Step into Lan Su Chinese Garden, one of Portland's greatest treasures and a must-see for visitors. This unique site is the result of a collaboration between Portland and Suzhou, the sister city in China's Jiangsu province, renowned for its exquisite Ming dynasty-style scholars' gardens.
Built by Chinese artisans from Suzhou and opened in 2000, Lan Su stands as one of the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China. A scholar's garden is designed not only to evoke beauty but also to provoke thought. Five centuries ago, Chinese scholars would wander through these spaces, exchanging ideas with their peers, composing poetry, and reflecting on both the surrounding beauty and the events of the outside world.
Much more than just a beautiful botanical garden, Lan Su is a creative wonder — a powerfully inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, history, architecture, design, and nature in perfect harmony. Now offering more than 500 cultural and botanical programs each year, Lan Su is a window into authentic Chinese culture and a platform for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.
