Last updated: 11/02/2019
Discover Lan Su Chinese Garden, a beautiful Chinese Garden that is a haven of tranquility in downtown Portland. Here you will find all the information on how to visit it and what to know there.
LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN
Opened in 2000, Lan Su Chinese Garden is a 4,000 m² Chinese Garden, which was initially known as Portland Classical Chinese Garden. It is a walled garden located in the Chinatown district, whose style was influenced by the famous gardens of the Chinese city of Suzhou. According to the official website, Lan Su Chinese Garden's mission is "to cultivate a peaceful oasis of beauty and harmony to inspire, engage and educate the community in the appreciation of a richly authentic Chinese culture."
The garden is a window into Chinese culture, history and way of thinking. It occupies an entire city block and was built by 65 artisans from Suzhou using traditional materials and methods. 500 tons of rock were used, including stones brought from China. In 2010, the garden was renamed to what we know today on its 10th anniversary. “Su” stands for “Suzhou” and “Lan” stands for “Portland”. Interestingly, “Lan” is also the Chinese word for “orchid” and “Su” means “awakening”. Thus, the name of the garden can also be interpreted as “The garden of the awakening of orchids”.
The garden is formed by bridges, walkways, a lake, colonnades, pavilions and many plants. Much more than a beautiful botanical garden, Lan Su is a creative wonder and an awe-inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that blends art, architecture, design and nature in perfect harmony. Lan Su Chinese Garden's dominant feature is its artificial Zither pond in the center of the garden. Lan Su is a window into China's culture, history and way of thinking.
PLANTS IN LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN
About 90% of plants that appear in the garden are originally from China. However, no plants were brought in from China due to import bans. Instead, many plants were found in gardens and greenhouses in the state of Oregon. Some of the plants are over 100 years old. In addition, there are over 100 orchid trees, aquatic plants, perennials, bamboos, magnolias, peonies, camellias and unusual shrubs located throughout the garden.
In total, there are more than 400 species. Lan Su's mission in developing this unique and diverse living collection is twofold. The first is to provide visitors with a microcosmic view of the richness of China's native flora. Second, the botanical collection in the garden provides an invaluable tool for explaining customs and traditions rooted in human interaction with plants for thousands of years.
HOW IS THE VISIT TO LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN
Entrance to the garden is paid. You can buy your ticket on the spot or in advance online. Show your ticket to the clerk at the entrance, pick up your garden map and enjoy the beauties that Lan Su Chinese Garden has to offer. The landscape is really beautiful and the environment is perfect for meditation and relaxation. There are a number of periodic events that are offered at Lan Su Chinese Garden. keep an eye on the Events calendar not to miss a thing, especially during Chinese New Year and on Tuesdays during the summer months, when concerts take place on Tuesdays by Twilight.
Read more: Oregon: What to do in Portland – 2 or 3 days itinerary
LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS
The map below shows what to find in the garden. If you want a more detailed view of what to find there, go to this link.
A) COURTYARD OF TRANQUILITY
This is the first courtyard that the visitor has access to after presenting their entrance ticket. This place seeks to reflect 16th century China, through a private home and garden of a wealthy family. The garden brings spiritual peace and is a place designed to help escape everyday problems and inspire people through the architecture, plants, poetry, rocks and water that surround the place. The garden is designed to appeal to all the senses. Don't miss the mosaic made of stones on the floor of this courtyard.
B) HALL OF BROCADE CLOUDS
It recreates the place where traditional Chinese families met with their guests. Note the beautiful windows and ornate panels that indicate the wealth and status of a Chinese family. The carved panels show an important collection of plants known as the “Three Friends of Winter”, which include pine, bamboo and plum.
C) TERRACE
From this terrace, it is possible to have a beautiful view of the garden. Taoist philosophy idealized a hermit life in the mountains, around nature. Since cities make life more comfortable, it is necessary to bring nature into the family, even if on a reduced scale.
D) KNOWING THE FISH PAVILION
The name of this pavilion refers to a conversation between two philosophers. Walking beside a stream, one of them tells the other that he thinks fish are very happy. And the other replies, “You are not a fish. How can you know if they are happy?” And the first responds: “You are not me. How can you know that I don't know if a fish is happy?” All aspects of nature in the garden, from plants and animals that change throughout the seasons, offer countless forms of contemplation. Meditating, talking and telling stories are popular activities in Chinese gardens.
E) REFLECTIONS IN CLEAR RIPPLES
Many generations have lived within a garden and the buildings around it. In this pavilion, also known as a hall of a house, people can listen to music, paint, play traditional games like Mahjong or Wei chi.
F) FLOWER BATHING IN SPRING RAIN
There are six wood panels that refer to the current gardens of the sister city of Suzhou. Behind the fourth panel, you can find the words of painter, calligrapher, scholar and gardening connoisseur Wen Zhengming: “A quiet place is the dearest thing in this mundane world; In the middle of the city there can be real mountains and forests.”
G) SCHOLAR'S COURTYARD
This courtyard is an extension of “Scholar's Study” and a peaceful place for reflection and inspiration. There are plum trees blooming near the entrance in late winter, which symbolize resilience and rebirth.
H) SCHOLAR'S STUDY
Inside the pillars of this “Studio of the Scholar” are inscriptions on the reawakening. This is also an example of the “couplet game”, a friendly intellectual competition in which each person supplies the first line of a two-line poem and the second person completes it.
I) MOONLOCKING PAVILION
On clear nights it is possible to see the reflection of the moon in the center of the lake. By changing the seasons, the weather dramatically changes the garden's appearance. The Chinese believe that everything is connected by a cosmic force and, therefore, the garden is designed to encourage this force to flow through the environment. In Chinese medicine, it is believed that the balance between negative and positive forces in the body is essential for good health.
J) TOWER OF COSMIC REFLECTIONS (TEA HOUSE)
Lan Su Chinese Garden Tea House is located inside the Tower of Cosmics Reflections in a two-story building that offers the opportunity for visitors to sit back to relax and enjoy a delicious tea while admiring the beautiful views of the garden. The venue is operated by The Tao of Tea, a Portland-based tea company that promotes the art and culture of tea by offering certified organic teas. The Tea House has a capacity of 50 seats and combines Chinese tea culture with the beauty of the garden.
There is a wide variety of teas in different colors and flavors, including white, green, oolong, black and herbal teas. The selection of teas changes with the seasons to match and complement the changes taking place in the garden. In addition to teas, the Teahouse serves a variety of light meals, bowls of noodles, dumplings, rolls and seasonal soups. There are also cookies, cakes and fresh and dried fruit. Check out the full menu by visiting this link.
K) ROCK MOUNTAIN AND WATERFALL
This rock wall was designed to look like rugged mountains and is completed by waterfalls and waterfalls. The poetic inscription on the rocks can be translated as follows: “Ten Thousand Ravines Swallowed by Dense Clouds”.
L) PAINTED BOAT IN MISTRY RAIN
This pavilion has a shape that resembles a boat. The intention is to represent the friendship that departed Suzhou and made its way across the ocean to land in Portland. The interior of the place is made so that visitors feel as if they are anchored on the beach being touched by small waves.
GARDEN SHOP
THE Shop Lan Su Chinese Garden is located at the entrance courtyard of the garden and can be accessed even by those who do not want to buy a ticket to visit the place. In the store, there are unique Chinese-themed gift items that are very delicate. The store's opening hours are the same as in the garden. See more information at the end of the post.
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HOW TO GET TO LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN
To get to Lan Su Chinese Garden by public transport, you can use the MAX Light Rail surface subway. Check all the information on official site from the city transport company and remember that you need to buy the ticket before boarding. Check the closest lines and stations:
- Old Town/Chinatown MAX Station: use the lines blue or red and walk for another 2 minutes after disembarking
- NW 5th & Couch MAX Station: use the lines green, orange and Yellow and walk for another 4 minutes after disembarking
- Union Station/NW 5th & Glisan MAX Stn: use the lines green, orange and Yellow and walk for another 4 minutes after disembarking
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Lan Su Chinese Garden
- Address: 239 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209, United States
- Schedules:
- mid-March to mid-May: daily from 10 am to 6 pm
- mid-May to mid-October: daily from 10 am to 7 pm
- mid-October to mid-March: daily from 10 am to 4 pm
- Entrance: you can buy online or on site
- mid-October to mid-May: US$ 10.95
- mid-May to mid-October: US$ 12.95
- Tours: There are public tours offered according to the availability of the professors and they can be changed without prior notice. If you are interested, speak with an employee about the next available times. see in site upcoming tours available.
We thank the Travel Portland for information and tickets to visit Lan Su Chinese Garden and other attractions in the city. All reviews contained in this post relate exclusively to our on-site experiences.
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