Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

One of the magical places to visit while staying in Vancouver is the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden; this is where visitors will find a traditional Chinese garden. The same techniques are used in planning the structure of the garden as during the Ming Dynasty, this allows visitors to feel and see the harmony and balance throughout the garden.

Each season the garden has something new to offer visitors; there are pruned trees in traditional Chinese fashion, potted plants, flower beds, a jade colored water pond and Chinese structures. There are guided tours, or visitors are able to wander the gardens at their own pace, stopping at the secluded areas to relax or meditate.

There are streams, rocks and bridges that are strategically located throughout the garden using Fen Shui and Taoism,
which bring harmony and balance, and are also relaxing for the visitor that is walking the gardens.

The garden was built in 1985-1986. The outer park was designed by architects Joe Wai and Donald Vaughan, while the inner garden was conceived by Wang Zu-Xin as the chief architect, with the help of experts from the Landscape Architecture Company of Suzhou, China. Funding for the project came from the Chinese and Canadian governments, the local Chinese community, and other public and private sector sources, and it opened on April 24, 1986, in time for Expo 86.

Because the climate in Vancouver is similar to that of Suzhou, many of the same plant varieties are found in the garden as in its Suzhou counterparts. The plants were chosen according to their blossom schedules in order to emphasize seasonal changes, especially the “awakening” in spring. They are also selected to invoke the symbolic, historical, and literary meaning of each plant and are used sparingly, in contrast to western gardens, and provide colour through all the seasons.

Visitors will also find that there is a gift shop that has traditional Chinese items such as healing balls that are rolled in the palm for health and well being, there are herbal teas and other items that are unique. There are also exercises classes that are held outside of the garden that the visitor can enjoy each morning while in Vancouver.