360º view | Fairytale City Singapore

Singapore is a multinational city-state, a global financial center. It is located on an island and borders the southern part of Malaysia.

Singapore has an area of ​​728,6 km² (as of June 2021). And what about the date? – you say. – Can the area of ​​the country change? Surprisingly, the area of ​​Singapore has been gradually increasing due to the land reclamation program that has been in place since the 1960s. Currently, the state of Singapore consists of 63 islands.

Today we will go on a virtual tour to this fabulous city-state using the wonderful AirPano service. But before viewing virtual panoramas, we suggest briefly familiarizing yourself with the history of Singapore's development, its laws, and some of the main attractions.

☛ Go straight to virtual panoramas

Modern Singapore is lucky with the name. Lovers of a high style call it the "Lion City" – this is a literal translation from the Malay language. An ancient legend says that in the XNUMXth century a monster appeared here that no one had ever seen before. “They saw a strange beast. He moved incredibly fast and had a reddish body, a black head, and a white chest. Strong and fast, he was larger than a goat. Noticing people, the beast turned around and disappeared from view.

The monster made such a strong impression on the local prince that he renamed the city after, presumably, a lion. The Malays had not yet seen lions, but they had heard about them. And who, if not a lion (the prince decided) appeared before him? Therefore, now a dragon with a lion's mouth is placed on the postage stamps of the country, and indeed its image can be found everywhere.

360º view | Fairytale City Singapore

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Until the 60s of the last century, Singapore was a small poor country that even had to import fresh water and building sand. However, then something happened that is now called the "economic miracle" or "phenomenon of the XNUMXth century." The position of Prime Minister was taken by the lawyer Lee Kuan Yew, who set a goal to turn Singapore into the financial and commercial center of Southeast Asia. He managed to solve seemingly insurmountable tasks: completely eradicate corruption, defeat mafia groups and attract investors to the country. As a result, in just a few decades, a backward state has become one of the most prosperous in the world.

360º view | Fairytale City Singapore

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At the same time, order was established in absolutely all spheres of life: from the “top” to the “bottom”. The laws here are very strict, and no exceptions are made to anyone. For example, in Singapore it is strictly forbidden to spit on the ground: the fine for this violation will be 1500 Singapore dollars (about 1200 US dollars). The “pleasure” of smoking in public places, throwing away used paper, parking a car in the city center and so on will cost the same amount. The myriad of mosquitoes typical of the Asian region is minimized here thanks to special rules for watering flowers, and the city is fighting traffic jams and gas pollution by prohibiting travel during peak hours without fellow travelers (walking one of the Singaporeans said that the last ban is no longer valid).

360º view | Fairytale City Singapore

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This severity, along with the current grandeur, is reflected in the architecture of modern Singapore. One of the most famous sights are three two hundred meter towers Marina Bay Sands that have been decorating the city since 2010: this is a hotel, a casino, an exhibition center, an ice rink, and much more. The design of the hotel was approved by feng shui masters, and the architect, in his own words, was inspired by a deck of cards while working on the project. The giant ship crowns the towers, with fantastic lighting at night.

360º view | Fairytale City Singapore

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Another skyscraper comparable in size is the Millenia Tower in the very center of Singapore, the Marina Centre. The building rests on four cylinders, and is covered with a pyramid on top. Other incredible attractions in Singapore include the world's tallest Ferris wheel, the Singapore Flyer. With a total height of 165 meters, it is taller than two other world giants: "Star of Nanchang" in Nanchang (China) and "London Eye" in the UK capital.

Separate words deserve Supertree Grove (or Gardens by the Bay) – "Gardens by the Bay". They appeared thanks to the government's idea to turn Singapore, relatively sparse in vegetation, into a "garden city". 170 companies from 24 countries of the world applied for the creation of artificial gardens in Singapore. As a result, the competition was won by a couple of companies that built in the city center, on an area of ​​101 hectares, futuristic greenhouses, specially built for this purpose, unlike any other greenhouse in the world.

360º view | Fairytale City Singapore

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As part of the state, in addition to the main island of the same name, where the main attractions of Singapore are located, there are more than 60 islands of less impressive size. One of the largest is Sentosa Island. Here is one of the world's largest amusement parks, Universal Studios Singapore, the Oceanarium, as well as the same symbol mentioned above, without which not a single photo of Singapore can do: the Merlion statue (from the words mer, "sea", and lion, "lion"). The lion symbolizes strength and fearlessness, while the fish body emphasizes Singapore's close relationship with the sea. The Merlion statue in Singapore, cast in concrete, has a height of 8,6 meters and a weight of 70 tons. Like other iconic sights of Singapore, at night it is brightly illuminated and plays with new colors.

360º view | Fairytale City Singapore

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Among the ancient monuments of Sentosa is Fort Siloso, which served as the main stronghold during the Second World War when approaching the country from the west. A modern highlight is the elite Keppel Bay area with its amazing non-vertical skyscrapers from the creator of the National 11/XNUMX Memorial and Museum in New York.

Singapore is a city-state that pleases the eye. Being in the center (or, as it was believed earlier, at the end) of Asia, he absorbed all the power and splendor of modern Western civilization, not hesitating to flaunt his achievements: they are worth it.

And now let's move to virtual viewing all of the above and more.

 

Singapore, fairy tale city

Source: airpano.com