flowers and plants, including one of the region's first
rubber tree orchards.
Attraction type: Garden; Park
Orchard Road
This ritzy shopping and dining area is often referred to as
the "Park Avenue" of Singapore.
Attraction type: Department store; Street
Thian Hock Keng Temple
Historic Taoist temple near Singapore's waterfront.
Attraction type: Religious site
Singapore Art Museum
This museum, which opened in 1996, offers an immense rotating
collection of Singaporean and Malay sculpture and art.
Attraction type: Art museum
Mount Faber Cable Car
Attraction type: Tram
Changi Prison
This prison, open daily to the public as a museum, pays tribute
to the POWs held captive there during the Japanese occupation
in the 1940s.
Attraction type: Old jail; Museum
Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple
This large temple is one of the highlights of the Little India
district.
Attraction type: Religious site
St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
Attraction type: Religious site
Esplanade Theatres on the Bay
This new Singapore landmark features a large theater and more.
Attraction type: Theater
Fort Canning Park
This beautiful hilltop park was once the site of a fort and
the home of Singapore's founder.
Attraction type: Park; Historic site
URA Gallery
This exhibit hall of the Urban Redevelopment Association houses
an enormous replica of the entire city in miniature.
Attraction type: Art gallery; Specialty museum
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
This protected rainforest, just 12km away from the city's high-rises,
offers hiking and bike trails for observing some of the rarest
insect, bird and mammal species in the world.
Attraction type: Nature reserve
Empress Place Building
This historic 19th-century building is also home to the Asian
Civilizations Museum.
Attraction type: Architectural building
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