Singapore
Singapore - Garden State
Singapore is located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, by
the Straits of Malacca. Its full name is the Republic of Singapore.
Singapore is Sanskrit meaning "Lion City." The country covers an
area of 683 square kilometers and has a population of 4.19 million.
76.9% of residents are Chinese, followed by Malays, Indians and
others. Many Chinese believe in Buddhism, while Indians and Malays
are Hindu, and many Pakistanis are Muslim. Malay is the official
language, and English, Mandarin, and Tamil are also spoken. The
currency is Singapore dollars. Capital of Singapore is Singapore (singapore).
National Flag
Singapore's flag is red and white, composed of two rectangles. The
upper left corner has curved white crescent and a white,
five-pointed star. The red symbolizes human equality, while white
symbolizes purity and virtue. The crescent is the symbol of the
State, and the five stars symbolize the establishment of democracy,
peace, progress, justice, and equality.
History
Singapore was once called Temasek. In the 8th century, the
Indonesian Srivijaya dynasty was founded. In the 18th and 19th
century, the country was part of the Malay kingdom of Johor. In
1819, the British Stanford arrives. Raffles arrived in a new
contract with the Sultan of Johor to set up trading posts. In 1824,
it became a British colony, a British trading port involved in the
re-export trade of the Far East and the main military base in
Southeast Asia. In 1942, Singapore was occupied by Japan. After
Japan surrendered in 1945, the United Kingdom resumed its colonial
rule, classified as direct rule the following year. In 1959, it
became a self-governing state in internal affairs, retaining the
British defense and foreign affairs, with a constitutional amendment
enacting "emergency law" and other powers. On September 16, 1965,
Singapore became part of Malaysia. On August 9, 1965, Singapore
separated from Malaysia, establishing the Republic of Singapore. In
September of that same year, Singapore became a the United Nations
Member State, and in October joined the Commonwealth.
Economic and Cultural Customs
The economy of Singapore is international and diversified, although
the natural resources, and the location and quality of the
population are the most valuable assets. The share of agriculture in
the national economy less than 1%; food is almost entirely imported.
Singapore does not produce oil, but
has advanced technology and a huge petrochemical industry. Singapore
is the world's leading oil refining center and leads the world in
proudcing offshore oil drilling platforms, second only to Houston
and Rotterdam, Netherlands. The United States is the world's third
largest oil refining center. The refining industry, ship
manufacturing, and electrical and electronics industries are the
main pillars of the economy.
Singapore is among Southeast Asia's most important industrialized
countries. From the 20th century into the late 1970s, Singapore
focused on developing high-tech industries. It is now one of the
major producers of the world's computer parts and integrated
circuits. Singapore's electronics industry has developed rapidly,
and exports of electronic products have soared, enjoying the
reputation as the "Southeast Asian Silicon Valley." Singapore is
also vigorously developing its financial sector, known as the "Asian
dollar market." Of fifty major banks around the world, forty-five
ahve branches in Singapore. Singapore has become the world's
fourth-largest financial center. In the development of industry,
Singapore has attached great importance to environmental protection.
Singapore is an open country in conception and can be inclusive.
Singapore has absorbed the Western legal system, the essence of
effective management, and strict attention to the values and
traditions of culture absorbed from the essence of the Orient.
Eastern and Western cultures blend to make Singaporeans polite,
friendly, practical, efficient, and honestly driven to win. Due to
resource scarcity, environmental awareness is extremely
characteristic. Singapore City, has trees, clustered flowers; the
environment is clean and beautiful, like a beautiful garden. Yu
termed it a "Garden State."
Sentosa
Sentosa is a world-renowned tourist destination, 500 meters south of
the island of Singapore, south of Keppel Harbour when on Singapore's
third largest island. Formerly uninhabited, it was known as a
"non-repeatable island." In 1972, the island was renamed "Sentosa."
The island has many attractions: Sylow prime Fort, Coral Hall,
Georgia's largest aquarium Palace - Underwater World, Sentosa Arts
Centre, Madame Tussauds, and an insect museum. The island also has
Southeast Asia's largest roller skating rink.
Kistler Museum
Located in Sentosa Island, the Kistler Museum is the world's most
unique rock museum. A small and exquisite building, the museum
possesses more than 4,000 rock formations from around the world.
These precious stones were essentially carefully collected by the
family of museum curator CHEUNG Wing Kwong over more than 140 years.
The first piece of the collection is said to have been acquired in
1850. Chinese rocks represent 40% of the total treasure. The
exhibits are divided into five categories: jewelry, patterned stone,
text rock type, pictographs rock type, and rock formations.
Tail like a lion
This is the sign and symbol of Singapore. It stands where the
Singapore River meets the sea, a statue eight meters high made of
white marble. The base is a wavy sea, with 2,000 tiles made Xiangtie.
Four to five meters above the water level, a lion with fish's
body,like leaping from a river. Every rising sea lion population
that is out sprays straight sets of water columns. In the day, the
sea lion looks lovely in clear water and blue sky against the
backdrop of the river, and at night it is lit by lights, glittering,
eye-catching, and glamorous.
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