photo: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Welcome to Inside Vancouver’s new “Featured Attraction” series. Each Monday we’ll be featuring a different Vancouver attraction, and will be giving away free tickets to our readers. To be eligible you just need to post a comment.
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first of its kind outside of China, is an authentic representation of an age – old garden tradition which reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Garden is characteristic of the private spaces within a Ming scholar’s residence. With its asymmetrical arrangement of rocks and plants, its winding paths and corridors, and the vistas that overlook its courtyards, the Garden emulates the rhythms of nature.
The Garden is proud to host the 18th Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival, in partnership with Secret Lantern Society.
Celebrate the Chinese winter solstice, dong zhi, which marks the rebirth of the yang qualities of light and energy. This year the Garden comes alive as never before!
Move to the samba rhythms of Drum Syndicate, enjoy a choral performance by The Real Treble Makers and raise your spirits in the Winter Solstice Music Ceilidh featuring Toddish McWong and the Black Bear Rebels & Friends.
Enjoy the beautiful heron and koi lanterns created by artist Joey Mallett , the whimsical tea set lanterns of Carmen Rosen, and the ginko and red maple tree lanterns hand-crafted by Garden volunteers. The floating installation “Heaven and Earth” by artist HyungMin Yoon, nspired by a 6th century BC Taoist saying, poetically rearranges itself with the movement of the breeze.
photo: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Add your own dash of colour to the 3rd Annual Community Lantern hosted by the Community Arts Council or join artist Haruko Okano and contribute to the community lantern shrine “The Lightness of Hope”.
View a collection of stunning antique lanterns in the Scholar’s Study while enjoying the Pandora Benevolent Society’s “Replay Your Tea With Me”, which marries the traditional performance art of Chinese Gong Fu Tea ceremony with video processing, enhancing interpersonal connections and expanding the Sacred Space cultivated over the preparation of a cup of tea.
See magical pin-prick lanterns made by students from Sir A. Mackenzie Elementary & Brockton School.
Treat yourself! Fresh warm buns baked by Bonchaz will be available for purchase in the Hall Of One Hundred Rivers, as well as Solstice tea served hot and spicy.
Remember to pick up your own lantern and other Solstice gifts at the Garden’s Eight Treasures Shop.
photo: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Contact Information:
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 5K2
P: 604.662.3207
W: www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
Directions:
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens is located in the heart of Chinatown, and is easily accessible by car or public transit. For more information on how to get to the gardens, please click here.
| We are giving away Two (2) Admission Passes for the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival. To be eligible, all you have to do is post a comment below. We’ll randomly select a winner on Friday and notify them by email. |
Updated December 16th: Congratulations Gwill! You are the winner of two (2) admission passes to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Please check your email for further details.
9:15 am
Love the gardens
9:17 am
Never been, would LOVE to go !!
9:18 am
Looks so Beautiful
9:19 am
Been at the lantern festival last year, it was beautiful! looking forward to go back there this year.
9:20 am
I haven’t been before. Would love to go!
9:20 am
Although I live only a short distance away, I don’t visit often enough! I love the peace and harmony of the place.
9:20 am
Would love to see the festival and the gardens
9:21 am
I have never been but would really like to go!
9:21 am
The allure and charm of the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden makes this one of my favourite places in Vancouver. I would love to win tickets!
9:22 am
Would love to see the National Geographic’s No. 1 city garden of the world all lit up, I’ve never been!
9:23 am
looking forward to this!
9:23 am
Looks gorgeous!
9:25 am
Amazing looking place!
9:25 am
Wouls love to go to this!
9:26 am
I’d love to go!
9:26 am
We would love to go see the lantern festival, but it’s not in the budget for right now, so I sure hope I’m lucky! :)
9:29 am
one of the most amazing gardens and its right here nestled inside Vancouver!
9:31 am
The garden looks amazing and I would love to go !
9:32 am
The garden looks very different at night. It’s very lovely
9:33 am
Sounds like this is amazing lit up! Never been and would love to go.
9:40 am
Would love to attend. I went as a child a few decades ago.
9:43 am
Awesome!! Looks fantastic!!
9:43 am
Go to the garden at night. It’s more cooler!
9:45 am
Would love to go :)
9:46 am
Wow – that looks amazing!
9:54 am
One of the most beautiful undiscovered gardens of the world. I have lived in Vancouver my whole life and only been once, but I will never forget it. I would imagine the garden under lights is magical..
9:56 am
how romantic! that looks like an amazing place to spend the evening with a special someone.
10:00 am
so beautiful and peaceful.
10:00 am
a.m.a.z.i.n.g. place!
10:01 am
The gardens are beautiful and I would love to go see the Latern Festival!
10:02 am
Love the Whimsical vibe, may even bring some Chrsitmas spirit to my better half. Hehe!
10:05 am
That is so awesome to have a unique experience for Winter Solice Lantern Fest @ Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden! Looking forward to that. ♥♥♥
10:15 am
I’m new to Vancouver and have never been, sounds nice though.
10:17 am
I’d love to go!
10:20 am
Would love to see the Gardens!
10:21 am
Yes please. We would love to see the lighted Garden.
10:22 am
Heard many so wonderful things! It looks very romantic, would love to take my hubby on a walk through the garden :))
10:25 am
I’ve never been! I’d love to go!
10:28 am
Would love to get a chance to see this beautiful garden!
10:32 am
One of the most beautiful places in the city – a hidden gem that more locals need to discover and appreciate.
10:32 am
Love this garden. Would so enjoy lantern festival.
10:36 am
Great description, you have me sold!
10:37 am
A beautiful garden. Would love to show it to my granddaughter.
10:40 am
This was one of the first places I visited when I moved to Vancouver exactly 5 years ago. Would love to rekindle that experience with this wonderful event.
10:55 am
Would love to visit the garden!
11:00 am
The latern festival seems so beatiful, I’d love to go.
11:00 am
Pick me!
Pick me!
11:00 am
This certainly stands out from all the christmas light events around. Definitely would love to visit the garden
11:09 am
This looks like a wonderful event for the whole family including all generations to enjoy.
11:10 am
My daughter and I would love to go and take pictures there.
11:21 am
Would love to see the gardens!
11:22 am
I’ve never been so this would be a great prize.
11:33 am
Awesome! Would love to go!
11:36 am
Would love to win this.
11:37 am
It looks like a wonderful experience.
11:37 am
Love the gardens. Have never been there in the winter, I am sure its beautiful.
11:44 am
Hi! I would like to go! =)
11:44 am
Hi, I would like to go. =)
11:45 am
I want to win
11:53 am
I have never been here, even though I’ve lived in this city all my life….Would love to finally check it out!
12:01 pm
I love the whimsy of the lanterns on the rocks and in the pond!
12:10 pm
oooooOOOOOOOOOOoooo
12:14 pm
Ooooh, I haven’t been to the gardens yet and I’d Love to go!
12:21 pm
We have the Best City Garden in the World (National Geographic) in our back yard. I am adding to my “Must See” list!
12:27 pm
Can’t remember the last time I was there. Never been there at night or any of the light shows. Looks really good.
12:34 pm
please pick me! the garden really looks beautiful
12:36 pm
This sounds wonderful! I would love to attend! :-)
12:43 pm
I haven’t been there in a long time. Thanks for reminding me of this city treasure.
12:43 pm
Looks so pretty!
12:46 pm
Can’t wait to go to the lantern festival!
1:03 pm
My brother’s coming to Vancouver for the first time and I’d love to bring him here!
1:14 pm
This looks fun.
1:28 pm
I would love to go…I missed it last year by a day because I had just moved to Van.
I don’t want to miss it this year. :)
1:34 pm
those are some lovely light displays
1:35 pm
It would be nice opportunity for us to return to the favorite garden again in the winter to see the lanterns.
1:41 pm
I loved my visit to China last year, and I’d love to tour the gardens in town as well!
1:54 pm
Would love to see the lantern festival as I’ve never seen it :)
1:55 pm
Dying to see the amazing gardens in lights..
2:02 pm
I would love to go!
2:14 pm
Never been to Vancouver but we will be here in June! Can’t wait to see this beautiful city and all it has to offer. Would love to see the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens!
2:28 pm
wow, it looks beautiful.
2:36 pm
Look amazing! This would be a wonderful experience!
3:02 pm
I would love to go!
4:00 pm
I would really love to go! I’m very excited about this giveaway!
4:00 pm
I’ve always wanted to go and now even more so since it was voted one of North America’s best gardens!
4:19 pm
Would love to go! :)
4:35 pm
I have always wanted to take my wife to the Garden, but the tickets have always been a bit too much for us to justify. I hope I can go soon!
4:51 pm
we have the best places to visit in Vancouver
5:06 pm
Within walking distance of my house, would love to go!
5:39 pm
Would love to go!
5:42 pm
Excellent local tourist atrraction that connects Vancouver to its Chinese Culture
6:00 pm
ive never been! would love to go! looks so festive =)
6:22 pm
Would love to visit the garden during the winter season.
6:36 pm
AMAZING! Perfect place to go on a date
6:40 pm
Fingers crossed :)
7:52 pm
Winter solstice, birthday of my love, I’d love to enjoy this magic night with him ! It should be amazing…
8:20 pm
Awesome! I’d love to go!
9:41 pm
Although I’ve been to Chinatown numerous times, I’ve never been there, I would love to go:)
10:09 pm
I haven’t been to the gardens in years but go to the park a couple times a year. Would love to win tickets to the garden
10:13 pm
Wow, looks stunning! I would love to bring my partner for a romantic night. :)
1:11 am
Looks so beautiful! I’d love to go.
1:23 am
Looks like an excellent attraction!
12:11 pm
looks awesome, would love to go
1:23 pm
Merry Christmas or Maligayang Pasko!
5:26 pm
would love to go!
10:08 pm
I was just thinking about the gardens as I was recently in China. I want to visit them more often – they are beautiful in all seasons.
6:34 am
Love the gardens, but I haven’t been since I was a kid!
9:22 am
want to go!
12:24 am
It looks beautiful. I’d love to go.
1:00 am
I want to go !
11:50 am
Would love to go, but an amazing place to relax after exams.
9:10 pm
haven’t been to this garden, but it looks beautiful!
11:11 am
Friends have gone and loved it. Would be a wonderful cultural experience. Thanks!
2:36 pm
I can’t wait to see it