Building Bridges between East and West through Education and Cultural Exchange
Album: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden, Vancouver
Click on the first photo below to view the collection of 29 photos in large format.
The Dr Sun Yat-sen Garden is located on Carroll Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
Just like the authentic Suzhou gardens of China, the garden here in Vancouver was created by architects and workers brought over from this famous city.
Sun Yat-sen is called the Father of Modern China for his leadership role in the 1911 overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. He served as the first president of the new Republic.
While the Sun Yat-sen name was a primary reason for us to check out this garden, we were amazed to discover here something so peculiarly Chinese.
We stepped inside the door to pay our $10 entrance fee. This is November, but it is Vancouver so we are still lucky to see some green.
Bonsai and bamboo are just some of the authentically Chinese elements to adorne a garden.
Moon doorways are also common Chinese architectural elements.
Doorways and windows are commonly located to frame areas of outside beauty.
Lattice works, water, and pagoda structures are also common elements of all classical gardens.
Virtually all the building materials for this garden were brought over from China.
Although located in the heart of Vancouver, the garden is a place of quiet beauty.
As the seasons change, the colors also change. In the foreground is a beautiful pine, a tree well-loved by Chinese.
Rockeries, most often limestone that has been eroded by water, are also an important garden elements.
The pebbled walkways and roofing tiles are authentically Chinese, also. The materials used here were brought to over from China.
Our guide pointed out the crooked walkways. Apparently evil spirits tend to travel in straight lines, so humans can outsmart them by turning corners.
The weeping willow is also a favorite Chinese garden tree.
A number of rooms were designed with traditional architectural details.
Stepping through this doorway was like stepping into the home of a wealthy Suzhou silk industry merchant perhaps a century ago.
The latticed windows commonly had no glass, nor would the rooms have needed to be heated in the south of China.
Designed as a “scholar’s garden,” the table and chair are positioned here before the doorway to the outer courtyard.
e latticed window reveals a small pine just inside the exterior wall. Small rockeries, again, suggest the natural formations that are highly valued in Chinese landscapes.
Another similar latticed window, but adorned this time with glazed pottery.
The crane is the national bird of China, and its importance is second only to the mythical phoenix. It symbolizes long life and the ideal of monogamous relationships.
More examples of latticed windows and the “flying wings” of the traditional tiled roofs.
The latticed doorway opens onto the scholar’s courtyard…
… a place of seclusion and restful beauty.
Another quiet corner with a balustrade.
Our final small courtyard as we prepared to depart the garden.
Our tour ended with an opportunity to buy some beautiful pieces of authentic Chinese art and crafts.
First published: 2016/07/18
Latest revision: 2018/11/29
