TASK　１

Compile a set of pictures/photos of our national landmarks　(at least 3), accompanied by a short write-up of their　significance and history.

The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay is a waterside building located on six hectares of waterfront land alongside Marina Bay near the mouth of the Singapore River, it was built with the aim of it becoming the centre for performing arts for Singapore. It officially opened on Octover 12 2002 and it developed with a cost of $600 million.

Taking its name from the nearby Esplanade, it contains a 1,600 seat concert hall and a 2,000 seat treat for the performing arts. The building was designed by two firms, the DP Architect (DPA) of Singapore and the London-based Michel Wilford & Partners (MWP), although the later left the project in May 1995. The unique design has been said to have an appearance similar to a durian and the eyes of a fly. Many Singaporeans often refer to the Esplanade as "The Durian".

The Merlion is an imaginary creature with the head of a fish and the body of a fish. Its name comes from the words "lion" and "mermaid". The fish body recalls of Singapore's ancient name, Temasek, which means "sea town" in Javanese when in was once a fishing village while the lion head represents Singapore's original name Singapura, which means Lion City in Malay.

It was designed by Mr Fraser Brunner, a member of the Souvenir Committee and curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium.The Merlion was used as a logo for the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board from 26 March 1964 to 1997 but it is still a trademark symbol for Singapore until now.

In 2002, the statue and its cub were relocated 120 metres to the current Merlion Park that fronts Marina Bay. It stands on the newly-reclaimed promontory in front of The Fullerton Hotel.

The Singapore River is a small river in Singapore with great historical importance. The Singapore river is 11km long from its source at Kim Seng Bridge, but the waterway extends, as Alexandra Canal, as far as the junction of Commonwealth Avenue. As the Central Area is treated as a central business district, nearly all land surrounding it is commercial.

The mouth of the Singapore River was the old Port of Singapore, being naturally sheltered by the southern islands. Historically, the city of Singapore initially grew around the port so the river mouth became the centre of trade, commerce and finance. To this day, area around the old Singapore River mouth remains the most expensive and economically important piece of land in Singapore.