Opening Hours
Fri, 17 Jan - Sun, 23 Feb 2025
9.00am - 9.00pm
This Chinese New Year, Gardens by the Bay ushers in the Year of the Snake with Spring Blossoms, a floral display inspired by Legend of the White Snake – one of China’s four great folktales, which tells the story of the union between a mortal man, Xu Xian, and a female snake spirit, Bai Suzhen, also known as Madam White Snake.
Set in the Gardens’ Flower Dome and taking centre stage amidst a vibrant landscape of festive blooms is a breathtaking 4.5m-tall floral rendition of the protagonist, Madam White Snake, meticulously crafted through mosaiculture. This intricate horticultural art form uses a variety of plants to create visually stunning, three-dimensional living sculptures, and is presented in collaboration with leading China landscaping company Beijing Florascape.
The floral display also features over 1,000 dahlias, with five new varieties this year. Symbolising prosperity and new beginnings, dahlias are a perennial favourite during Chinese New Year and a signature of Gardens by the Bay’s festive floral displays during this period.
Fri, 17 Jan - Sun, 23 Feb 2025
9.00am - 9.00pm
Admission charge to Flower Dome applies
Flower Dome
Spring exhales its first breath over Singapore with Spring Blossoms: Legend of Lady White Snake, our first floral display of the year. One of China's Four Great Folktales, which are deeply embedded in the nation's traditions, beliefs, and history, Legend of the White Snake is a tale as ancient as willow roots - one of sacrifice, filial piety, and romance between Xu Xian and the snake spirit Bai Suzhen.
A scene of Jixian Pavilion has been recreated for the display. It is on the shores of West Lake in Hangzhou, Eastern China, that Lady White Snake and Xu Xian first locked eyes in the misty rain, arranging to meet again at the Broken Bridge. The top of the pavilion in Flower Dome is transformed into a canopy of pink, orange, and yellow spring-blooming Kalanchoe blossfeldiana flowers to evoke the charm of Jiangnan in spring.
Chinese gardens evolved from the Zhou dynasty's (1046-256 BCE) expansive imperial parks into intimate scholar retreats for spiritual and intellectual cultivation during the Tang dynasty (618-907), ultimately reaching artistic heights during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
The Chinese pagoda was first erected to house Buddhist relics. Over time, they became symbolic architectural landmarks, and are often featured in myths, literature, and paintings. On loan from the Asian Civilisations Museum, the two wooden pagoda models on display - Compassion and Longevity Pagoda and Thunder Peak Pagoda - represent pagodas linked to key sites in the tale of the Legend of the White Snake.
From 17 Jan to 23 Feb, Flower Dome ticket holders or Friends of the Gardens enjoy free* entry to Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco at Asian Civilisations Museum to see the full set of pagodas on display.
*Terms and conditions apply.
Dahlia 'Ambition'
Fully double blooms, measuring 15–20 cm across, in rich purple with narrow, elongated velvety petals, creating a dramatic spiky appearance.
Dahlia 'Rebecca's World'
Unique bi-coloured blooms, reaching up to 12 cm, blending crimson and white in varying patterns with broad, gently twisting petals.
Dahlia 'Tartan'
Enormous “Dinner Plate” blooms, about 20–30 cm wide, featuring burgundy and white striped petals for a striking and elegant contrast.
Dahlia 'Maldini'
Upright, bushy cultivar that produces deep magenta to reddish-pink double flowers with quilled petals edged in white.
Dahlia 'Buga Munchen 2005'
15-20 cm blooms that feature hot pink petals that transition to a light yellow centre.
Celosia argentea var. cristata (Cockscomb)
Its brain-like blooms is caused by fasciation - an abnormality that elongates or flattens the growing tip of the plant into velvety, ruffled ridges.
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