90-hectare Jurong Lake Gardens opens with rejuvenated Chinese and Japanese Gardens

Yet another new expanse of greenery has opened up in Singapore this weekend, as Jurong Lake Gardens has made its debut with Chinese and Japanese Gardens, along with Lakeside Garden, covering a total of 90 hectares.

A media release said that the National Parks Board (NParks) “opened the rejuvenated Chinese and Japanese Gardens [on September 8], marking the completion of the development of Jurong Lake Gardens — Singapore’s first national gardens in the heartlands”.

The NParks release added that “visitors can enjoy a refreshed array of features and amenities, including new floral and aquatic gardens, visitor pavilions and galleries, as well as recreational and community spaces nestled within a scenic lakeside setting”.

Several familiar landmarks and features at the Gardens “have been retained or enhanced for new uses”, said the release, based on public feedback.

“In all, the completion of the Gardens expands the variety of nature-based experiences for visitors of all ages, further realising its vision of being a people’s garden. Furthermore, the Gardens brings to fruition larger plans to ensure green spaces are within easy reach and further integrated into our urban landscape, providing a healthy living environment in our City in Nature,” said NParks in the release.

Attractions at Jurong Lake Gardens

● In conjunction with the opening of Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the largest edition of ‘Lights by the Lake’ is being held at the Gardens from 8 to 22 September 2024.

● For the first time since the opening of Lakeside Garden in 2019, the festivities will extend beyond Lakeside Garden to Chinese and Japanese Gardens, offering an exciting slate of activities and programmes at each of the three gardens, such as lantern displays, light shows, cultural performances and the NParks ‘Concert Series in the Park: Rockestra’.

SM Lee Hsien Loong plants a tree

To commemorate the occasion, Guest-of-Honour Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveiled a commemorative plaque and planted a Syzygium aqueum tree during the opening event on September 8.

He was hosted by Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee; joined by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu; and Advisers from Chua Chu Kang GRC, Jurong GRC, West Coast GRC, Bukit Batok SMC, Hong Kah North SMC, Pioneer SMC, and Yuhua SMC.

Rejuvenation of Chinese and Japanese Gardens

Built in the mid-1970s, Chinese and Japanese Gardens are deeply steeped in heritage. In 2014, it was announced that both Gardens would be combined with Jurong Lake Park (now known as Lakeside Garden) to form Jurong Lake Gardens, and serve as the centrepiece of modern Jurong.

Following extensive public consultation, rejuvenation works began in 2019 to sensitively enhance Chinese and Japanese Gardens, while preserving their natural ambience and distinctive cultural character.

Tropical horticulture was another key focus, with the landscaping and planting palette carefully curated to bring out the colours and textures of the tropics.

Chinese Garden

Familiar landmarks that are synonymous with Chinese Garden, such as the Grand Arch, Cloud Pagoda, Twin Pagoda, Bonsai Garden, Stoneboat, and Tea Pavilion, have been retained and spruced up with verdant landscaping and new amenities such as the Jurong Lake Gardens Gallery and Bonsai Gallery.

Furthermore, visitors can explore various newly added features, including the Cascading Creek, a riverine habitat with a boardwalk to showcase the different flora and fauna found along the river of a typical Southeast Asian forest; Water Wall Court, a serene courtyard enveloped by 3m-high waterfalls; and Harvest Moon Terrace, which mirrors the Silver Moon Terrace at Japanese Garden across the lake, and features picturesque waterfront cabanas adorned with lanterns that are lit nightly.

The addition of the new Pagoda Plaza and Ficus Lawn also provides more open spaces for community events and gatherings amidst nature.

Japanese Garden

Highlights at the rejuvenated Japanese Garden include new curated gardens that interweave greenery with waterscapes, such as the Water Lily Garden, which houses the largest collection of water lilies in Singapore; and Sunken Garden, a valley-like garden with vertical green walls and a cenote-inspired water feature.

Visitors can get closer to nature by venturing through a rustic trail lined with seasonal flowering trees at the Floral Ridge; or immersing themselves in the tranquillity of a Japanese-inspired garden at the Floral Garden.

Japanese Garden also has a variety of indoor and sheltered spaces suitable for large-scale and intimate events, such as the Guesthouse, a multi-purpose hall made of mass-engineered timber that can accommodate up to 1,000 people; as well as the adjacent Guest Pavilion and Teahouse.

Visitors can also retreat to the Breathing Gallery, an indoor vivarium showcasing terrestrial and aquatic species in terrariums, aquariums and paludariums.

Gardens commemorated in SingPost stamp series

Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) has launched the Jurong Lake Gardens stamp series, which showcases four new and existing features at the Gardens — the Grand Arch at Chinese Garden; Water Lily Garden and Guesthouse at Japanese Garden; and Rasau Walk at Lakeside Garden.

From 9 September 2024, members of the public can purchase the Jurong Lake Gardens stamp series at the General Post Office, all philatelic stores and online at: shop.singpost.com.

Continued focus on sustainability

The rejuvenated Chinese and Japanese Gardens continue the Garden’s emphasis on sustainability, with solutions that contribute towards greener outcomes and efficient operations.

These include using environmentally sensitive materials such as mass-engineered timber and carbon dioxide mineralised concrete; leveraging nature-based solutions such as detention ponds for irrigation; and implementing a smart water management system that helps clean and restore water.

The second phase of the Gardens’ development, which encompasses Chinese and Japanese Gardens as well as the northern section of Lakeside Garden, has achieved the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark 2021 Platinum Super Low Energy certification for its best-in-class energy efficiency and use of intelligent energy management strategies.

This green push is in line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a movement that charts Singapore’s sustainable development.