Singapore Botanic Garden - flagship park
Singapore Botanic Garden
Our recent visit to the Singapore botanic garden has once again confirmed that it is one of the best gardens in Singapore. Set on a large 52 hectares land, it is an important centre for research as well as a pleasure park for locals and visitors.
It serves a triple role as a Botanical Institution, tourist destination and a regional flagship park
People go there for their morning relaxation walk, jog, walk their dogs, or simply bring a book and settle down at their favourite spots to read. If you are nature and plants lover, you will
love this park as you will find thousands of plant species including many rare specimens.
The botanic garden is a favourite venue for our family outing. The vast area of land makes finding a good picnic spot a breeze, the children can run around, play balls, feed the swans, play catching while the adults sit back, relax and sometimes
even can enjoy the music in the distance as there are performances there very often.
The park is divided into 3 core areas, the Tanglin Core, Central Core and Bukit Timah Core. Each core has a lake set in within. There is an Evolution Garden which provides an insight to how plants evolved and adapted over time.
Garden for Children
Located at the Bukit Timah Core of the Botanic Gardens is the newly opened Asia's first garden for children under 13 is a place for fun and learning. Not only they can play with the tree house, suspension bridge, have fun at the playground, it's a also a large botanical classroom where children can learn about how photosynthesis takes place, biological composting and nutrient recycling process, experience plants by sight, smell and touch.
Free admission but children need to be accompanied by adults, Open daily from 8am to 7pm except Mondays
 
How to get there :
Take bus service no. 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 123, 174 and alight along Holland Road
Or take bus service no. 48. 66, 67. 151, 153, 156, 170, 171, 186 and alight along Bukit Timah Road.
Peirce Reservoirs
Peirce Reservoirs was formally the Kallang River Reservoir. It was renamed after Mr. Robert Peirce in 1922 in commendation of the services of Mr. Robert Peirce, who was the municipal engineer of Singapore from 1901 - 1916.
In 1975, a major water supply project was understaken by Singapore to develop new water resources to support the nationa's rapid houseing and industrialisation programmes.
A dam was constructed at the upper reaches of the Peirce Reservoir forming the Upper and Lower Peirce. As the reservoir is surrounded by protected forest to protect the catchment areas, you will find many wild life here like birds, iguna and monkeys.
 
The reservoir is a popular park with many locals who enjoy it's plesant setting and tranquallity. Here, you will find people having pinics, flying kites or families with children netting small fishes at the edge of the reservoir.
National Orchid Garden
The National Orchid Garden is located on the highest hill in the Singapore Botanic Garden occupying 3 hectares of land. (For first time visitor, it is recommended that you visit both Singapore Botanic garden and the National Orchid Garden together to make your trip complete.)
This garden has the world's largest display of Orchids. Over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids are now found in the Gardens' collection, and every year, more hybrids will be added on. A must visit if you love orchids.
Getting there : See Singapore Botanic Garden
Admission fee : Adult $5.00, children under 12 years free, students and senior citizens above 60 - $1.00
Opening hours : 8.30am to 7.00pm daily.
The Singapore Chinese Garden
The Chinese Garden was built in 1975 and designed by Prof. Yuen-chen Yu, a well-known Taiwanese architect. The concept
is based on Chinese gardening art by integrating splendid architectural features with the natural environment.
It's architecture and landscaping is a replica of the northern Chinese imperial architecture style.
It's main attractions include a bridge (that modelled after the 17-Arch Bridge at the Summer Palance in Peking), stone lion, houses with
courtyards, stone boat, tea house, a Pagoda, tortoise museum, Chinese pavilion and bonsai garden. It is a good place for taking pictures and many wedding couples choose this venue as their backdrop of their wedding photos.
The Singapore Chinese Garden is generally a quiet place . It is a nice place for relaxation, jogging, picnic or perhaps even a place for writers to sit down and do some writing or reading.
To catch any action, the best time to come is during the Mid-Autume festival where many programmes like including traditional cultural performances and mesmerising displays of bright and colourful lanterns will be held here.
Getting there : 200 m walk from Chinese Garden MRT station. Or take bus service 180 and 335 from Boon Lay Way Bus stop B15.
Admission fee : Entry to the Chinese Garden is free.
Bonsai Garden : Adult $5.00, child $3.00
Tortoise Museum : Adult $5.00, child $3.00
Opening hours : 6.00am to 10.00pm
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