AAA Editor Notes
Lan Su Chinese Garden is between N.W. 2nd and N.W. 3rd streets and N.W. Everett and N.W. Flanders streets at 239 N.W. Everett St. Designed in the Ming Dynasty style, the urban garden was built by artisans and craftspeople from Suzhou, China, Portland's sister city. The garden features a bridged lake, open colonnades and stone paths that wind through courtyards and nine pavilions where visitors can relax.
The freestanding rocks framing the garden's waterfall are limestone (called Tai Hu rocks) mined from Lake Tai, a freshwater lake near Suzhou. Trees and shrubs, many indigenous to China, include maples, pines, dogwoods, wintersweet, plum, wisteria, hibiscus, bamboo, tree peonies, magnolias, camellias, orchids and water plants. A teahouse overlooks the garden's Lake Zither.
Guided tours are available. Time: Allow 1 hour minimum.