Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Behind a plain wall in Vancouver’s Chinatown lies a courtyard garden that took fifty-three artisans from China to build. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, at 578 Carrall Street, opened in 1986 as part of Expo 86, and it was the first full-scale classical Chinese garden built outside China. It is a Ming Dynasty-style garden modelled on the scholar's gardens of Suzhou, in which a small space is arranged to suggest an entire landscape, and its makers brought the materials, tools and methods of that tradition with them.

The garden was built by craftsmen from Suzhou using traditional joinery, in which timbers lock together without nails or screws. Roof tiles, carved wood, paving stones and latticework were prepared in China and shipped to Vancouver, and the limestone rocks that stand in the pond and courtyards came from Lake Tai, where such rocks have been prized for centuries. The design follows principles of balance, in which yin and yang elements, such as rock and water, hard and soft, light and shadow, are placed against one another. The result is a layered space where each step reveals a new view framed by a window, a doorway or a curved wall.

Visitors walk through through a series of courtyards and pavilions linked by covered corridors. A Moon Gate frames a circular view onto the pond, and the koi that glide beneath the surface add colour. Plants are chosen for their symbolism, with bamboo, pine and plum, the "three friends of winter", among them. Water, rock, plants and buildings are the four elements, and the garden is built to be experienced slowly. Tea is served in a teahouse, and guided tours, included with admission, explain the symbolism and the history of the site. A paid ticket is required for the garden itself, while the neighbouring public park, which shares the same name, can be entered free.

The garden is named for Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary leader who raised funds in Vancouver's Chinese community during visits in the early 1910s. Chinatown's shops, the Chinese Cultural Centre and Gastown are close by. It is best visited on a quiet weekday, when the courtyards are still, and in rain the sounds and reflections have a special quality. Check the official website for current hours and ticket information.