Chinese Garden of Friendship

Story

The Chinese Garden of Friendship is a Chinese garden in Chinatown, Sydney, Australia. Modelled after the classic private gardens of the Ming Dynasty, the garden offers an insight into Chinese heritage and culture.Design and locationThe Chinese Garden of Friendship was designed by Sydney's Chinese sister city, Guangzhou in China. Chinatown, Sydney complements the area's already rich in Chinese heritage and culture. The garden was officially opened January 17 1988 as part of Sydney's Bicentennial Celebrations and named the Chinese Garden of Friendship symbolising the bond established between China and Australia.The Garden is located at the corner of Day Street and Pier Street, Darling Harbour, on the site of the former NSW Fresh Food and Ice Co, which is considered significant in the development of refrigeration and freezing in Sydney.FeaturesThe Chinese Garden of Friendship is filled with beautiful bamboo plants and glistening waterfalls. The whole garden cannot be seen from any point within the garden.The garden has a number of features including the Dragon Wall, symbolising the bond between New South Wales and Guangdong. The blue dragon in the water represents the state of New South Wales and the golden dragon in the skies represents the Guangdong Province.The Water Pavilion of Lotus Fragrance, the Twin Pavilion and The Tea House that offers traditional Chinese tea and other refreshments.The garden is also a popular venue for weddings and other functions.In popular cultureThe garden was used as a scene for Dulcea's compound in 20th Century Fox's 1995 superhero film Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie and also in the filming of The Wolverine in October 2012. Although many features of the gardens were changed or covered up as the movie was set in Japan - removal of all Chinese calligraphy and dragon motifs and a temporary pavilion built in the centre of the lake.