Wow, I said as I crossed the bridge in to Jurong Lake Gardens. Not only was the sight of the seven tiered pagoda absolutely beautiful, but there wasn’t a single other person in sight. I have no idea how this garden is such a hidden gem, but if you’re visiting Singapore and want a cost free, crowd free, stunning garden to spend half a day in – I’ve got you covered.
Jurong Lake Gardens lie outside of central Singapore, in the west of the island. They were created to provide a space for family and community to come together; and they’ve really done an amazing job. The garden is divided in to three distinct garden areas: The Chinese Garen, The Japanese Garden and Lakeside. Let me take you on a tour of each!
Want to read more about Singapore? Check out my guide HERE.
Chinese Garden
Cloud Pagoda
Crossing the bridge to enter Jurong Lake Gardens from the MRT station, the first thing you see is the beautiful seven tiered Cloud Pagoda looking down. Its seven-storey structure holds deep significance in Chinese culture, as they symbolise the harmonious connection between heaven and earth, with each level representing one of the seven steps to enlightenment in Buddhist philosophy. The number seven is also associated with good fortune and completeness in Chinese beliefs.
Stoneboat
The concept of stone boats has a rich history in Chinese garden design dating back to the Tang Dynasty in the 600s! Despite their name, these structures are not actual boats but rather pavilions built to resemble boats, typically constructed on the edge of a lake or pond. Stone boats embody several key aspects of Chinese philosophy and aesthetics, and are really quite beautiful.
Bonsai Garden
The Suzhou-style Bonsai Garden features bonsai from China, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore, showcasing the art of cultivating miniature living sculptures. It’s built in the classic style, and is really striking!
Twin Pagoda
The Twin Pagoda is a replica of China’s Spring-Autumn Tower. These 3-storey towers, positioned opposite each other by the lakeside, exemplify classic Chinese architecture with
internal spiral staircases and encircling balconies on each floor. The Twin Pagoda in the Chinese Garden exemplifies the fundamental principle of Yin and Yang, showcasing the harmonious balance of opposing yet complementary forces.
Other
Also in the Chinese Garden you can see:
- Edible Garden: a lovely tropical fruits and vegetable display
- Tea Pavillion: During the Ming Dynasty, Chinese scholars cultivated a refined approach to tea, and established elegant tea pavilions, known as ‘cha tang’, strategically positioned near pristine river springs and water, for a perfect relaxed setting.
- Bamboo Grove and Waterfall: In traditional Chinese culture, bamboo symbolizes moral integrity, modesty, loyalty, and elegance. Water symbolises wisdom, serentiy and even wealth. Obviously both had to be a feature of the garden somewhere!
Japanese Garden
Cascading Creek
Cascading creek is a lovely little lakeside creek full of wetland plants and a board walk to enjoy. There are also some nice views out to Jurong Lake itself, surrounded by some wooden structures which provide nice shady respite on a hot day.
Waterlily Pavilion and Garden
This was my favourite part of the gardens – the Water Lily Garden showcases Singapore’s largest collection of water lilies, with over 150 varieties, including both day and night-blooming species, some new to Singapore. The garden features boardwalks that meander through terraced ponds, allowing you to get close to the water lilies and see the beautiful details.
Floral Garden
The floral garden is inspired by the design principles of traditional Japanese gardens, and so features rocks, bamboos, a traditionally inspired bridge, and ornamental trees in tranquil landscapes.
Sunken Garden
One of my highlights of the Japanese garden was the breathtaking sunken garden. To walk to it you go underground, surrounded by concrete walls with plants and water flowing, and in the centre you find this magnificent view. I suspect in a few short months, this will become an Instagram hotspot – but I had it to myself!
Other
There are also a number of other spots in the Japanese Garden worth exploring, including:
- The Teahouse: An ode to the Japanese tradition of tea, with a traditional pavilion to enjoy looking out to the lake.
- Guest Pavilion: The Guest Pavilion in Jurong Lake Gardens’ Japanese Garden is a tranquil location for visitors to admire the surrounding water lilies and pond.
- Floral Ridge: Within the Floral Ridge, visitors can explore four thematic gardens: Tranquility, Abundance, Wabi-sabi, and Invigoration, which are inspired by traditional Japanese garden design principles.
- Breathing Gallery: The gallery’s three-part design – terrestrial, aquatic, and living room – provides a comprehensive exploration of miniature ecosystems.
Lakeside
I must confess that by this point, I’d spent 3 hours in the baking heat walking around the Chinese and Japanese gardens, and my phone was on 11% battery. I knew this part of the park was more for “activities” and where the children/families congregated, and therefore I didn’t plan to explore it widely or take as many photos as I normally would. I enjoyed a stroll through it though, and there’s lots to do in the garden though, including:
- Butterfly Maze
- Skatepark
- Waterplay area
- Eco Pond
- Forest Ramble Children’s play area
- Therepeutic Garden
- Freshwater Swamp
- Bird Hides
- Grasslands
Important Visitor Information
How to get to Jurong Lake Gardens
- Grab: Jurong Lakes is around 25 minutes west of the centre of Singapore city. You can get a Grab there, which will drop you at Chinese Garden Metro MRT. It’s then a short 5 minute walk to the garden.
- MRT: Take the East West line (Green) to Chinese Garden MRT. This will take around 35 minutes.
Facilities at Jurong Lake Gardens
- Guest Information: There are guest information points in each garden if you need any help with anything.
- Toilets: There are a lot of toilets around the gardens, all kept in nice condition and very clean.
- Food and Drink: There are numerous options available:
- Eden – Chinese Garden
- Canopy – Chinese Garden
- Fusion Spoon – Lakeside
- Vending machines – Chinese Garden, Lakeside and Japanese Garden
Other visitor information
- Entrance to the gardens is free.
- Gardens are open from 5.30am – 12am. Play areas in Jurong Lake Gardens are open 7am – 7pm.
- The gardens get very hot, so make sure you have suncream on, a hat, sunglasses, sensible walking shoes and plenty of water.
- I spent 4 hours in the gardens, and wasn’t walking that slowly. They are a huge area so if you want to explore it all, allocate at least half a day!
Enjoy this? Check out my post on Singapore’s most beautiful gardens: HERE.
There you have it – a guide to the most beautiful hidden gem gardens in Singapore. It was a true joy to explore them. What do you think? Would you like to visit? Let me know in the comments below! Stay safe and happy travelling!
Travelling Han 
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