Occupying an entire city block, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is among some of the only authentic Chinese gardens in the country. Modeled after China’s Ming dynasty scholars gardens, the Lan Su Chinese Garden aims to be a place where people can escape the hustle of everyday life and connect with nature. In addition to featuring plants and trees native to China as well as an 8,000-square-foot lake, the garden also hosts a variety of Chinese cultural events and festivals, such as the Lunar New Year festival and lantern viewing evenings.
Many recent visitors said the gardens were a highlight of their trip to Portland, describing the space as “tranquil,” “stunning” and an “urban oasis.” They also highly recommended taking the guided tour, saying it added context to the beautiful and serene setting. Tours are included in the admission price and offered daily at noon and 1 p.m. Others recommended enjoying tea and snacks at the on-site teahouse. A few visitors warned that the area surrounding the garden is home to a large number of homeless people and suggested taking an Uber or Lyft to reach the garden to avoid having to walk within the neighborhood.
The garden is nestled in Portland’s Old Town/Chinatown district – just north of the downtown area. Two MAX stations are within walking distance of the garden and several bus lines, including 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 33, 40 and 77, stop near the garden.