A delegation of youth representatives from the tech, architecture, and art sectors in China and Singapore visited Gardens by the Bay on Tuesday.
The visit was part of the China-Singapore Youth Dialogue, a roundtable co-organized by the People's Daily and Lianhe Zaobao.
Participants first observed how the Supertrees, the iconic vertical gardens located in the park, function as vertical gardens that harvest solar energy and collect rainwater, while the Flower Dome uses sustainable building materials and energy-efficient cooling systems.
More than just futuristic structures, the Supertrees demonstrate an innovative approach to cultivating and displaying plants. The tallest Supertree is about the height of a 16-story building. Altogether, the Supertree Grove houses more than 162,900 plants across over 200 species. Seven of them are equipped to harvest solar energy.
As the group stepped into the cool, mist-filled air of the Flower Dome, the focus shifted to the real-world applications of green technology. For many Chinese delegates, seeing the scale of Singapore's "City in Nature" vision firsthand provided a deeper understanding of urban sustainability.
"The Supertree Grove is quite magnificent," said Xu Huazhe, assistant professor at Tsinghua University. "The Flower Dome's controlled environment meets various requirements such as temperature and lighting. Features like underground water pipes and automated windows demonstrate the integration of technology and nature."
The diverse plant collections within the Flower Dome, ranging from Mediterranean olives to ancient baobabs, served as a metaphor for the dialogue itself: different origins coexisting in a carefully balanced environment.
These features sparked lively discussions among participants about the potential for applying similar models in rapidly developing Chinese cities.
The Flower Dome is also notable for its scale. This vast cooled conservatory holds the Guinness World Record for the largest glass greenhouse. Covered with 3,332 glass panels, its volume is equivalent to 75 Olympic-sized swimming pools, with temperatures maintained between 23 C and 25 C.
This innovative megastructure quite literally brings the world's flora under one roof.
In addition, youth representatives from China and Singapore also visited the Siong Leng Musical Association and Punggol Northshore District. These activities aimed to enhance understanding of Singapore's development practices across three areas: technology, culture and sustainable development.
The dialogue featured three panel discussions, covering topics from technological innovation to the modernization of traditional culture and the pursuit of a sustainable future.