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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Lan Su Chinese Garden


Last year my husband and I took an early fall trip to the Pacific Northwest, with stops in Portland, Mount Saint Helens, Seattle (to visit our son and daughter-in-law in their new home), Spokane, and Bend. In the following posts I'll share the highlights of the experience, including beautiful gardens and natural settings.

Moon Locking pavilion and Tower of Cosmic Reflections teahouse

Knowing the Fish pavilion

Downtown Portland, Oregon is home to the Lan Su Chinese Garden, which is a walled garden that occupies a whole block. It is designed to model a scholar garden for a wealthy, multi-generational family, as you might find in Suzhou, China in the 1600s. It is a haven of tranquility in the heart of a busy city.
Courtyard with Lake Tai rocks, and viewing windows

Mosaic path through a shady green sanctuary

The name Lan Su is a compilation of sounds for Portland ("lan", also the word for orchid), and Suzhou ("su", also the word of rise), and roughly translates to "Garden of Awakening Orchids". Our very knowledgeable docent greeted us in the Courtyard of Tranquility for an introduction. The garden was designed and constructed in Suzhou, China (Portland's sister city), and then transported to Portland. The garden was built and planted by a team of 65 artisans from China over a ten-month period, and completed in 2000.
Pond with lilies and boat, and a view to buildings beyond

The scholar's study

Our docent then led us around the central lake, through the scholar courtyard and study, to the fish and moon viewing pavilions, the tea house, and the rock mountain and waterfall. We learned about the plants and the rocks, and the architectural details. The garden was intended to be a sanctuary for the family, and to provide a place for study and reflection.
Painted Boat in Misty Rain pavilion to the right

Green on green planting, with a few hot colors

Rock mountain and waterfall

I was especially taken with the rock mosaic paths, the bat-shaped drip tiles (used to create a curtain of rainwater), and the shapes of the doors and windows. I appreciated learning that scholarship provided a path to the middle or upper class for a bright, but poor student. I also enjoyed the names, which are wonderfully poetic, like Hall of Brocade Clouds, Flowers Bathing in Spring Rain, Painted Boat in Misty Rain, and Tower of Cosmic Reflections.


Mosaic walkway

Mosaic detail

Mosaic with moss

Another mosaic pattern

Bat-shaped Drip Tiles

Panel in Hall of Brocade Clouds

Round door with a view to a window

Round door under poetry

Window with a view beyond

Window detail


My husband and I lingered in the garden after the tour to appreciate the plants and flowers that were in bloom. After a quick freshen up at the Hotel deLuxe, we headed for dinner at the Portland City Grill for fabulous views of the city from 30 floors up, delicious food, and great conversation about the beauty we had seen.

Lingering after the tour

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