What are Interesting Facts About Singapore? Discover Mind Blowing Facts; One Must Know Before Plan to Visit !

Abstract: All About Singapore!!

There are many things that make Singapore such a fascinating place to travel to. From its man-made solar trees to the abundance of nature in the otherwise modern city, this island captivates nearly all who visit its shores.

But did you know that the country was not always called Singapore? Or that the city-state’s symbol animal is a Merlion? And are you aware that chewing gum is illegal on the island?

Singapore is one country that will never cease to keep surprising its visitors and the world! Officially known as the Republic of Singapore, it is both a city and a country located in Southeast Asia. It is a melting pot of culture and history, and an extravaganza of culinary delights. 

What is Singapore famous for?
Singapore is famous for being a global financial center, being among the most densely populated places in the world, having a world-class city airport with a waterfall, and a Botanic Garden that is a World Heritage Site.

Singapore is known as a tourist destination and for its hot and humid climate, being very clean, and growing in area due to reclaimed land.

The city-state is a shopper's paradise, besides the usual luxury brands sold in luxurious malls with luxury air conditioning, you can buy almost everything except chewing gum. Singapore is also known as "Instant Asia" because it offers visitors a quick glimpse of the Asian cultures that immigrants have brought from all parts of the continent.

Come a little closer as we uncover the city’s secrets in our guide to Singapore's quirky and fun facts.

Keywords: Travel, Leisure, Tourism, Facts, Singapore

Learning Outcomes

You will learn some more impressive facts about Singapore to help you better get to know this island city-state.

Facts pointed:

1. Since 1905, Singapore has changed its time zones 6 times! Presently its time zone is GMT+8 (just to be in synch with Malaysia).

2. Chewing gum is banned in Singapore. Only those with medical prescription can chew gum!

3. Singapore is one of the 20 smallest countries in the world. The main island is 42 kilometres long and 23 kilometres wide and has a total land area of just 683 square kilometres.

4. There is a maximum limit to how high buildings in Singapore can be built, which is 280 meters.

5. The Tanjong Pagar Centre, opened in 2016, is Singapore’s tallest building at 290 meters. Special permission was granted to it to exceed the usual height restriction of 280 meters.

 

6. Sang Nila Utama, a Palembang prince, saw what he thought was a lion on the island; and thus he christened it as Singapura, which translates to 'lion city' in Sanskrit. However, there were no lions in Singapore at that time. Lions were only brought in modern times for the zoos!

7. Other than the four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil that Singaporeans speak, they also speak a fifth language which is a local lingo by the name of Singlish. 

8. A total of 27 Singlish words have made it to the Oxford dictionary.

9. In all of Southeast Asia, you will find the largest size of Yakult bottles in Singapore.

 

10. Collectively, Singaporeans are the fastest pedestrians in the world, walking at a speed of about 6.15 kilometres per hour!

11. Of the only five official Tintin shops in the world, one of them is in Chinatown in Singapore (the remaining four are in Japan and Europe).

12. With over 260 food stalls, the Complex Food Centre in Chinatown is the largest hawker centre in all of Singapore.

13. After New Zealand, Singapore is the easiest place across the globe to do business, according to a business list published by the World Bank.

14. You can find the National Anthem of Singapore on the back of the SGD 1000 note, written in micro text.

 

15. Contrary to popular belief, Singapore is not a single island, but 63 in all; comprising of other offshore islands. 

16. You can actually sit and enjoy free movie screening 24/7 at the Changi Airport. Check out Terminals 2 and 3 for 2D movies, and Terminal 4 for 4D cinema.

17. The youngest person in the world to have passed GCE ‘O’ Level Chemistry paper at the age of just 7 is from Singapore.

18. There is an actual law against not flushing the public toilet after using it in Singapore, and you will be fined SGD 150 if you get caught.

19. Singapore is very passionate about toilets indeed! The government actually tabled a UN resolution to mark 19 November as the World Toilet Day, and in 2001, the World Toilet Organization came into being.

20. The tallest indoor waterfall in the world is located in Singapore at the Gardens by the Bay, and it stands at a height of 35 meters.

 

21. Afraid of the growing hippie culture across the globe, the government imposed a ban on long hair for males in the 1970s.

22. There are only three modern city-states that exist in the world, and Singapore is one of them, other than Monaco and Vatican.

23. Singapore is the least corrupt city in Asia and the fifth least corrupt in the world.

24. 7th November is officially celebrated as the National Tree Planting Day in Singapore when everyone from diplomats to the common man plants trees. Some people even adopt trees as birthday or wedding presents!

25. Caning is till date a legal form of punishment in Singapore.

26. The Singapore government heavily discourages using private vehicles, and car owners in Singapore have to pay 1.5 times the car price to get their vehicles certified.

27. Standing 165 meters high, the Singapore Wheel is the second-highest in the world, losing the first rank by only 2 meters!

 

28. The mythical creature Merlion, the ambassador of Singapore, is a half lion and a half fish. The lion comes from the first sighting, and the fish represents the traditional fishing occupation of the city.

29. Military service is mandatory for all men in Singapore for two years after finishing high school. And every year, servicemen need to return to train till they are 40 years of age.

30. The first-ever park dedicated exclusively to gardening is the HortPark in Singapore, which has now become a major lifestyle hub in Asia.

 

31. The Singapore Grand Prix Racing Circuit is not only the first one in all of Asia but also boasts of having held the first-ever F1 night race in the year 2008.

32. One out of every six people in Singapore has assets worth USD1 million or more, higher than anyone else in the world.

33. The entire economy of Singapore is based on shipping, and everything from sand to freshwater is imported. At the same time, the state exports a lot as well.

34. The Changi Airport was voted as the World’s Best Airport for the fourth time in a row in the year 2016.

 

35. The highest homeownership rate in the world is in Singapore at 92%! About 80% of the Singaporean population is living in government-subsidized houses today.

36. Singapore is the fifth largest arms importer in the entire world, as per a study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

37. Singapore Night Safari is the first night zoo in the world.

38. The tallest natural point in Singapore, Bukit Timah Hill, is only 164 meters high.

39. Singapore has the biggest retractable dome in the world, with a diameter of 312 meters, and the ability to easily shelter 55,000 spectators from sun and rain.

40. Every day, two new restaurants open up in Singapore; which is huge, given its small size.

41. Citizens of Singapore do not need a VISA to go to China, South Korea, North Korea or the United States.

42. There was no war or battle to help Singapore gain independence from Malaysia. In fact, Malaysia democratically voted to throw out Singapore!

 

43. Littering is a huge offence in Singapore. If found littering small items, you will have to pay SGD 300 as fine. On the other hand, littering larger items like cans and bottles can earn you a Corrective Work Order, wherein you will have to wear a bright green glowing vest and clean up a certain specified area, to shame you publically and make you realize how tough it is for the sweepers and cleaners!

44. Certain topics are out of bounds for discussion in the public, and you will land in trouble if you choose to speak about them. Criticizing the government is one such topic.

45. In 2008, when the Singapore Flyer opened, it rotated in a counter-clockwise direction when viewed from the Marina Centre. Later that year, it was reversed, on the advice of the Feng Shui masters.

46. The only Singaporean feature film to have been awarded the Camera d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival in the year 2013 is Ilo Ilo, directed by Anthony Chen.

47. There are over 3000 kilometres of roads in Singapore, which when stretched from end to end, can cover the distance between Singapore and Hong Kong.

48. The lowest temperature recorded in Singapore ever was 19.4 degrees Celcius, on 31 January in 1934.

49. Singapore is also home to Sunda pangolins, or scaly anteaters. They live in the Central Catchment Area, and each adult anteater can eat around 70 million insects a year.

50. The signature Singapore Sling, which contains gin, Cointreau, cherry brandy, Dom Benedictine, pineapple juice, Grenadine, Angostura bitters and lime, was first served at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel in the year 1915.

51. Sure, you can eat durian au naturel. But to make things extra fun, try the stinky fruit in sweet, savoury and strange flavours at places like Goodwood Park Hotel. We dare you.

52. Yeah, we’ve all seen our fair share of HDB flats. But these are no run-of-the-mill buildings. We found ones with fascinating architecture, cool designs and colourful murals!

53. Truth be told, Yishun really isn’t as bad as its infamous rep suggests. Take a stroll in the ‘hood and find out for yourself.

54. Cafes are aplenty, but quiet ones that aren’t perpetually packed with brunch crowds? We’d head deep into the heartlands for them. Add hidden cafes to your food bucket list for good grub that you can savour in peace.

55. Swing by Hougang to check out the largest Japanese cemetery in Southeast Asia. Built in 1891, the park is prettier than it is spooky, with pink floral archways that are reminiscent of sakura season in Japan. Serving as a burial ground for nearly 1,000 Japanese civilians and soldiers from the pre-war years, this place has, strangely enough, turned into an IG-friendly spot.

56. Want to catch killer views of Singapore’s majestic cityscape… for free? Hop on over to SkyVille@Dawson, a towering HDB estate in Queenstown, and head 47 storeys up to the rooftop garden for an alfresco hang.

57. Sundry stores, more fondly known as “mama shops”, are great for affordable snacks, drinks and other random items like old school toys. Best place to find ‘em? Void decks of HDB flats in the heartlands.

58. Drop by your neighbourhood beauty salons for eyebrow threading for only $5. From Hougang to Woodlands, there’s always a good deal.

59. Marina at Keppel Bay isn’t only Asia’s first fish-friendly marina by the Marina Industries Association standards. You can actually find a healthy coral reef ecosystem under Keppel Bay!

60. Did you know: built in 1869, Cavenagh Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge across the Singapore River. It’s named after William Orfeur Cavenagh, who was the final governor of the Straits Settlements under British India rule. The structure was gazetted as a national monument together with Elgin Bridge and Anderson Bridge in 2019.

61. Our skyline isn’t just made up of Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer. They’re iconic, but they’re also just two of the many fascinating architectural landmarks on the island. Lesser-known structures include Assyafaah Mosque in the north and The Colonnade in Orchard.

55. Swing by Hougang to check out the largest Japanese cemetery in Southeast Asia. Built in 1891, the park is prettier than it is spooky, with pink floral archways that are reminiscent of sakura season in Japan. Serving as a burial ground for nearly 1,000 Japanese civilians and soldiers from the pre-war years, this place has, strangely enough, turned into an IG-friendly spot.

56. Want to catch killer views of Singapore’s majestic cityscape… for free? Hop on over, a towering HDB estate in Queens town, and head 47 storeys up to the rooftop garden for an alfresco hang.

57. Sundry stores, more fondly known as “mama shops”, are great for affordable snacks, drinks and other random items like old school toys. Best place to find ‘em? Void decks of HDB flats in the heartlands.

58. Drop by your neighbourhood beauty salons for eyebrow threading for only $5. From Hougang to Woodlands, there’s always a good deal.

59. Marina at Keppel Bay isn’t only Asia’s first fish-friendly marina by the Marina Industries Association standards. You can actually find a healthy coral reef ecosystem under Keppel Bay!

60. Did you know: built in 1869, Cavenagh Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge across the Singapore River. It’s named after William Orfeur Cavenagh, who was the final governor of the Straits Settlements under British India rule. The structure was gazetted as a national monument together with Elgin Bridge and Anderson Bridge in 2019.

61. Our skyline isn’t just made up of Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer. They’re iconic, but they’re also just two of the many fascinating architecture landmarks on the island. Lesser-known structures include Assyafaah Mosque in the north and The Colonnade in Orchard.

62. Only got $20 in your pocket? you just need to know where to look. From museums and thrift stores to hiking trails and free music performances, there’s an abundance of entertainment.

63. Can’t seem to find retro tidbits these days? Pop by old school snacks stores when the munchies hit.

64. Searching for a speakeasy is way more fun than cosying up in a regular ol’ drinking joint. Wondering where to start? 

65. Our island is home to thousands of bus stops. Think modern ones sitting side by side with old school structures. For a blast to the past, cruise along the roads to find retro bus stops at places like Lim Chu Kang Road and Tanjong Pagar Road.

66.National University of Singapore is one of the most admired places by students

67. Among the laws of the country, you’re also forbidden from accessing someone else’s wifi without permission (even if it’s not password protected) and you may not feed pigeons in public (or private) places.

68. Learning and education are a big part of the culture in Singapore, and kids go to school at a young age. The eagerness to learn and support from the parents has resulted in the country being home to some of the world’s smartest children.

69. Singapore is made up of the main island as well as 62+ smaller islets dotted around the coast.

70. Singapore is the 15th smallest country in the world.

72. The Singaporean passport is one of the strongest in the world, much like Germany’s.

Conclusions:

Now that you know these amazing facts about Singapore, you can have a wonderful trip and explore this city-state to its best. You're not going to find such wonders anywhere else!

References: 

1. Google: www.google.com/singapore

2. Various information pages

3. Social Media Platforms