Urban oasis

The Supertrees is a collection of 18 imposing trees with concrete trunks and artificial branches and canopies, created with thousands of thick metal rods. Photos provided to China Daily

Singapore is known as the 'Garden City' and for good reason, reports Li Jing, who took a guided tour of its myriad attractions, flora and fauna.

I had heard Singapore was a clean and orderly cosmopolitan state, packed with skyscrapers, but my recent trip there was more about nature, and it started with the city's famous Night Safari. The nine-time winner of the Singapore Tourism Board's Best Visitor Attraction Experience is located on the island's northern edge and comes alive as night falls, naturally.

As we make our way to the location on a tram my fellow passengers are clearly excited as nature envelops us in the form of trees and ferns. We can also hear the faint sound of flowing streams as we enter the mysterious world of nocturnal animals.

Under the dim lights, a tram guide speaks in a low voice so as not to frighten the zoo's residents and then directs our eyes to the animals hidden in the dark. Some animals appear to be studying us attentively -- instead of us observing them - but others seem indifferent, even though we are only an arm's length away. We see greater Asian rhinoceros, axis deer and Malayan tapirs.

The 40-minute tram ride is just the prelude to our adventures. The highpoint comes when we have to hike along trails into the realm of the animals.