Singapore, an island city-state off southern Malaysia, is a global financial center with a tropical rainforest climate with no distinctive seasons, uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity, and abundant rainfall and multicultural population. Its colonial core centers on the Padang, a cricket field since the 1830s and now flanked by grand buildings such as City Hall, with its 18 Corinthian columns. In Singapore`s circa-1820 Chinatown stands the red-and-gold Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, said to house one of Buddha`s teeth.

Singapore has a highly developed market economy, based historically on extended entrepôt trade. Along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, Singapore is one of the original Four Asian Tigers but has surpassed its peers in terms of GDP per capita. Other notable religious buildings include tranquil Lian Shan Shuang Lin Buddhist monastery, colorful Sri Mariamman Hindu temple, and the massive Sultan Mosque. The neoclassical National Museum of Singapore contains exhibits on the city`s history and culture. There`s shopping at the giant malls on Orchard Road and stylish boutiques in Kampong Glam. Sleek Marina Bay Sands SkyPark rises 200m above the water with sweeping city views. Little India offers colorful souvenirs. Arab Street is lined with fabric shops. Singapore is also known for an eclectic street-food scene, served up in Tiong Bahru and Maxwell Road.