Celebrating Chinese New Year in the Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

The landscape architect Andrea Esparza shares with us her experience visiting Singapore, considered a smart city in “Celebrating Chinese New Year in the Gardens by the Bay, Singapore”.

Earlier this year I had the privilege of visiting Singapore as part of the “Waste Management and Smart Urbanisation” course offered by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) through the Singapore Cooperation Program (SCP). This program, which has provided technical assistance to developing countries since 1960, has strengthened the technical capacities and promoted international cooperation of more than 180 countries.

Fotografiando la vegetación con decoración festiva / Photographing the vegetation with festive decoration
Fotografía / Photography: Andrea Esparza

Accompanied by a friendly tour guide, participants from 25 different countries toured the Gardens by the Bay, marveling at the lush vegetation and structures that stood before our eyes. This work is a testament to human ingenuity and its ability to merge nature and technology.

My visit coincide with the celebration of the Chinese New Year: the Year of the Wood Dragon. The festive atmosphere permeated every corner of the gardens. I found myself surrounded by colorful and vibrant decorations that evoked Chinese tradition and culture. From the red lanterns gently swaying with the breeze, illuminated golden fish floating between the bushes, to majestic dragons exhaling vapor and seeming to come to life among the exotic plants, every decorative element contributed to create an unforgettable experience.

Decoración conmemorativa de dragones y peces dorados / Commemorative decoration of dragons and golden fish
Fotografía / Photography: Andrea Esparza

Decoración conmemorativa de dragones y peces dorados / Commemorative decoration of dragons and golden fish
Fotografía / Photography: Andrea Esparza

The most impressive aspect was the harmonious integration of the celebration with the garden design. The Chinese New Year decorations blended seamlessly with flowers, waterfalls, trees, and textures from around the world under a metal structure that provided a stunning canopy overlooking the bay, providing multiple visual, olfactory, and haptic stimuli.

Vista desde el interior del domo / View from the inside of the dome
Fotografía / Photography: Andrea Esparza

During the visit, we explored spaces such as the Flower Dome, the Cloud Forest, and the OCBC Skyway. The highlight was at dusk, when the lights and sound show began, held every night at the OCBC Skyway. As the twinkling lights illuminated the night sky, the sounds of the music created a magical and immersive atmosphere, providing a unique multisensory experience.

Vista nocturna en el OCBC Skyway / Night view in the OCBC Skyway
Fotografía / Photography: Andrea Esparza

My visit to Gardens by the Bay during Chinese New Year made me reflect on the role that landscape architects can play in celebrating culture and tradition. In an increasingly globalized world, it is important to remember the importance of preserving and celebrating our cultural roots, and gardens are the perfect place to do so. Without a doubt, it is a destination that I would recommend to any lover of beauty, technology, and creativity.

In an increasingly globalized world, it is important to remember the importance of preserving and celebrating our cultural roots, and gardens are the perfect place to do so.