City skyline reflections, Singapore

A diverse destination

Historically under the control of countless kingdoms and empires, from the Siamese to the Portuguese to the Dutch to the British, Singapore was part of Malaysia until trade disagreements led to its expulsion in 1965. Newly independent, the island port quickly rebounded as perhaps the world's last true city-state, relying on its strategic location and a policy of virtually tariff-free trade. Now the world's busiest seaport outside China, Singapore is one of the globe's most diverse and cosmopolitan cities: Around 40% of its residents are foreign-born.