Singapore is a small country with a land area of only 580 square kilometers, yet it gathers some of the wealthiest people in the world and is one of the most affluent regions globally. Every year, tens of thousands of wealthy Asians immigrate to Singapore.
It is no exaggeration to say that Singapore is a paradise for ethnic Chinese. On the streets of Singapore, one often sees shop signs in both Chinese and English. Conversing with Chinese people in Singapore, almost everyone can speak Mandarin, which makes me feel very close to home. Singapore promotes the "Speak Mandarin Campaign" annually, ensuring that the next generation of Chinese learns Mandarin from a young age.
Located at the crossroads of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Singapore is an island nation. You might assume it is a typhoon-prone area, but that is not the case. On the contrary, Singapore has never been hit by a typhoon because it is located only about 100 kilometers from the equator. The equatorial zone lacks the Coriolis force generated by the Earth's rotation, which prevents the formation of cyclonic vortices—typhoons.
For every country, the population changes annually, while the land area usually remains constant. This is not the case for Singapore. Due to births and the intake of a large number of immigrants, Singapore's total population is constantly growing, reaching 4.68 million. What you may not know is that its land area is also increasing every year. According to statistics, in 1960, Singapore's land area was 580 square kilometers. By 2010, the land area reached 740 square kilometers. In other words, Singapore's territory has increased by 27% in 50 years! Why does Singapore's territory keep growing? Originally, because Singapore's land was insufficient, it has been continuously reclaiming land from the sea to expand its territory. Changi International Airport was also built on reclaimed land.
Singaporeans have a strong sense of water conservation. Because Singapore is an island, it lacks fresh water and must import it from abroad.
Singaporeans have high incomes, but there are not many private cars because every vehicle must have a "Certificate of Entitlement" (COE) to be on the road. The "Certificate of Entitlement" is expensive and is only valid for ten years, after which it must be purchased again. This limits the number of private cars and ensures smooth traffic on the island.
Many goods in Singapore are tax-free, but heavy taxes are levied on tobacco and alcohol. Singapore also has various legal regulations: those who spit in public are fined $600 for the first offense and $1,200 for the second; smoking is prohibited in public places such as buses, subways, elevators, theaters, and government office buildings, with fines for violators; jaywalking and buying or selling pirated discs are also subject to fines. Some jokingly call Singapore the "Fine City." However, it is precisely these strict legal regulations that keep Singapore's social order in good shape and its environment clean.
