Singapore Chinese Garden – A ‘Truly Oriental Beauty’

Singapore Chinese Garden – A ‘Truly Oriental Beauty’

Step into the Chinese Garden and you might just imagine you’re in ancient China! Built in 1975 and designed by Prof Yuen-chen Yu, a well-known architect from Taiwan, the Chinese Garden is modeled along the northern Chinese imperial style of architecture and landscaping.

You will first be greeted by the “Pai Hung Ch'iao” (meaning “white rainbow bridge”) which follows the style of the 17-Arch Bridge at the Summer Palace in Beijing. Upon crossing the bridge, you will see a typical Chinese arch building which contains two courtyards and a fishpond.

A signature architectural building of the Chinese is the pagoda, used in ancient times by Buddhists to keep human bones. The seven-storey pagoda “Ru Yun Ta” follows the style of Ling Ku Temple Pagoda in Nanjing.

Two traditional features of Chinese architecture are the “Yao-Yueh Fang” (Stone Boat) and the “Ming Hsiang Hsieh” (Tea House), the latter a miniature structure following the style of the elaborate, winding gallery at the Summer Palace.

Apart from buildings, gardens too are a constant motif in the Chinese Garden. Around the Chinese pavilion, plateau and tower are woven plants, rocks, a winding stream and footpaths, to create a harmonious scene. A Suzhou-style Bonsai Garden, built at a cost of SGD 3.8 million, houses some 1,000 bonsais imported mostly from China. A Bonsai Training Centre will be launched with resident experts from Shanghai and Suzhou to teach visitors the delicate art of caring for bonsai.

Singapore Chinese Garden’s annual Mid-Autumn Festival is one of Singapore events highlight of the year.

Open
Main Garden 6.00 am - 11.00 pm (daily)

Bonsai Garden & Garden of Abundance
9.00 am - 6.00 pm (daily)

Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum (opens 8 October 07)
10.00 am - 7.00 pm (daily)

Admission to Main Garden
Free

Admission
Admission charges to Bonsai Garden & Garden of Abundance SGD 2 adults, SGD 1 children (3 - 12 years), SGD 1 senior citizens (55 years and above)

Admission charges to Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum SGD 5 adults, SGD 3 children (3 - 12 years)

Approximate Touring Time
1 hour

Location
1 Chinese Garden Singapore 619795

Tel
(65) 6261 3632

Fax
(65) 6261 1390

Website
Chinese Garden

Getting There
The gardens are a 5-minute walk from the Chinese Garden MRT Station (EW25). Click here to view MRT route map

For a Uniquely Singapore experience, please log onto www.visitsingapore.com.

Photos by Eugene Tang. All Rights reserved.