Asia Beauty Spot – Asia Scenery

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 Chiao” (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.

Conjure up the spirit of ancient China with a visit to the serene Chinese Garden. Modelled on the northern Chinese imperial style of landscaping and architecture, the garden was designed by renowned Taiwanese architect Yuen-Chen Yu.

Rising from the cultivated gardens are majestic pagodas, built to integrate and to be in harmony with the natural environment. Soak up the tranquility as you stroll along the meandering footpaths and take in the beauty of the woven plants, rocks and gentle stream.

A must-see is the Suzhou-style Bonsai Garden, built using 1,000 bonsai trees imported from China. You can also learn the ancient art of tending to the delicate bonsai at the Bonsai Training Centre. The gardens are connected to the nearby Japanese Garden by the “Pai Hung Chiao” or “White Rainbow Bridge”, built in the style of the 17-Arch Bridge at the Summer Palace in Beijing.

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

Courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board