There’s something about lanterns at night that instantly makes me want to slow down, take a walk and, of course, take way too many photos.
So when Lights by the Lake 2025 transformed Jurong Lake Gardens into a glowing wonderland for the Mid-Autumn Festival, I knew I have to make my way down for an evening stroll amongst the lights.
Held from 27 September to 12 October 2025, this year’s edition was said to be its largest yet, with more than 1,200 lanterns lighting up Lakeside Garden, Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden.
But rather than trying to hunt down every single installation and activity, I simply wandered through the gardens to see what caught my eye.
Journey to the West Comes Alive in Lanterns
The biggest visual highlight for me had to be the Journey to the West lantern displays at Lakeside Garden. Instead of just decorative lanterns, these were almost like illuminated scenes from the familiar Chinese tale, with larger-than-life characters bringing the adventures of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, and his companions to life.
Scenes such as Confined Under the Five Elements Mountain, Flaming Mountain and Three Battles with the White Bone Demon stretched across Lakeside Field, while more of the story continued towards Butterfly Field with Spider Demon Cave and Return with the Scriptures.
I grew up knowing these characters, so seeing them recreated as giant lanterns felt strangely nostalgic. It wasn't just about admiring something pretty. There was that little moment of recognition when you spot a character or scene and immediately remember the stories behind it and something about a "west side story" in Jurong just sounds so apt.
A Moonlit Walk Through Chinese Garden
From Lakeside Garden, the evening continued into the newly reopened Chinese Garden, which looked completely different after dark.
The White Rainbow Bridge greeted visitors with rows of hanging lanterns, immediately setting the mood for a Mid-Autumn evening.
Further inside, Chang’e and the Moonlit Gardens brought another familiar Chinese legend into the landscape. Near the Stoneboat, the Moon Goddess appeared amongst lotus flowers, surrounded by glowing decorations and the actual greenery of the gardens.
It was one of those scenes where the surroundings did half the work. Instead of placing a lantern installation in an empty field, the display blended into the existing landscape, making the whole area feel a little more dreamy.
When the Cloud Pagoda Lit Up
One highlight worth stopping for was the Cloud Pagoda Light Show.
Every 30 minutes from 7.30pm, colourful beams swept across the pagoda and surrounding gardens, turning what is usually a peaceful landmark into something much more dramatic.
The Chinese Garden is beautiful during the day, but seeing familiar structures illuminated at night gave me another reason to appreciate the space. Sometimes we travel overseas chasing beautiful night illuminations and seasonal festivals, then forget that we have experiences like this right here in Singapore too.
A Quieter Kind of Magic at Japanese Garden
Crossing over to the Japanese Garden, the atmosphere changed again.
Here, the lantern installations were more spread out, so be prepared for quite a bit of walking. But perhaps that was part of the experience too. There were quieter stretches between each display, making every new discovery feel like a little surprise.
One of the prettiest was Blossoms Beneath the Moon, where glowing sakura blossoms framed a full moon over the Floral Garden. It was definitely one of those “wait, I need a photo here” moments.
Then there was The Lantern Dream of Little Mei at Resthouse Pond, which told the sweet story of Little Mei sailing across the water to reunite with her family on Mid-Autumn Festival night.
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Over at the Sunken Garden, the usually tranquil space received a completely different personality with colourful illumination filling the landscape after dark.
More Than Just Lanterns
Lights by the Lake wasn't only about the installations.
Throughout the festival, there were cultural performances, music showcases, lantern riddles, art activities and even astronomy programmes happening across the gardens.
At Wave Plaza, visitors could catch free cultural performances on selected evenings, while the National Gallery Singapore Roving Art Studio brought art-making into the festivities with activities inspired by Singapore artists such as Georgette Chen and Liu Kang.
There was even an Astronomy Open House by Science Centre Singapore, where visitors could create lanterns inspired by the night sky and look through telescopes.
And for those who wanted something a little more energetic, Rockestra: Dancing in the Moonlight brought live music to Fiscus Lawn in the Chinese Garden.
Basically, you could come just for a lantern walk or turn it into an entire evening out.
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| (Image Credit: Lights by the Lake) |
Of Course, There Was Food
Because nobody should be expected to walk through three gardens without snacks.
A Food Market at Lakeside Field served up pasar malam-style bites, making it an easy pit stop before continuing the lantern trail. There were also several permanent dining options around Jurong Lake Gardens, including Starbucks, Fusion Spoon, Eden Cafe and Canopy for anyone who preferred to sit down for a proper meal.
My suggestion would have been to arrive before sunset, grab dinner first and then begin exploring once the lanterns started glowing.
Your feet would thank you later.
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A Different Side of Singapore After Dark
What I enjoyed most about Lights by the Lake 2025 wasn't necessarily finding the biggest or most spectacular lantern. It was simply having an excuse to explore Jurong Lake Gardens after dark.
Between the familiar legends, glowing pagodas, moonlit bridges and quieter stretches through the Japanese Garden, the evening felt like a little escape from the usual city lights. And maybe that's why I enjoy events like this.
You don't always need a packed itinerary or a big-ticket attraction to make a date night memorable. Sometimes, it's just about taking a walk somewhere familiar and seeing it transformed in a completely different light.
Lights by the Lake 2025
📍 Jurong Lake Gardens
📅 27 September – 12 October 2025
⏰ 6.30pm – 10.30pm
🎟 Admission free
Getting there:
For Lakeside Garden, alight at Lakeside MRT Station and take Exit A.
For Chinese Garden, alight at Chinese Garden MRT Station and take Exit B. The Chinese Garden Bridge is approximately a five-minute walk away.
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