Singapore

Geography

Singapore is a tropical island country, 136.8 kilometers north of the equator. It consists of a main island and 63 small islands, with a total area of 682 square kilometers. The main island of Singapore is about 42km from east to west and 23km from south to north. The other islands outside the island are pulau tekong, pulau ubin and Sentosa.

Singapore's geographical position is one of the crossroads of the world. Unique geographical conditions make it develop into a major commercial, communication and tourism center.

Population

At present, there are about 4 million people in Singapore, of whom 77% are Chinese, 14% are Malays, 8% are Indians, and 1% are Eurasian and other ethnic groups. Each race has maintained its own culture while integrating into Singapore as a whole.

Language

There are four official languages in Singapore: Malay, Chinese, Tamil and English. English is the official language of business and is the most widely used. Most Singaporeans can speak both their mother tongue and English.

Climate

The temperature in Singapore has not changed much, with abundant rainfall, high air humidity and warm and humid climate. The annual average temperature is between 23 and 31 degrees Celsius, and the temperature difference is very small. It is a tourist season all year round.

For those who like sunbathing, swimming, sailing and all kinds of water sports, Singapore can be called a paradise. And those who hate the hot sunshine will not suffer because almost all shops, hotels, office buildings and restaurants in Singapore are equipped with air conditioning.

clothes

generally speaking, it is most appropriate to wear casual summer clothes when traveling in Singapore. For business activities, shirts, trousers and ties are generally required, and suits are basically unnecessary.

currency

Singapore dollar, generally recorded as S$, and the ratio with RMB is generally S $1: 4.9 RMB.

foreign currency can be exchanged locally with banks or authorized money dealers.

Check the exchange rate (/)

Time difference

There is no time difference between Singapore and China.

Drinking water

All raw water in the water pipes in Singapore can be directly drunk. Of course, because everyone is sensitive to raw water, it is generally best to drink mineral water.

voltage

the voltage in Singapore is 23V, 5Hz. Almost all hotels have transformer rental service.

Tipping

In principle, tipping is not accepted in Singapore. However, in some service fields, if customers think the service is good, tips are generally used to encourage them.

Other Precautions

1. Visitors in Singapore must always pay attention to maintaining environmental hygiene, and spitting and throwing things may be fined up to S $1,.

2. Singapore advocates no smoking. Smoking in public cars, theaters, cinemas, restaurants, air-conditioned shops, government offices and other non-smoking areas will be fined 5 yuan.

3. In Singapore, pedestrians are required to walk on sidewalks and crosswalks, and 5 yuan will be fined for crossing the railings. If there is no crosswalk within 5 meters, they should cross the road under the traffic lights.

4. Take the initiative to pump water for flushing after using public toilets, otherwise it will be considered illegal. Once convicted, you will be fined, and the maximum fine will reach 5 yuan.

5. Gambling prohibition: According to the relevant regulations of the Singapore government, all forms of gambling activities are prohibited except lottery of charities, TOTO, Singapore SWEEP lottery and horse racing bets handled through the Bukit Bay Club.

Tourist information:

Visa

China citizens can apply for tourist visas (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, Shenyang, Dalian, etc.) through the authorized travel agencies of the Singapore Tourism Board in China.

(visa/abroad/note/jmb.htm)

Customs

1. Currency: Singapore Customs has no limit on the maximum amount of foreign currency brought into the country.

2. Dutiable commodities: cigarettes, alcohol, clothing and accessories, purses and purses, artificial jewelry, chocolates and sweets, cakes, biscuits and cakes. 3. Duty-free goods: electrical and electronic products, cosmetics, cameras, clocks and watches, jewelry, precious jewelry, shoes, artworks and handicrafts, toys, etc. 4. Tourists are not required to pay tax when they bring the following items into the country: personal effects; Food such as chocolate, biscuits, cakes, etc., but the value shall not exceed SGD 5 yuan. Those who have reached the age of 18 and are not from Malaysia are exempt from the following items: 1 liter of spirits; 1 liter of wine; 1 liter of beer, ale or stout. The above duty-free goods are only for personal consumption, and resale or gift is prohibited. In addition, the labels of alcohol and cigarettes brought into the country by passengers shall not have the words "Singapore duty-free goods"; Cigarettes marked with "E" are not allowed to be brought in. Any carton of cigarettes entering the country by air, land or sea must pay taxes, and duty-free cigarettes are only sold to outbound passengers.

5. contraband: chewing gum, firecrackers, pornographic publications, endangered animals and plants, controlled drugs, drugs and arms are not allowed to be brought into China. The maximum penalty for being arrested for bringing drugs or arms into the country is death.

Shopping

Singapore can be called a "shopping paradise", with a wide variety of goods. The survey shows that the following commodities are the most popular among tourists from all over the world in Singapore: souvenirs, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry, electronic products, cosmetics, perfume and so on.

if you are keen on shopping, you must not miss the "island-wide sale" in Singapore from June to July every year, and the festival promotion from the end of each year to the Spring Festival. At that time, all the retail stores in Singapore jointly hold various hot-selling activities, and you can buy many goods at the cheapest price.

Singapore's shopping features can be summarized as "variety, good quality, value for money and excellent service". As long as you have money, time and energy, you can't worry about buying your favorite goods here!

souvenirs

Merlion:

Merlion is one of the representatives of Singapore, and there are various Merlion souvenirs such as key chains, knickknacks and lighters. One of the more special is the lead-tin merlion. Lead-tin alloy is a specialty of Southeast Asia, characterized by its unique gray-silver color and heavy products. Because tin is a non-ferrous metal, the price will be relatively expensive.

Hu Jihua:

Hu Jihua (Orchid) is the national flower of Singapore, and all kinds of jewelry made from her appearance are very popular. In addition, fresh Hu Jihua can be kept bright in vases for about two weeks.

the most popular commodity

electrical products:

Singapore is an international duty-free port, and electrical products are as cheap as Hong Kong, and some models are even cheaper than Hong Kong.

Jewelry:

Singapore is a veritable fashion city, and jewelry shows the latest western fashion styles. At the same time, Singapore's jewelry industry conducts import and export trade and processing in strict accordance with international standards, with high quality, good reputation and fine craftsmanship, and enjoys a high reputation internationally.

Clothing:

Because there is only one season in Singapore, it is difficult to find clothes outside of summer here. However, the quality and price of clothes here are very advantageous, and the price of many famous brand clothes may be only a fraction of that of Hongkong or China during the preferential period.

Perfume cosmetics:

You can buy premium perfume cosmetics in Singapore, not only because of the local tax exemption, but also because there are many world-class cosmetics manufacturers who have exclusive distribution in Asia.

Western medicine and health food:

Singaporeans pay great attention to health and health preservation, so a huge and sound market for western medicine and health food has been formed.

Famous scenic spots:

Merlion Park

The famous Merlion statue in Singapore is located on the banks of the Singapore River, which is a symbol and symbol of Singapore. The statue, which is 8 meters high and weighs 4 tons, spews a stream of clear water from the lion's mouth. It was carved by the sculptor Mr. Lin Nan and his two children in 1972.

The design concept of a Merlion with a lion's head sitting on the water wave is to combine facts and legends into one: the lion's head represents the legendary "Lion City" Singapore. The fishtail symbolizes the ancient city "Temasek" and represents that Singapore was developed from a small fishing village.

According to ancient books, Singapore was called Temasek in ancient times, which means Haicheng in Javanese. In the 14th century, it is said that an ancient Indonesian prince discovered this small island. He saw a magical beast here and later learned that it was a lion. In this regard, the prince named the island "Singapura"-which means the city of Singa in Sanskrit.

Today, more than one million tourists from all over the world make a special trip to Merlion Park every year to take photos with the world-famous Merlion.

Around the park, there are many famous landmark buildings in Singapore, such as Binhai Art Center, Government Building, High Court, Victoria Theatre, Raffles bronze statue, etc., which are the must-see places for tourists.

mount faber

mount faber is the commanding height in the center of Singapore. When you climb to the top of the mountain, you can see the panoramic view of Singapore and the beautiful scenery of the port. Huabaiding is the highest place in the park. Standing here, you can have a bird's eye view of the port, Sentosa Island and other southern islands, and there is a small merlion that can make you feel happy. After nightfall, you can also enjoy the brightly lit night view of the city here. There is a rain tree in the flower bed at the top, which was planted on the first Arbor Day on November 7, 1971. Along this tree is a multi-layer platform surrounded by flowers and trees. Arrows in different directions are specially designed on the ground of the platform to tell tourists the places and places of interest. The 16 murals under the observation deck also let visitors know about the history and development of Singapore.

Sentosa

Website:. sg

This tropical island covers an area of 39 hectares, only half a kilometer south of the main island of Singapore, and is connected with the main island by a land bridge; It was once used as a fortress and base of the British army, and later developed into a famous holiday island. Sentosa, which means "peace and tranquility" in Malay, has been regarded as the best holiday resort by tourists all over the world for many years.

The island's colorful programs, integrating nature, history and entertainment, will surely make you linger! You can not only take the monorail train around the island between the coconut trees on the beach, but also enjoy the beautiful scenery at the southernmost tip of the Asian continent. You can also see the picture of long-tailed macaques picking coconuts through the winding subtropical rainforest area. There are more than 5 species of about 2,5 butterflies in the butterfly garden, and there are millipedes, hairy poisonous spiders, one-horned immortals and many other insects in the World Insect Museum. The underwater world also has the most wonderful tropical fish aquarium in Asia. At night, a musical fountain integrating high-tech and art combines lighting, laser, color and music, which will definitely make you unforgettable for a long time!

barge quay/Clarke quay

In the past, this was a place where merchants used boats to unload their goods. Now, all the boats are loaded with tourists. Similarly, warehouses, warehouses and shops along the banks of the river in Singapore have been completely renovated into restaurants, bars and entertainment centers.

Barge Wharf and Kela Wharf are now one of the most lively entertainment places in downtown Singapore. There are at least 35 bars and restaurants in the barge dock, which is the most attractive open-air dining place along the river.

In the upstream, Kela Wharf is a paradise for shopping, dining and entertainment. The original 6 warehouses and shops have developed into 2 shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment places, full of festive atmosphere, which will definitely make you linger.

Chinatown

Chinatown is Singapore's "Chinatown". But here you can see modern shopping centers, various vendors and century-old shops living next to each other. Walking in many characteristic alleys, you will see all kinds of antique handicrafts made by craftsmen and learn about the traditional arts of China people. At the same time, there are many restaurants, bars, art galleries and souvenir shops here, with a wide range of goods, from old clogs to modern CD walkman, which are worth visiting.

Smith Street in Chinatown is a famous open-air food street, where you can find the most delicious local snacks. You might as well try the local snacks here, such as fried kway teow, radish cake, Rojak (sand stained with sweet pulp and broken flowers).

Kampong Glam

You can feel different customs here. Arab streets are full of exquisite silk, velvet and traditional Arab Muslim food sold by Arab businessmen. The ancient Sultan Palace and Sultan Hui Church are the relics of the old Sultan's rule.

Sultan Hui Church, with a history of more than 1 years, has a golden dome and a huge prayer hall, which is undoubtedly a major architectural symbol of Singapore. This national monument has a solemn appearance and combines Persian, Turkish and classical Malay architectural styles. Every day from sunrise to sunset, Christians have five prayer ceremonies. When you visit, be sure to wear trousers, otherwise you will be rejected!

Little India

Little India is the gathering place of Indian ethnic groups in Singapore, just like the epitome of India. As soon as you enter Little India, a strong smell of pepper will come to your face. The shops display silverware, bronzes, jewelry with ethnic characteristics, jasmine rings and silk saris … with ethnic flavor.

No matter in the huge bamboo foot center or in the small grocery store, all kinds of interesting things are waiting for you to explore. During several important festivals in India, Little India has been decorated into a splendid mythical world, and people are everywhere who come to shop, so you can't take your eyes off it.

Singapore Botanical Gardens

Website:. sg

Jurong Bird Park is one of the largest bird zoos in the world, with more than 6 species and 8.