Since its founding nearly 200 years ago, Singapore has grown from a barely inhabited jungle to a bustling cosmopolitan city. With a population of just over five million people, Singapore now plays a key role in international trade and finance.
But how did this tiny island with no natural resources and a small native population rise to become one of Asia's Four Tigers today?
This August, to coincide with Singapore's national day, Discovery Channel will celebrate the country's incredible transformation detailing its historic past from colony to nationhood, to its present-day architectural feats. Daily at 8pm, from Aug 1-8, Singapore National Day Stunt features four programmes that explore different events and accomplishments that helped mould the country into the society that it is today.
Journey through Singapore's past from its days of British colonisation, Japanese occupation to present-day independence, and witness the country's extraordinary metamorphosis with the following programmes.
The 1942 Fall Of Singapore traces the early days of the Pacific War and tells the story of the creation of Singapore as a nation that rose from the ashes of the turmoil. It also reveals shocking insights into the events that led to the fall of the island fortress once known as the Gibraltar of the East.
History Of Singapore takes viewers on a journey through the evolution of Singapore, from the days before World War II through colonial occupation, the rise of nationalism and the subsequent changes, its growth as a regional trading hub, and finally its rapid industrialisation and emergence as the extraordinary city-state.
In Man-Made Marvels, watch as engineers, technology and construction techniques are pushed to the limit to complete many engineering masterpieces.
Build It Bigger takes viewers to see the building of Singapore's Sands SkyPark. A modern version of the hanging gardens of Babylon, this 7,000-tonne urban oasis hangs 200m in the air on top of three soaring skyscrapers. It's the crown jewel of the country's first casino, Marina Bay Sands.
Singapore National Day Stunt airs daily at 8pm from today to Aug 8 on Discovery Channel (TrueVisions 20).
