A serene escape from the noise of Sydney to Darling Harbor’s Chinese Garden of Friendship. The walled Garden is a thoughtful recreation of traditional Chinese gardens, dedicated to the people of Sydney area from the sister city of Guangzhou in China, and was built to celebrate Australia’s bicentenary in 1988. It was designed to symbolize the friendship between the people of China and Australia.
The Chinese Garden is an oasis of calm with pavilions, waterfalls, lakes, and bridges set among pretty gardens. It’s a great place to relax or learn more about Chinese culture and gardening traditions. Travelers can walk among elegant pavilions and babbling brooks before settling in at the lakeside for some tranquil meditation. The garden’s teahouse serves hot tea and has traditional dim sum on the menu.
The garden is open to the public and offers a variety of activities and events throughout the year. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the garden, learn about Chinese culture, and participate in various cultural events.
Chinese Garden of Friendship History
The Garden was planned by Chinese landscape architects and constructed by Australian craftsmen and specialists in a cooperative process according to the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism and its principle of Yin and Yang. It imitates the environment of traditional Chinese landscape paintings of miniature mountains and water.
During the Shang Dynasty, about 3,000 years ago, the art of Chinese garden design originated in imperial parks. Later, it flourished on a lesser scale in the private gardens of China’s wealthy and powerful, and Darling Harbor’s Chinese Garden of Friendship is a modest representation of a typical private garden of the time.
The garden was built in three years and opened to the public on Australia’s bicentenary, 26 January 1988. It was a gift from the people of Guangzhou to the people of Sydney, symbolizing the friendship between the two cities.
Activities in the Chinese Garden of Friendship
The Teahouse
A teahouse serving traditional Chinese dim sum and tea is located in the center of the garden. The menu features a variety of teas, as well as light snacks and refreshments.
The Dragon Wall
The Dragon Wall includes two flying dragons, which are symbols of majesty and perfection in Chinese culture. The wall was a gift from Guangdong; the brown dragon represents Guangdong, while the blue dragon represents New South Wales.
Garden Safari
The Garden Safari is a program designed for children aged 3-12 years old. It is a fun and interactive way to learn about the plants and animals in the garden.
Dumpling Making Masterclass
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to make delicious dumplings from scratch. This is a great activity for families and groups of friends.
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