This post is extremely close to my heart because of my association with Nanyang Technological University (or NTU for short).
Recently, in a desperate attempt to create more space on my phone by clearing the deluge of photos in my possession, I discovered close to a hundred photos of Yunnan Garden that I have accumulated over time. Having been to the garden umpteen number of times, I sincerely believe that it is one of the most underrated outdoor spaces in Singapore. With a personal connection to this garden and my newfound love for exploring and subsequently publishing blog posts on the hidden gems in Singapore, I felt that this one should not be left out.
If you didn’t know already, let me tell you that NTU, which is situated in the far west of Singapore (read: so ulu), shrouded by lush tropical nature, home to alluringly landscaped gardens and iconic structures such as The Hive, The Wave, The Arc and ADM building, has been widely acknowledged as one of the world’s most beautiful and eco-friendly campuses.
I couldn’t agree more! 💚
Built in the 1950s, Yunnan Garden was a key attraction of the Nanyang University campus, the land on which NTU now sits.
Over the years, Yunnan Garden has served as the ideal venue for me to get some fresh air, for post-lunch walks, a quick catch up with colleagues from other departments and sometimes even as a leisure spot for my family when they happen to drop by the University. If you follow me on Instagram, I'll bet you would have seen pictures of Yunnan Garden quite frequently on my feed and stories 😁
Yunnan Garden rejuvenated
This historical garden was already stunning but received a makeover in 2020 that made it even better!
The Yunnan Garden Rejuvenation project can be likened to a new 'river' that flows through the garden, breathing life into years of heritage. The project presented a unique opportunity to create a series of inter-connected and inter-dependent gardens that showcased the heritage, biodiversity and community unique to NTU.
The new and improved garden resulted in the creation of new recreational spaces that integrates with functional waterbodies and enhance the aesthetics of the surroundings.
Soon after I joined the University, ambitious plans were laid out to revitalize Yunnan Garden and make it a more welcoming and attractive park for the NTU community as well as the public. The beautification plans for Yunnan Garden were swiftly announced and proposed new enhancements for better traffic management, creating a continuous link from Yunnan Garden to the Chinese Heritage Centre and Nanyang Lake, and provide greater safety for pedestrians and motorists.
I watched with anticipation as the 20-month-long project that began in 2018, refreshed the 63-year-old garden.
To preserve the garden’s historical significance, its iconic features and historical monuments, including the Senegal Mahogany trees from the 1960s, all the seven red pavilions, the Nanyang University Memorial and the Nanyang Arch replica were retained.
The grassy slope in front of the Chinese Heritage Centre still bears the Chinese saying: “To thrive in adversity, to strive and improve oneself constantly” – words that will continue to resonate with future generations of students.
More than 1,100 new trees from over 80 species were planted, along with a quarter million shrubs, making the garden even more attractive to insects, birds and other native fauna. The tallest trees were protected from lightning strikes.
It was amazing to witness the manner in which the vegetation and the paths were spruced up and the biodiversity of the garden was enriched. I love how the garden design incorporated both meticulously landscaped areas as well as marshy-looking "wild" areas as well.
