The Chinese and Japanese Gardens, which are being developed into Jurong Lake Gardens, are islands that sit in Jurong Lake. The gardens are connected to each other by the Bridge of Double Beauty. Both the gardens are popular with photographers and lately, cosplayers, who want to feature the unique architecture found within the gardens as part of their photoshoots.
The Chinese Garden has a good bonsai collection, and various pavilions and pagodas in the northern Chinese imperial style. Some of the Icons of the Chinese Garden include the seven storey Cloud Piercing Pagoda and the statues of famous heroes in Chinese history. Don’t miss the unusual Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum ($5/entry), containing about 180 turtles and more than 3,000 turtle-related items collected by the museum’s owner and his daughter.
The adjoining Japanese Garden is modelled on Japanese gardening aesthetics of the Muromachi and Momoyama period and features arched bridges, stone paths, rock waterfalls, stone lanterns and Japanese-styled pagodas.
The best times to visit the gardens are during Chinese New Year (usually January or February) and the Mid-Autumn Festival (September or October), when cultural performances are held and the gardens are lit up at night like a fairyland by hundreds of beautiful and ornate paper lanterns. Otherwise, pop by for a quiet stroll or jog, a spot of photography or just to enjoy the scenery.