When will Singapore's two "divine" check-in spots be repaired?

Speaking of the most famous check-in spot in Singapore, we must definitely mention the Merlion statue with the shape of a fish and the head of a lion located in the park of the same name, facing Marina Bay. In this park, there is also a smaller Merlion statue, called Merlion Cub.

According to the Singapore Tourism Board, the main Merlion statue at Merlion Park is undergoing repairs from September 25 to December 13, 2023. During the repairs, the more than 50-year-old statue is surrounded by scaffolding and photography is prohibited. Visitors can still take photos with the nearby Merlion Cub statue.

The Merlion statue being surrounded has caused travel companies to adjust their Singapore tour schedules recently. “Previously, the Merlion statue, Marina Bay and Marina Bay Sands were must-see check-in spots for tourists, so tours usually arranged about 30 minutes to 1 hour for visitors to visit and take photos. Now the Merlion statue is being repaired, so tours usually only pass by the statue, mainly to explain and verify the repair, then arrange for visitors to take photos at another destination instead,” said a representative of a travel company in Hanoi.

Another “virtual living” spot in Singapore that has recently been closed off for repairs is the spiral staircase at Fort Canning Park, also known as the “skylight” by Vietnamese tourists. According to visitors who came here on October 13, the scaffolding was erected high up, blocking the view and obscuring the “divine” photo angle.

A notice from the construction unit said that this area is under repair from September 18 to November 7, 2023. Visitors can still visit other areas of Fort Canning Park and choose alternative routes, instead of gathering at this spiral staircase. However, phase 2 of this construction plan is expected to last until March 31, 2024, so it is likely that taking photos and checking in at the spiral staircase will still be hindered.

Previously, Fort Canning's spiral staircase and skylight were famous "photo hunting" spots, with visitors having to wait hours to take their turn to take photos. Therefore, travel companies rarely include this location in their regular package tours.