We welcomed the Chinese Year of the Rooster over the weekend. What would be more fitting than to feature Singapore’s Chinese Garden? So taking the opportunity of a break in business, I ran the Chinese Garden.
The Chinese Garden was built in 1975 by JTC. It was designed in the northern Chinese imperial style of architecture and landscaping by Taiwanese architect Prof. Yuen-chen Yu. Like all parks in Singapore, this Garden is well kept, clean and tidy, like all things Singapore. It is also a truly picture perfect garden. Pagodas, pavilions, bridges and statues accentuate the well tended lawns, stone pathways and plants.
In the URA masterplan for the Jurong Lake District, both the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden will be incorporated into the new Jurong Lake Gardens, which will become Singapore’s national garden in the heartland. This new national gardens in the heartland is expected to be completed in 2020.
The Garden is laid out on two little Islands in the Jurong Lake. There are actually two gardens, the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden. One loop around the 2 Islands is 3.4km on tarmac. There are gravel paths and offshoots that will increase the distance of the loop if you choose to meander. The course is generally flat with no significant gain in elevation.
Outer loop
This idyllic and tranquil garden is where I would go to for my recovery and easy pace runs simply to enjoy the view and the atmosphere. There are other workouts that you can perform here. Because of the flat course and short loop this garden is ideal for repeats and interval workout too.
Some suggested workouts.
- One can do short sprints and medium intervals at short tempo pace. Just make sure the garden is not crowded with tourists. For tempo intervals I suggest working out between 9-11am, where there are not many visitors.
- You will also find isolated paved lanes, where general visitors and tourists are less likely to use. These are good for short sprint repeats of between 20 and 50 meters.
- There are also well maintained grass patches for stretching and yoga routines. Do beware though, you might have a Varanus Salvator or the Malayan Water Monitor Lizard for company.
Wildlife in the Garden.
Varanus Salvator at the Garden. I saw 2 others beside this big guy. The gardener I chatted with reckoned this big guy is close to 50kg and is seen daily.
Other than the Malayan Water Monitor Lizard, I caught sight of numerous squirrels and the grey heron, ardea cinerea. It has been known that the grey heron washes its prey before eating them.
The Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Chinese Heroes in the Garden
A pantheon of Chinese scholars, generals, admirals and warriors, poets and philosophers are featured in a hero’s row at the bottom of the big pagoda. Confucius,Qu Yuan, Guan Yu, Hua Mulan, Yue Fei, Wen TianXiang, Zheng He, and Lin Zexu have their statue paraded here.
Zheng He a Muslim Eunuch Admiral commanded an Armada that Gavin Menzies contend had landed in Americas some 70 plus years before Columbus. 1421
I did find the Rooster
The Rooster
Come run the Chinese Garden with me
Thanks, great article.