20 Curiosities of Singapore | Be surprised by this island country!

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is a country located on the continent of Asia. This country is made up of 63 islands and its capital is the city of Singapore, which is why it is considered a city-state. On the other hand, the total area of ​​the country is 721.5 km2, making it one of the smallest countries in Southwest Asia. But this fact does not mean that the curiosities of Singapore are few, among its 193 km of coastline there are many curious facts about Singapore that you will not want to miss. If you want to know them all, stay with us in this new article.

20 Curiosities of Singapore

Singapore is separated from Indonesia by the Singapore Strait and from Malaysia by the Johor Strait. Its proximity to these two countries and its geographical location have made Singapore a mix and sample of Asian culture, tradition and technology. Furthermore, the growth of the country has been such that every day it has more and more curiosities. Let’s get to know them!

1. How was the extension of Singapore?

How we mentioned it to you, Singapore is the second smallest country in Asia, after the Maldives. Globally, it ranks 19th among the smallest countries. Its territorial extension and high population density have required the country to expand, but being surrounded by water: How is it possible? To make it, Singapore has spread out over the sea, placing huge amounts of land and sand on top of the water. In 1960, Singapore had an area of ​​581 km2, thus 140 km2 of land reclaimed from the sea.

2. What does Singapore mean?

It is said that this island was formerly called Temasek, until the Malay prince, Sang Nila Utama, arrived in the country in the 11th century. Upon arrival, the prince discovered a lion’s head, so he named the island Singaporea. Sing means «lion» and «Pura» means city.

3. The Merlion, a very mystical Singapore curiosity

Do you know what a Merlion is? This is a mystical creature that is half lion, half fish, which has become one of Singapore’s greatest curiosities, as it is its official mascot and statues of this animal can be found throughout the country. It was first designed in 1964 and is said to represent Singapore’s fishing past and the story of the island’s founding prince.

4. What language is spoken in this country?

One of the curious facts about Singapore is that it has four official languages: Tamil, Malay, English and Mandarin. Malay is considered the mother tongue of the country since its founders and first inhabitants belonged to this ethnic group, but English is a very important language that is taught in all schools. On the other hand, an unofficial language is Singlish, which is a mixture of English with other languages.

5. Gardens by the Bay: Beautiful and ecological curiosities of Singapore

Without a doubt we can say that the Gardens by the Bay are one of the most beautiful and ecological attractions of Singapore. This place is home to a wide variety of plants that belong to different continents. But beyond that, the biggest attraction of this park are the Super Trees. These are 18 structures between 20 and 50 meters that serve to collect solar energy and thus be a source of ecological energy. In addition to this, these trees light up at night, illuminating the environment with a magical light.

6. Curiosities about Singapore: The cleanest country in the world?

Nowadays, a huge problem facing the world is the high level of pollution. This dilemma can be observed especially in the most densely populated countries. Therefore, it is surprising that among the curious facts about Singapore, we can say that it is one of the cleanest countries in the world. The laws are very strict regarding pollution and environmental care. In fact, the country is monitored and automated with different technologies that allow the government to measure different aspects such as the pollution index and energy expenditure.

7. National Planting Day

As we have mentioned, in this country the environment is something very important for everyone. For this reason, a national plantation day has been declared, which is celebrated on November 7 every year.. On this date, both the government and citizens go out to plant trees. On the other hand, in this country trees are seen as a very precious gift, Therefore, it is common to give a tree as a gift at birthday parties and weddings.

8. Don’t feed the birds

This is one of the laws you should know about Singapore. Although it may seem strange to you, in this country they have very particular laws that you must respect if you do not want to pay fines, costs and even spend a few days in jail. Among these curious laws, we have found that feeding birds is prohibited in the country.

9. Bay Sands Marine Complex

This complex of buildings has become another icon that represents Singapore, as it is considered a feat of architecture. These are 3 towers that rise 200 meters high and house a hotel, theaters, restaurants, an art museum, a convention center and We can also find the largest infinity pool in the world, which is 150 meters long.

10. Singapore Zoo

If you wonder why we list a zoo among the curiosities of Singapore, the answer is simply because it is a fantastic place. Unlike many zoos around the world, Singapore’s zoo manages imitate the natural habitat of many species. In it you can find everything from forests, deserts and jungles, to steppes, rivers and oceans. For this reason, it is considered one of the most important zoos in the world, in addition to It is home to 315 species, of which 16% are in danger of extinction.

11. The Singapore Flyer

If you visit Singapore you cannot miss getting on the Singapore Flyer (or Flyer Sky) This is considered the highest observation wheel in the world. From there you can see the country’s most iconic places and monuments with perfect clarity. In addition, when the weather permits, Malaysia and Indonesia can also be seen. This observation wheel is 165 meters high, which means it surpasses the London observation wheel, which measures 135 meters. The tour lasts 30 minutes, and although it is not very long, you will surely enjoy it.

12. What religion is practiced in this country?

One of the curious facts about Singapore is that several religions and cultures coexist there, since the country has a large percentage of migrants, approximately 46%. It is estimated that the most practiced religion is Buddhism with 42% of its population. This is followed by Islam with 14.9%. Then come Christianity, Taoism and Hinduism.

13. Curiosities of Singapore: Haw Par Vila, the park of statues

This is a very curious park in the country. There are more than 1,000 statues representing different elements of Chinese folklore and mythology. It was built in 1937 and is said to be the «Chinese Disneyland.»

14. The country’s gastronomy is undoubtedly notable among the curiosities of Singapore

In this country you can find a lot of typical dishes that correspond to the mix of the different ethnicities that live there. But among all their dishes, one that we can highlight, since it is considered specifically Singapore, is the Chili Crab. This is considered the national dish of Singapore and there is not a major celebration where it is not on the table. The Chili Crab consists of cooked crab and is served with tomato sauce and spicy chili peppers.

15. Curiosities of Singapore: the Sri Mariamman Temple

As we mentioned, one of the curiosities of Singapore is that many ethnicities and religions coexist in this country. The Sri Mariamman is the oldest Hindu temple in the country, as it is more than 193 years old, having been founded in 1827 by Naraina Pillai, a man who lived in Singapore during the colonial era. Without a doubt, it is a magnificent temple that attracts attention for its statues and intriguing architecture. All these attributes made it declared as a National Monument of Singapore.

16. Singapore Botanic Gardens

With this list it has become clear to us that the places and curious facts about Singapore are many. But among the essential places in Singapore we can definitely include its wonderful Botanical Garden. This was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it the only tropical garden that has this title. On the other hand, it is about 156 years old and millions of annual visitors come to admire especially to the national orchid garden.

17. Singapore Sentosa Island

This magnificent artificial island is undoubtedly one of the curiosities of Singapore. All of it is dedicated to tourism. This island is only 500 hectares and although it is not very large, there are theme parks such as Universal Studios Singapore, different hotel complexes, aquariums, restaurants, golf courses and the famous World Sentosa, a rest and leisure center.

18. The four Asian tigers

One of the curious facts about Singapore is that it was previously united with Malaysia. In 1963, Singapore achieved independence from the English and joined Malaysia, but only two years later it decided to separate and become an independent state. Due to this, it became part of the so-called «The Four Asian Tigers», which are so called due to their high economic and technological potential. The other tigers are Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.

19. Undercover police in Singapore?

As we mentioned previously, the strange laws are one of the greatest curiosities of Singapore. Actions that seem harmless like feeding birds or chewing gum can have terrible consequences. And, even if you think that no one is watching or that there are no cameras nearby, In Singapore there are undercover police officers who pose as civilians to catch all lawbreakers.

20. Medical Robots, the latest innovation from Singapore

We finish our list of Singapore curiosities with this latest technological invention. In the hospitals of this country there are medical robots that help carry medications and assist in some surgeries. Additionally, through a screen, they can interact with people, smile and help locate patients.

What did you think of these curious facts about Singapore? Tell us which one surprised you the most and if you have already visited, it is an impressive island country. As always it will be a pleasure to read you. On the other hand, if you still want more, be sure to read: 20 Curiosities about Honduras.