Singapore, an incredible land blending various cultures and histories beautifully, is a popular tourist destination choice among most travellers. People from all over the world travel to this small city-state, because it has so much to offer. You can find everything from stunning shorelines for an exotic beach vacation to thriving nature for re-encountering the wilderness, from high-end shopping and entertainment locations to bustling and vibrantly packed streets that display traditions, art, and much more.
There are numerous attractions that you will love to explore in Singapore. Of course, each of them boasts its own uniqueness and tales of existence. The Fountain of Wealth is one such attraction. This fountain is one of the most popular attractions and best water fountains of Singapore where hundreds of people drop by every day. As said, every attraction has its own story to tell, and this article covers everything you need to know about this wonderful Foutain of Wealth.
The Fountain of Wealth – All You Need to Know
Thе Fountain of Wеalth is a famous attraction in Singaporе and is a must-visit. It is countеd as onе of thе largеst and most stunning fountains in thе world. Locatеd in thе hеart of Suntеc City, this fountain is a glorious sight to witnеss, both its еxistеncе and crеation. Now, lеt’s dig into thе history, meaning, and construction of this fountain.
Thе Fountain of Wеalth was built in thе yеar 1995 during thе dеvеlopmеnt of its surrounding complеx in Suntеc City. It was built at a cost of a whopping $6 million, covеring a total arеa of 1,700 squarе mеtеrs, and was listеd in thе 1998 Guinnеss Book of Rеcords as thе largеst fountain in thе world.
Thе inspiration for thе fountain, and most importantly, thе dеsign of thе towеrs, camе from a closеr еxamination of thе namе of thе complеx. Suntec is a word that comes from the Chinese phrase ‘xin da’. It means ‘new achievement’.
Along with the majority of structures in Singapore, The Fountain of Wealth was built in accordance with Taoist feng shui practices.
Feng shui means ‘wind and water’ and is a practice of designing and building our environment to ensure there is the optimum flow of energy. It is widely practiced across Asia in the orientation of buildings and various infrastructure and The Fountain of Wealth is one of them.
The fountain is situated at the centre of five office blocks. These five blocks are meant to represent a hand coming out of the ground. The fountain is shaped like a large ring and is supported by four tilted pillars. This appears as a gold ring in the palm of the hand and symbolises the preservation of wealth. From this view, you can understand the feng shui principle, which is that water flows not in the direction from the centre to the outer ends but instead drains down into the centre. This represents the accrual of power, success, and wealth.
The four pillars or bearings are 13.8 meters tall and symbolise four basic nations or four major races that make up the population of this city-state (which are considered to be Chinese, Malay, Indian, and British). The design is based on the Hindu Mandala, or what we know as the Universe, and is a symbolic representation of oneness in unity, spirit, and harmony among these four races residing in Singapore.
The Fountain of Wealth is made of silicon bronze – a combination that represents the richness and path to success according to the eastern beliefs. The ring measures at an astounding 21 metres in diameter. Visitors who come to explore and touch the ‘lucky’ waters are said to absorb the positive ‘qi’ or ‘chi’. This bronze fountain expresses the Chinese belief that when water and metal are balanced correctly, a path to success will follow.
The waters of the fountain are envisioned as a symbol of life’s essence in the middle of the buildings comprising the city of Suntec. Street traffic flows at ground level around the Fountain Plaza, and pedestrian traffic flows through the buildings. Below the street level, you can find the Fountain Terrace where all the buildings are interconnected with various shops and restaurants. The complex is an exciting getaway and is well-connected with underground and street-level pedestrian linkways.
Every day, The Fountain of Wealth is regularly shut off at different time periods for visitors to walk around the centre of its base and wish for good luck. People in Singapore believe that performing a simple ritual can attract wealth and prosperity into your life.
The fountain comprises two parts: one larger and one smaller feature located inside the first. When the fountain is shut off, you should approach the small fountain, make a material wish and sink your right hand in it. Keeping your hand in the water, you should constantly repeat the wish and walk around the fountain three times. This, apparently, is said to make your wish come true. However, there is one condition, you should always approach The Fountain of Wealth with good intentions. Couples frequently visit the fountain and can purchase laser message dedications such as marriage proposals and more.
Water is one of the power elements in nature, according to the Chinese, as the source of energy symbolises wealth and fortune. And this fountain is a glorious landmark in Singapore, holding all the positive energy that you would love to explore.
Getting there:
The Fountain of Wealth is located at Suntec City and can be easily reached via the MTR. The three closest MTR stations are Promenade MRT Station which is five minutes away; Esplanade MTR Station which is three minutes away; and City Hall MRT Station which is ten minutes away.
By Bus: There are several buses that make a stop at Suntec City.
By Car or Taxi: If you are planning to get there by driving yourself or getting a taxi, the road route to Suntec City is straightforward. You can find labels and proper signage everywhere so that you won’t miss the directions.
Timings
The operation timings of The Fountain of Wealth in Singapore are daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. It hosts water-touching sessions from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Fountain of Wealth light show begins after sunset and features a spell-binding spectacle of laser lights, music, and a water show.
Conclusion
Suntec City was initially designed as a focal point of business, entertainment, and convention destinations with the capability of meeting the diverse tastes and specific needs of global participation under one roof. The Fountain of Wealth, being a major attraction in Suntec City, is an icon of Singapore that holds spiritual and cultural value and blending them perfectly with the wonders of human engineering. It is one of the best places to visit with family in Singapore, offering not just stunning sights but also various entertainment options.
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