Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden at 578 Carrall Street in Chinatown, Vancouver, British Columbia, is a Ming dynasty-style scholar's garden completed in 1986. It was built for Expo 86 and was the first full-scale classical Chinese garden constructed outside China. Fifty-three artisans from Suzhou, a city famous for its classical gardens, travelled to Vancouver to build it using traditional methods, with no power tools, nails or screws, and with materials largely imported from China, including limestone rocks from Lake Tai and roof tiles. The garden is named for Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founding figure of the Republic of China, who visited Vancouver several times in the early 20th century to raise funds among the Chinese Canadian community. The design follows Taoist principles of balance, represented by yin and yang, with water, rock, plants and architecture arranged in contrast. Covered walkways, a central jade-green pond, a moon gate, a pavilion, and carved wooden screens guide visitors through a series of framed views. Plants such as bamboo, pine and plum are chosen for their symbolic meanings. Next to the garden, the free public park offers a smaller version of the same design and is accessible without admission. Guided tours, available at set times, explain the symbolism and history and are often the best way to understand the layout. The garden has needed ongoing maintenance, including repair of the timbers and tiles in the damp climate, and has been conserved with the help of the Chinese Canadian community and the City. It is a reminder of Chinatown's role in Chinese Canadian history, including the head tax era and the community's contribution to the railway and the province's economy. Visitors typically spend 45 to 90 minutes.