CHINA'S got the Great Wall, India the Taj Mahal, and Singapore's got a building that looks like half a durian.

But beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Singaporeans, when asked to name seven local wonders, beheld the Esplanade, in all its faux-fruity glory.

To the expected astonishment of those who derided the building's design when it was first unveiled in 2002, the Esplanade was a clear winner in a Sunday Times street poll.

It was named by 82 of about 300 people asked, trumping that other more conventional design coup - Changi Airport - which had 53 votes. Sentosa on 41 votes was next with the Merlion fourth on 38.

The Singapore River came in fifth (15 votes), with the generic category of food in sixth spot (12 votes). Tied for seventh place were the scenic spot Mount Faber and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew (10 votes each).

The votes for MM Lee, who was picked by some for his founding role in Singapore, showed it wasn't only concrete and steel that made the Seven Wonders cut.

As for the Esplanade, wonder what many were thinking in plumping for it? Well, the building's unique architecture - you can say that again - and its striking appearance against the water backdrop made their mark on those polled.

Sales manager Vincent Ng, 30, said last week: "The Esplanade is a Singapore icon. No one can visit the place and forget about it."

As Esplanade chief executive Benson Puah said: "It seems to have slowly etched itself into the community's collective consciousness."

The more offbeat choices included aunties selling tissue paper at various coffee shops, Singlish, 'kiasuism', 4D-Toto betting outlets and Newater.

Undergraduate Han Xiuwen, 22, who plumped for Newater, said: "We are probably the only country with branded recycled sewage."

Additional reporting by Teh Shi Ning and Mavis Toh

___________________________________________

	1. THE ESPLANADE "I chose the Esplanade as it is uniquely shaped, like a giant durian, right in the middle of the city." - MS SHARON HIEW, 27, mortgage officer
	2. CHANGI AIRPORT "Of all the airports that I have been to, I have seen none that compares to ours." - MS TRISHA LIM, 28, full-time tutor
	3. SENTOSA "It has the ability to attract both tourists and local people. There are also constantly new developments to get people excited about it." - MS ROSMANJA AWANG, 40, unemployed
	4. THE MERLION "It is linked with our country's origins - the fish part reminds me of a humble fishing village, the lion part reminds me of the name Sang Nila Utama gave us." - MR WESLEY TAN, 20, who has just completed national service
	5. THE SINGAPORE RIVER "After the Boat Quay area was revamped, the place looks more amazing than before; it brings out the vibrancy of our little island." - MR HERMAN SIM, 32, marketing executive
	6. FOOD "In Singapore, you can find food from all cultures and nations. The sheer variety is a wonder in itself." - MR DANIEL TAY, 29, youth worker
	7. MOUNT FABER "This place is the closest that you can get to a scenic and romantic 'mountain-top' experience." - MR HARPREET SINGH, 24, undergraduate
	7. MINISTER MENTOR LEE KUAN YEW "MM Lee is the father of Singapore. Without him, we would not be where we are today." - MR SOH GUAN SOON, 38, who works in a bank