Chinese Garden

Review

Designed by a well-known Taiwanese architect, Prof Yuen-Chen Yu, the 13-hectare Chinese Garden was built based on ancient northern Chinese imperial architectural style of the Sung dynasty period (960 to 1279 AD). Make sure you take a closer look at the traditional architectural designs with its carvings, tiles, windows, etc., when you wander through the buildings in the Garden.

If you are entering the Garden from the MRT station, you will be greeted by the 7-storey Pagoda. Climb to the top and you'll get a good panoramic view of the Garden. You'll also be able to see the neighbouring Japanese Garden and the surrounding scenery of Jurong.

The Chinese Garden also houses the largest Suzhou-stlye Bonsai Garden outside of China. Its beautiful collection of bonsais come from countries such as Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. The beautiful landscape here will make a picturesque backdrop to your photos.

Do stop to read the stories of the eight Chinese Legendary Heroes at the Ixora Garden. Kids will be fascinated by them. The kids will also be intrigued by the sundial next to the stone boat - it is one of ten sundial structures installed around Singapore in April 2007 in support of Singapore Science Centre's initiative to increase interest in Science.

If you love turtles and tortoises, be sure to visit the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum. It has a collection of more than 200 live turtles and tortoises with more than 60 species from all over the world, including the Alligator Snapping Turtle, the Snake Headed Turtle, the Mexican Turtle, etc. Take a walk across the pond and enjoy the free-roaming tortoises following you.

Tips

Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Garden. If you have time, do cross over the Bridge of Double Beauty to the Japanese Garden.

Things to Bring

Drinking water (there are a few drink machines around the Garden).

Opening Times

Opening times: 6 am to 10 pm daily. The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum is open 10 am to 7 pm daily. Best time to go: Early morning or late afternoon when it is cooler. If you're visiting during Chinese New Year (January/February) and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations (August/September), there will be beautifully designed lanterns, brought in from China, on display. There will also be cultural performances by Chinese cultural troupes.

Admission Fees

It's free admission to the Garden and $5 per adult or $3 per child for the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum.

How to Get There

By Taxi - This is the easiest and most convenient way of getting there. Ask the taxi driver to drop you at the entrance of the Chinese Garden. By MRT - Alight at Chinese Garden Station on the East-West line. It's a 5-minute walk to the Chinese Garden. By Bus - Take SMRT bus number 180 or SBS bus numbers 154 & 335 and ask the bus driver to tell you where to alight for the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.

Changi Beach

Review

Changi Beach Park is a shady, picturesque park, scattered with park benches, shelters and barbecue pits. It is a great place to spend the day to unwind. A 3-km jogging/cycling track also makes it an attractive place for avid cyclists.

There are 2 main sections to Changi Beach: From Changi Point to the Cafhi Jetty and from the jetty to the Changi Ferry Terminal.

The first section is popular with families, picnickers and campers. Changi Point is near the river mouth, where the boats to Pulau Ubin and Pengerang (in Johore, Malaysia) come and go. It is also close to Changi Village, making it conveniently accessible. Hence, it does tend to get crowded on weekends and public holidays. If you enjoy watching boats come and go, this is the spot to be. It's also a popular fishing spot.

Going further along the coastal park, you'll find a good place for kids where there's a nice stretch of beach and a playground nearby. Towards the end of the section is a great spot for watching the large 747 planes take off or land. Again, fishing enthusiasts are a common sight here too.

The next section is a nature lover's and fisherman's paradise. During low-tides, you'll find much marine life. Hermit crabs are a common sight. Sieve gently through the sand and you'll find shellfish. Occasionally, you'll find barrels of mussels broken away from nearby kelongs (floating fish farms). But beware of jelly fish - there are seasons when there's plenty in the sea. Also beware of sandflies - they can leave a nasty itch.

Though less accessible, this section is also popular with families who come for a picnic or barbeque. Shaded by casuarina trees, it is a scenic and attractive place. During the northeast monsoon (October to March), this place becomes a windsurfers’ haunt. In recent times, kiteboarding has taken off and replaced windsurfing as a common sight. It is quite fascinating to watch the kiteboarders, especially when they do an aerial jump.

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Tips

There are three basic changing and cold-shower (indoor and outdoor) rooms – one at the first section nearer Changi Point, one at the beginning of the second section and the last one at the end near the Changi Ferry Terminal. So be prepared for distance between them and the starkness of facilities. Although the seaside is safe for kids, do keep a close eye on them.

Things to Bring

Bring drinking water - there is nowhere to buy drinks along the beach. Bring swim-wear. There are changing rooms and showers at several places though they may be somewhat basic.

Opening Times

Opening times: Open all the time. Best time to go: Early morning or even better, late afternoon when it's not so hot.

Admission Fees

It's free!

How to Get There

By Taxi - The fastest and easiest way to get there. Ask the taxi driver to let you alight at Changi Beach. Alternatively, you can alight at Changi Village near the jetty and cross over the pedestrian footbridge to the beach. By Bus - Take SBS bus numbers 2, 29, 59 and 109 to Changi Village and head towards the river to cross the pedestrian footbridge to the park. Alternatively, you can take SBS bus numbers 9, 19 and 89 and alight anywhere along Nicoll Drive.

Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom

Review

On entry into the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, we begin our journey starting at the very beginning of time - the ancient past. The fossils of insects, extinct and non-extinct, are simply amazing.

Moving on, we are struck by the display of a large spectrum of colours, sizes and species of butterflies and insects. It is quite a wonder that so many types of butterflies exist - something that both kids and adults will agree with!

As we continue on our journey, we are transported into the garden of eden where you'll be greeted by flitting colourful wings. Stop for a moment at the pupae shed and be wowed by the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies. Who knows, you may find the guardian of the butterflies there who will gladly answer your questions about the Park's residents.

We end our journey with a farewell to other less colourful though just as mesmerising citizens of the Insect Kingdom - such as the beetles and the moths. Look out for the green snake on your way out!

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Tips

If you are interested in photography, this is a great place to capture some close-ups of the insect world. Be extremely gentle with the butterflies - they are friendly and love a photo shoot with you.

Things to Bring

Bring a camera (especially one with close-focusing capability as the butterflies are quite happy to be close to you), and maybe a flash gun too. Enjoy the photo shoot!

Opening Times

Opening times: 9:30 am to 7 pm daily (last entry at 6:30 pm). Best time to go: Anytime - except when it is raining. Early mornings and late afternoons are cooler.

Admission Fees

Admission fee to the Park is $16 per adult and $10 per child (3 to 12 years old). Sentosa Island admission varies depending on your mode of entry: On foot via Sentosa Boardwalk - $1 per person By Sentosa Express from Vivocity - $3 per person (age 3 years and over) By car or taxi - $2 to $7 per vehicle (regardless of number of passengers) depending on time and day By Singapore Cable Car from HarbourFront Tower 2 - included in the ride

How to Get There

By Taxi - The fastest and easiest way to get there. Ask the taxi driver to let you alight just before the Cable Car Plaza at Imbiah Lookout. By Cable Car - A delightful experience in itself! You can start at either Harbourfront Tower 2 or at Mount Faber. When you come out of the Cable Car Plaza on Sentosa, you will see the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom. By Sentosa Express - The Sentosa Express is located on the 3rd storey of Vivocity. Alight at Imbiah Station. Walk towards the hill and take the escalator to the top of the hill known as Imbiah Lookout. Go past the Sky Tower - you can't miss the Butterfly Park.