A pair of Merlions stands proudly at the carpark entrance for Ang Mo Kio Blk 216-222.
Built in 1998 for $30,000 by the Ang Mo Kio Residential Commitee, the iconic pair has been around for 12 years. But a few years back, the merlions were almost forced to be removed from their locations as they are not authorised by the Singapore Tourism Board, who owns the copyright and all intellectual properties of Merlion.
There are 5 “approved” Merlions in Singapore, which are the original Merlion (with a smaller one behind it) at the Singapore River, the gigantic Merlion in Sentosa, the Merlion of Mount Faber and the one at the Tourism Court.
The original Merlion, first located at the mouth of Singapore River and then shifted to Merlion Park, was officially unveiled in 1972 by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. At 8.6m tall, it was made by famous sculptor Lim Nang Seng. From then, it was officially determined as the symbol of Singapore; the top part represents Singapore as Lion City, while the bottom part refers Singapore as a port city.
Published: 23 October 2010
Updated: 06 March 2012
Remember Singapore 
Wah! You’ve got it on already, and quite good. Please find one of those nostalgic playgrounds and capture it ok? The dragon type one leh… dunno if it is still in Toa Payoh and Clementi.. =P
oh do u have any write up on amk central before the hub was built? i regretted not taking photos of the bus interchange before it shifted. One bus interchange that was recently shifted would be Serangoon Bus interchange. You may like to drop by for a visit before the vacant interchange gets demolished.
Sigh.. I did not own a camera then
In fact, I missed out many prominent landmarks such as the red-bricked National Library and Tang Dynasty…
Just took a few photos of the vacant old Serangoon Bus Interchange…
https://remembersingapore.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/singapore-old-bus-interchanges-terminals/
From my memory, the old AMK Bus Interchange looks almost like the Serangoon one
Are these Merlions still there? When I go back next year, I’ll go find them! Very very near where I used to live 🙂
To kinmay, I don’t have pictures of the old AMK bus interchange but I have pictures of the lovely huge tomatoes in AMK central if you remember them! I went around taking pictures before they started with the upgrading works in my precinct. http://bit.ly/v0z2td
PS: Remember Singapore – hope you don’t mind the link!
Hi
I will try to download a number of colour photographs taken of Singapore in the 1950/60s while helping there with the Y.C.W., I hope they are of some interest to your website. I was always very appreciative of the assistance I received while there, and the many folk I met.
Ray Morris
Thanks! Those are very rare and precious photos of the old Singapore 🙂
Cannot quite remember the Merlions at AMK but I do remember a pair of lions somewhere along Nicoll Highway, back then when Wonderland was still operating. wonder where they are now?
It was a pair of Merdeka Lions at each end of the Merdeka Bridge (part of Nicoll Highway)
They were later moved to Kallang Park (1966) and Pasir Laba Camp, before eventually settled down at SAFTI MI (since 1995).
Its replicas can be found outside Balestier Food Centre and Bukit Batok East Community Centre…
Jul 15, 2012 – Merlions
market2garden/op2torch/clarinet2concerto rmb 2012.07.25
An abandoned sculpture of Merlion is found at the premises of Block 151 (site of Changi Mural) at Changi Airbase West.
It is said that the sculpture was made by the SAF Boys School which no longer exists. (More info about the SAF Boys School at http://www.mindef.gov.sg/ns35/nstory02.asp)
Is there any way to enter the airbase to visit either this merlion or the murals?
No, need request approval from the air base.
Namaste ‘Remember Singapore’,
I used to live in AMK for about 10yrs in Avenue 3, within walking distance of the central .. just next to AMK MRT station.
Thank you so much for the nostalgic energy and those good old days. My families, we were from Hougang – along Upper Serangoon Road – 6 and half mile marking (where the 2 big stone eagle used to be – they called it the ‘bah kiah (crocodile) herng’ .. going towards the end of Kangkar Pier .. where the old bus terminal used to be…. just after the seminary. Yes, we are Teochew Peranakans/Baba and my mother and grandmother used the sarong and kasut manek.
I used to dream of that place once in a while .. and of course my Grandmother’s old house with 8 bedrooms, a huge compound with too many fruit trees to count, banana, rambutan, apple custard, buah kelodong (some call it the buah longlong) trees, pink and green jumbu trees etc. I miss those kampong days so much.
Wow … I’m very impressed with your collections here. Will come back every now and then whenever I miss my hometown, Singapore. I’m residing in Pennsylvania, USA. Went back for a 7week vacation in May/June 2013. After being away for more than 6 yrs .. Singapore isn’t the same anymore but everyone and everything else will evolve and change .. but too crowded now.
I’m looking forward to visit your website with more photos and stories soon. Right now, I’ve a few home projects to finish.
Wishing you and yours, a bright, beautiful, peaceful, healthy and prosperous 2014.
Bright Reiki blessings,
Agnes Khoo Schwenk
PA 15063
USA
Hi there! Found some old photos of ba kia hng for your memories 🙂
The entrance with two stone eagles
The kampong inside ba kia hng
The road leading to the village
The landlord’s mansion
The bus stop outside ba kia hng
(Source: http://www.communitywalk.com/UppersSerangoonhistory)
Amaaaazing! .. Wow …. I’m back in time … Most grateful Dear One .. am most grateful. Will be pinning them to my Pinterest. God bless you, God loves you and may you find joy, good health and that prosperity is already with you. Namaste.
Hi, thank u for posting these photos! This place was my grandma’s. May I know how u got them? How can I get a copy of them? Thanks n regards.
Hi, the photos were from the link provided. Not sure if they could be found at the National Archives too.
Can share more about your grandma’s place? 🙂
Hi Agnes,
I am Margaret possibly your long lost cousin.
Wow, this what I was looking for to add to the trail I’m talking about. Dawn, know of anyone who can provide me with more info, especially Lorong Low Koon?
The original Merlion at its original location (nearer to Anderson Bridge) 1987
(Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nat507/ Nathan Hughes Hamilton)
The fake AMK merlions are still there. I ran passed it today
all merlions are real they are part of our history which is good
most of us have merlion with our $1 coin
PM Lee Hsien Loong shares how he found the Merlion in Japan and other holiday photos
19 June 2016
AsiaOne.com
Used to meeting Singaporeans on his travels, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong this week found the Merlion during his holiday in Japan.
In a Facebook post on Saturday (June 18) morning, PM Lee shared how he came across Singapore’s tourism icon at a kimono shop in Karuizawa, a resort town near Nagano.
While he frequently met Singaporeans on vacation across the world, PM Lee said he seldom encountered a Merlion.
The shop owner told him that he had purchased the shoulder-height statue some 35 years ago after enjoying a visit to Singapore.
“The shop has since passed to his descendants. The business has been in the family for 18 generations (the signboard says 17, because it has not been updated)!,” PM Lee wrote.
http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/pm-lee-hsien-loong-shares-how-he-found-merlion-japan-and-other-holiday-photos
Hi
Just wanted to let you know that I am interested in using your images for a book about Singapore that I am writing which focuses on the way in which Lions are symbolized in Singapore so I was wondering if that would be alright with you and I can credit you
Regards
Vikram
50 and still fabulous: the Merlion celebrates its golden jubilee
Singapore’s Merlion, located at Merlion Park, will turn 50 on 15 September this year. Having maintained its good looks and popularity over the years, it will now be treated to a month-long party that includes food, drinks, shopping and a line-up of activities that pay tribute to its longevity.
The original Merlion statue was inaugurated at the mouth of the Singapore River in 1972 and has remained one of the country’s top five free-access attractions[1]. As Singapore welcomes back more visitors, the celebrations aim to raise awareness of our reimagined offerings, while highlighting the important role that tourism continues to play in Singapore’s growth.
Mr Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board said, “The Merlion is an enduring symbol of Singapore that is recognised around the world. It is also synonymous with tourism, which has helped to make Singapore a vibrant city and a home that Singaporeans can be proud of. After a difficult two years for our industry, it is timely for us to commemorate the Merlion’s golden jubilee and invite both locals and visitors to join in the celebrations.”
For the perfect selfie with the birthday boy, the Merlion Statue at the Merlion Park near One Fullerton will be lit up from 15 September till 29 September, from 6 pm to 12 midnight each day. The statue will continue to be lit throughout the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2022 from 30 Sept to 2 Oct.
https://www.stb.gov.sg/content/stb/en/media-centre/media-releases/50-and-still-fabulous-the-Merlion-celebrates-its-golden-jubilee1.html