More than 23,000 plants such as moth orchids, kalanchoes, and cyclamens were painstakingly inserted by hand, plant by plant, to form a dramatic 4.5m-tall, 26m-long living sculpture of Madam White Snake – the centrepiece of Gardens by the Bay’s Chinese New Year floral display Spring Blossoms (春花盛开之白蛇传).
Spring Blossoms was launched by Minister for Health Mr Ong Ye Kung, Gardens by the Bay CEO Mr Felix Loh, Gardens by the Bay Board Director Mr Eugene Wong, and the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Singapore His Excellency Cao Zhongming in Flower Dome yesterday. The floral display runs until February 23.
Spring Blossoms is inspired by the Legend of the White Snake – one of China’s four great folklores, which tells the story of the love between a mortal man, Xu Xian, and a female snake spirit, Bai Suzhen, also known as Madam White Snake. This beloved tale is brought to life through mosaiculture – a complex horticultural art form that uses plants to create visually stunning living sculptures – in collaboration with leading Chinese landscaping company Beijing Florascape.
Putting together the floral display took about two weeks and involved cross-border collaboration between 33 horticulturists from both Gardens by the Bay and Beijing Florascape. An expert in mosaiculture, Beijing Florascape is also behind large-scale 3D floral installations for major China events such as the annual National Day floral displays at Tiananmen Square and the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Gardens by the Bay CEO Felix Loh said, “The enduring tale of Legend of the White Snake has themes of love, family, friendship, and filial piety, as well as overcoming challenges to achieve a happy ending. This Chinese New Year, we hope visitors will not only marvel at the showstopping floral artistry that Beijing Florascape has brought to Singapore, but also reflect on the timeless themes of love, resilience, and new beginnings that the Chinese New Year represents.”
The beauty of mosaiculture and other highlights
In addition to the sculpture of Madam White Snake, mosaiculture also features in other elements of the floral display, such as the Green Snake Xiaoqing, who is Madam White Snake’s loyal friend, and Jixian Pavilion, one of the iconic landmarks in Hangzhou’s West Lake. In total, more than 31,000 plants were used in all the mosaiculture elements.
Over 1,000 dahlias, all grown in-house, will also be showcased, including five new varieties. After all, dahlias symbolise prosperity and new beginnings, and are a hallmark of Gardens by the Bay’s Chinese New Year floral displays. Among the new varieties are Dahlia Buga Munchen 2005, a semi-cactus dahlia with a glowing yellow centre and vibrant magenta-pink petals rolled halfway to create a striking starburst-like effect, and Dahlia Maldini, a decorative variety with large deep pink blooms that develop delicate white tips as they mature.
There is also a 7m-tall replica of Leifeng Pagoda, where Madam White Snake was trapped as punishment for her love for a mortal man. Displayed within are two intricately crafted wooden models of Chinese pagodas on loan from the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). These pagodas are part of a historic set of 84 pagodas showcased in ACM’s Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco exhibition, and for a limited time, Flower Dome ticket holders can enjoy complimentary entry to the exhibition at ACM. Visit https://go.gov.sg/db-gbtb-acm for more information.
The floral display also features a zodiac snake sculpture in a tribute to the Year of the Snake, and paper umbrellas, a reference to how in the story, Xu Xian and Madam White Snake had shared an umbrella on a rainy day. The items are on show courtesy of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Singapore, who is commemorating 35 years of Singapore-China diplomatic relations this year.
Other Chinese New Year events at Gardens by the Bay
To celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, calligraphers from Peking University’s Calligraphy Education and Research Center will be writing spring couplets for visitors in Flower Dome. The free two-day event will take place on the opening weekend of Spring Blossoms on January 18 and 19 from 10am to 11.30am, or until supplies run out.
In the outdoors, River Hongbao returns to Gardens by the Bay for its fifth edition from January 27 to February 5 with vibrant lantern displays, captivating performances, an array of fun carnival games, and on the first three nights – firecrackers! There will also be a special exhibition that delves into the poignant tradition of early Chinese migrants sending remittance letters back home, which provides a window into the bonds of family that endured across generations and through distance.
Record number of Flower Dome floral displays in 2025
Gardens by the Bay welcomed a record-breaking 14.5 million visitors in 2024 – the highest number since it opened in 2012. To thank visitors for their support and to celebrate SG60 alongside the nation, Gardens by the Bay will present nine floral displays in the Flower Dome this year – the highest number since 2012.
Kicking off the celebrations is Spring Blossoms, followed by the iconic Sakura floral display in March, and then other floral displays featuring popular blooms such as tulips, lilies, roses and more. Each floral display will also incorporate rich cultural elements from around the world, including contributions from countries who will be marking 60 years of bilateral relations with Singapore this year.
This year’s cherry blossom showcase, the 10th edition of the now iconic floral display, brings visitors to Fukuoka prefecture in Japan. Highlights include recreations of the historic Kokura castle, as well as the ultra-modern “phantom castle” – a light installation of the imagined keep of Fukuoka Castle, amidst a pink and white sea of beautiful cherry trees. The floral display will also feature Fukuoka’s traditions in the form of handicrafts and artworks.
Rediscover the tulips that started it all in the eastern reaches of Türkiye, where wild tulips bloom. Interspersed throughout the colourful landscape is the exploration of the diverse civilisations which have shaped Türkiye’s society through time – all linked by the common thread of an abiding adoration of the tulip.
Float across the canals of La Serenissima – the “Most Serene”, or what Venice was called back in the day – as the heady scent of lilies in full summer bloom transports you to one of the most beautiful places in the world. As you traipse through the narrow cobblestone streets of a charming Italian town, a diversity of lilies lines your route.
Spring Blossoms: Legend of Lady White Snake
Date: Until Sunday, 23 February 2025
Time: 9am to 9pm
Venue: Flower Dome (Admission charge applies)
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