Singapore, a city state, is an island south of the Malay Peninsula and the only country in the world that gained its independence against its own will. Today Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world, and one of the regional leaders in tourism. It is a city of skyscrapers, colonial architecture, Chinese, Indian and Malay temples and a surprisingly large number of newly built green areas. Unlike its neighbors, it has successfully preserved most of its architectural heritage from all different styles, and managed to maintain a clean environment. Its name comes from the Malay word Singapura, which in Sanskrit means Lion City. Urbanism On a first look, it is pretty similar to its biggest rival, Kuala Lumpur. Both are large metropolises, with a colonial center and disperse suburbs, fairly developed and modern.
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