A picture of tranquility and serenity- Chinese Garden
The Chinese Garden is better known to Singaporeans as the Jurong Gardens, being based in Jurong East near the MRT Station and adjacent to the Japanese Garden. The garden which is based on Chinese gardening concepts was designed by a Taiwanese architect named Professor Yuen-Chen Yu in 1975. The main characteristic of this style is the seamless melding of outstanding architectural features with natural environs, as seen in Chinese imperial gardens.
The entrance to this area is guarded by marble stone lions, the traditional Chinese animal signifying sovereignty. The White Rainbow Bridge is found almost immediately upon entrance; bridges are significant aspects of any Chinese garden and this one is built in the fashion of a miniature 17-Arch Bridge of Peking's Summer Palace. A seven storey pagoda perched upon a small hill rises gracefully beyond the bridge. The magnificent Main Arch building which the bridge leads into, houses two courtyards: the "Early Spring Courtyard" and "Garden Courtyard" as well as a fishpond all of which make for very scenic backdrops for shutterbug tourists to pose against.
The Stone Boat, which is an architectural achievement of Chinese culture lauded by art-lovers the world over, and the Tea House are two other notable features of the garden. Both these are built along the lines of the ones at the Peking Summer Palace; it may be argued that the Stone Boat even surpasses the one in Peking.
Last but not least, we come to the main architectural highlight of the garden, which is also the signature markers of a Chinese style leisure park – the pavilion, plateau and tower. These are integral to the Feng Shui of the area; there are strict rules governing the balance of their relative heights and sizes and special care is given to the quaint footpaths, streams and plant life which lie between this constructional trifecta. The sights of the garden do not end with its architectural features, however; the main landscaping highlight is the beautiful Bonsai Garden housing over 2000 bonsais imported from China. A Bonsai Training Centre has been launched to enthuse fledgling Bonsai students and the garden is gaining a reputation as being one of the largest of its kind outside of China. The Garden of Abundance, which boasts pomegranate trees interspersed with zodiac sculptures and symbols of longevity and abundance, is one of the newer additions to the Chinese Garden, while the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum is an unexpected glimpse into rare species of fauna sure to enhance the pleasure of an evening's exploration of this venue. The entire ensemble of art, flora and fauna is completed with a seafood restaurant that assures the visitor that not even the best of China can make the discerning Singaporean forget about the finer things in life!
All this and more can be experienced by a visitor careful to pick the right Singapore hotel in which to base themselves. Raffles Hotel, Singapore is a five star hotel in Singapore which is also one of the city-state's most elegant and recognized landmarks; any guest fortunate enough to find lodging there would be assured a complete experience of Singapore's best and finest sights and attractions.
The entrance to this area is guarded by marble stone lions, the traditional Chinese animal signifying sovereignty. The White Rainbow Bridge is found almost immediately upon entrance; bridges are significant aspects of any Chinese garden and this one is built in the fashion of a miniature 17-Arch Bridge of Peking's Summer Palace. A seven storey pagoda perched upon a small hill rises gracefully beyond the bridge. The magnificent Main Arch building which the bridge leads into, houses two courtyards: the "Early Spring Courtyard" and "Garden Courtyard" as well as a fishpond all of which make for very scenic backdrops for shutterbug tourists to pose against.
The Stone Boat, which is an architectural achievement of Chinese culture lauded by art-lovers the world over, and the Tea House are two other notable features of the garden. Both these are built along the lines of the ones at the Peking Summer Palace; it may be argued that the Stone Boat even surpasses the one in Peking.
Last but not least, we come to the main architectural highlight of the garden, which is also the signature markers of a Chinese style leisure park – the pavilion, plateau and tower. These are integral to the Feng Shui of the area; there are strict rules governing the balance of their relative heights and sizes and special care is given to the quaint footpaths, streams and plant life which lie between this constructional trifecta. The sights of the garden do not end with its architectural features, however; the main landscaping highlight is the beautiful Bonsai Garden housing over 2000 bonsais imported from China. A Bonsai Training Centre has been launched to enthuse fledgling Bonsai students and the garden is gaining a reputation as being one of the largest of its kind outside of China. The Garden of Abundance, which boasts pomegranate trees interspersed with zodiac sculptures and symbols of longevity and abundance, is one of the newer additions to the Chinese Garden, while the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum is an unexpected glimpse into rare species of fauna sure to enhance the pleasure of an evening's exploration of this venue. The entire ensemble of art, flora and fauna is completed with a seafood restaurant that assures the visitor that not even the best of China can make the discerning Singaporean forget about the finer things in life!
All this and more can be experienced by a visitor careful to pick the right Singapore hotel in which to base themselves. Raffles Hotel, Singapore is a five star hotel in Singapore which is also one of the city-state's most elegant and recognized landmarks; any guest fortunate enough to find lodging there would be assured a complete experience of Singapore's best and finest sights and attractions.
