Lan Su Chinese Garden Reviews

This is such a beautiful garden. The koi in the pond are mesmerizing to watch. The teahouse within the garden in the perfect place to enjoy some snacks and tea while admiring the beauty of this garden. This garden is a replica of the one in Hangzhou.

10$ entrance, buy the tickets at the gift shop if the line is long. We took the tour at noon, it lasted approx 45min, very informative re: Chinese culture, the guide was Henry and he was a super friendly guy. Then we had tea in a beautiful little tea room, decently priced considering live instrumental music and delicious tea selection. Staff was very amicable. Will return.

This beautiful garden is a jewel tucked away in Chinatown. Very calm and relaxing garden with a quaint Chinese tea house offering a variety of drinks and snacks.

This place is a beautiful little gem. However you only need about 30 minutes to experience this place so at $13 it seems quite expensive. It's such a tranquil place, I wish I had brought a book with me, I would have just sat in the garden for longer reading and enjoying the space. Maybe check their events calendar and try to come at a time when you can catch a tour or a tai chi class to get the most of your money.

This was an excellent place to relax amidst the hustle and bustle of PDX. Even though it’s in the middle of the city, Lan Su Chinese garden was so peaceful and quiet.

I felt truly relaxed watching the koi fish and sitting in the tranquility courtyard. I would highly recommend this to anyone who needs a break from the city speed

I love this place. It is on the must see list in Portland as far as I am concerned. Inside, it is absolutely beautiful. Water features, stones from china, buildings to explore, very wonderful. Down side, and only downside, neighborhood it is in. Homeless all over the place, camping on sidewalks in tents, etc. if you can get past all of that once you pay your admission and get inside, it is like stepping into another country.

These gardens have ponds with koi fish, interesting rock patterned paths, a tea house, bonsai. Chinese pagodas
Fun.

I asked my tour guide what one place I should visit in Portland if there was nothing else I did. "The Chinese Garden," she said. It was everything she said -- beautiful, peaceful, and such a good representation of traditional Chinese garden design. And the color and fragrances, even in the dead of late fall/early winter, were still amazing and vibrant. I can't wait to come back to Portland and visit again in another season to see how the light changes.

Thank you Sarah for the recommendation!

Love going here when I walk downtown. I'm a member so am there often and meet friends there. Usually I stop by the tea shop and spend a leisurely time visiting friends and enjoying the great tea.

This was a pleasant surprise in the heart of Chinatown! Really wasn’t expecting this, and decided why not? Nice small space and well maintained for an urban garden.

It is a gem in Chinatown in Portland. Not much left in Chinatown many of the restaurants are closed but this is still worth a trip to the area. Beautiful in many seasons we were there in late spring. The combination of sculpture plant material and walkways is stunning. If you live locally the Washington County Library system used to have passes that you could check out don’t know if they still do?

The Lan Su Chinese Garden is a delightful oasis among the urban scene of Portand near the waterfront. Although it is very small, it is well done. There are free concerts of Chinese music held on weekends.

Lovely gardens. Not overly large, but also don’t charge an insane amount. I really love and appreciate that the offer a family admission price for $28!

Also, nearby is a great Moroccan restaurant, the Kasbah. A great treat after garden hopping all day.

I love the Chinese garden. My work has passes that I use especially in the summer. Great place to go and clear your mind.

This is really a wonderful place to visit. Though it is surrounded by a "tent city" (which obviously is a huge disappointment), once you are inside, it is a tranquil, peaceful place with much to explore. Beautiful structures, a lake, waterfalls, koi fish, and some exhibits as well. Definitely worth a visit!!

A lovely oasis in a somewhat gritty neighborhood, this is definitely worth seeking out. Though smaller than the better-known Japanese Gardens, it's more accessible, affordable, and compact--just the respite you want after a day on the go.

Not as big as the Portland Japanese Garden and often missed, Lan Su Chinese Garden is a beautiful and authentic scholar garden. It's in the Old Town section of Portland, just north of downtown (and an easy walk from it) and near the riverfront. There are frequent free tours and a lovely teahouse. I was lucky to be there when the lotus flowers were in full bloom. Gorgeous!

The garden is nice, but what made our visit special was the tour led by Carol, one of the garden volunteers. She did a great job explaining the various parts of the garden, sharing relevant history, and telling some wonderful stories. So if you go, time your visit to coincide with a tour. Otherwise, you will miss out and won't get the most out of your visit. The garden also has a tea room that offers some light food , though we did not visit it. And be aware that the garden is not in the nicest area. I felt fine during the day but would be uncomfortable there after dark.

Beautiful example of traditional Chinese architecture & landscape. Knowledgeable docent & interesting special exhibits (Chinese calligraphy when we dropped in). The tea house presented by Tao of Tea is a favorite place for a snack and fine tea overlooking the lotus pond (albeit devoid of lotus in winter). The view of Portland’s contemporary US Bancorp building (“Big Pink”) beyond the traditional Chinese roofs of the garden makes an interesting juxtaposition.

My numerous trips to the garden through the years have always been very peaceful and relaxing; in rain or shine I've never been disappointed. I find each of the uniquely tiled walkway sections quite remarkable, they're works of art and the gardeners choice of plants in each section are most captivating as well. My wife and I took my mother-in-law to the garden once and we had a spot of tea in the tea house there. They had a fine selection of teas to choose from and the server happily answered our questions about the teas, so we could each select a brew that was suitable to our individual tastes. A bit pricey, granted; but worth it, I'd have to say. On another occasion, I bought a beautiful camellia bush at one of their yearly plant sales. That was a good 8 years ago at least and the plant has been a joy since the beginning and gets more beautiful with time.

Lan Su is in what was originally Portland's Chinatown, although there is really no remnant of that anymore. It's surrounded by tent city, and uncomfortable. A tent dweller asked us not to park next to his tent on the street! There is metered street parking, and on Sunday, from 2-6, parking is free. During the week, being a business part of town, I can see parking being an issue. Probably have to pay park in a garage. The admission is a bit steep -- apx. $14/person. That is for a self-guided walk. Also, there is timed entries, but on this Sunday, we just walked up and got in. No guided tour was offered. Also, I was very interested in the plantings, but labeling was very spotty, and there was no sheet identifying plants available. The grounds are beautiful, the rooms very simple. There is a lovely "tea room" offering tea, light snacks. I wish I had known about that before we went! There is a nice gift shop, which at one time apparently sold moon cakes. Now, moon cakes are only available in the tea room. Was it the highlight of a Portland visit? No. Was it pleasant? Yes.

This place is absolutely beautiful! I could sit there forever looking at everything!! So beautiful, and the location isnt the greatest spot of portland…. HOWEVER. it is completely gated in so theres not much to worry about. I did a solo trip and im a female and i felt absolutely fine if that says anything (i do also live near philly tho so im a bit used to it LOL). This place is absolutely gorgeous though, I would definitely add it as a stop on your trip! Cheap entry as well! Only $16 for adults !

The Jazz series is really worth a visit to the Chinese Garden. You can either sit and watch or wander around and listen to the sounds while you contemplate the beautiful scenes...Absolutely lovely and a perfect date night.

Beautiful architecture, plants, bridges, koi pond, tea house. Small area but so well designed and used. Peaceful and lovely visit.

Don't miss this spot - slightly West of the Pearl - a little slice of heaven. The garden says 'care' in so many ways; the tea-house is lovely. Slow down just for beauty!

Not a lot here. Yes very relaxing but it takes about 30 minutes or less to walk through. Stopped in for a tea and shocked by the price.

The Portland Lan Su Chinese Garden was built by artisans from Suzhou China. It is as authentic as it gets!
A beautiful Chinese garden which combines a small lake, planted areas, architectural features, and living spaces.
Definitely a must see for visitors to Portland... and residents too!

The Chinese Garden is an authentic replica of an upper class Chinese home more than 200 years ago, with enough modern amenities to make it very comfortable to see. The small size (one square block) is deceptive: there are many vistas, rooms, exhibits, and plants to see, but it’s not overwhelming. Adults can appreciate the history, culture, and horticulture; the kids I was with LOVED the colorful, graceful koi. We all enjoyed tea (some hot, some iced) in the beautiful tea house.

Our visit to LanSu Chinese Garden was a highlight of my visit to Portland. It succeeds in its mission of being a calm oasis in the midst of a busy urban area. A highlight was the enormous koi pond at the center of the garden. Many colorful koi swam about and showed us that their size is commensurate with the size of the pond. The many plants and artworks were beautifully curated. The gift shop is filled with lots of tempting things in a wide price range. At the conclusion of our stroll, we looked forward to getting a light lunch and sitting in front of the tea house to take in the view of the pond. But, to our disappointment, the few tables were all occupied. We were able to park close by. The garden entrance was easy to access.

The garden is not large but makes the most out of the space available. A peaceful oasis in a busy part of the city. Be sure to check out the koi pond, but most importantly take time to sit and enjoy the garden.

I was impressed by the Japanese garden and expected the same level of experience when I visited Lan Su Chinese garden. However, they are completely different level of experience I would say. This garden is much smaller, and the area the park situated is also less pleasant. The park is clean and well maintained, but it just seem a bit ordinary and lack of history. I can spend over 3 hours in Portland Japanese garden but maybe just 30 minutes in this one.

These gardens are quite a nice example of Suzhou Chinese style gardens. Quite peaceful despite being so accessible from downtown. They weren't very busy when we went so we had a very nice experience. My only gripe is that 10 dollars felt a bit pricey given that these are not that big, and you hardly need more than 30 minutes to explore.

It was a quick little, guide yourself, wander around and explore visit. I spent about an hour here. The koi pond was beautiful. And the architecture was beyond words. I really enjoyed this.

The gardens are exquisite. They have a van that takes you to the top do you only have to walk downhill or you can walk up.

Portland is well known for its cultural diversity and Lan Su Chinese Garden is perhaps the most precious cultural gemstone in the center of the city.
Built to reflect the traditional styles of Chinese Gardens mostly located in Su Zhou, China, it is a wonderful place to learn Chinese cultural, history, art, architecture, and even a taste of Chinese tea in the cafe within the garden.
A guided tour is very informative and helpful to help you to understand even more about the garden. Highly recommended.

Enjoyed some tea while watching a red dragonfly float around the flowers. Very relaxing and interesting place to kill time.

I didn't know what to expect at the Lan Su Chinese Carden. We came a few minutes before it opened, and there were already a few people waiting there. As there was a line for tickets (it was $28 for a 4-person family), I went into the small gift shop for warmth and something to occupy me. There were chopsticks, small souvenirs, cards, books, a few trinkets, and some other Chinese items. The cards were the most beautiful pop-up cards I'd ever seen. I opened one up, and a delicate, beautiful tree with each branch independent stood on the card, decorated with a river and stones- clearly the work of an artist. I turned the card to the backside, looking for the price. I intended to buy some. After seeing $13.95, I quickly put the card down and moved on.

Sadly, nothing that seemed nice was very cheap in that gift shop.

After the doors opened and I made my way in, I found a plant guide, map, and some flyers. Later on, I found a koi guide in which I could identify all the large koi swimming in the small, well-kept pond the garden surrounded.

The garden itself was pretty small, but it was fascinating. There were a few houses with tea, photography, and one with fortune telling sticks (yuck!).

There were a few bridges going over the water, and a few smaller sections that had a few small plants.

The bathroom was very nice compared to what I expected. It was rather fancy! There were two stalls. One was out of order, and the sink was also out of order (rather there was no sink), but there was hand sanitizer instead. The bathroom had a wonderful aroma that I quickly ruined. The walls had flowers on them, and everything was very nice for a bathroom. The best public bathroom I've seen.

We only spent a short time in the garden as there wasn't a lot to see. Was it worth $28 for the four of us? Probably a little bit expensive, but still worth it.

This is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy this unique garden occupying a full block in downtown Portland. They have recently implemented security measures for entry which is appreciated given the challenges Portland has experienced. Wander around, have tea at the teahouse, look at the art exhibits and enjoy the authentic Chinese Garden architecture and layout.

I have visited the Scholar Gardens in Suzhou, China and I was happily surprised to step into the Lan Su Gardens, a facsimile of a real garden. However, one must really slow down to appreciate the surroundings. I saw people arrive, take one quick turn and exit. I wonder what they got out of their visit. This is a place to spend time, to let go of one's rush-rush schedule, to sit in one of the many pavillions or open spaces and just let nature talk to you. If there is a negative, there is a tall red brick building that looms over the space and the sound of Union Station nearby. Overall, thank you Portland for creating this garden.

Once you enter the Lan Su Chinese Garden you are transported to another place and time. The design and craftsmanship - by Chinese craftsmen who traveled to Portland to assemble the buildings and complete the landscape - are first rate. A lovely experience.

The Chinese Garden in downtown Portland is an island of peace in the middle of a busy city. The architecture is beautiful and it is a great place to visit and people watch

Occupies one Portland city block (which is smaller in size compared to city blocks in other cities) in Pearl district, China-town area of Portland. The garden is in an area in the NW part of downtown Portland, overrun by the effects of the homeless crisis which has reduced a beautiful city to a shadow of its former self.

As a solo female traveler, it took me about 5-6 minutes getting down from the train at Union Stn. to get to Lan Su garden on a sunny Friday morning, summer 2024. Easily walk-able distance, but it was an anxious 5 minutes, skirting derelict abandoned downtown blocks and sidewalks taken over by zombie looking homeless people. Trying not to step on human excrement, needles, trash and semi-dazed live human bodies spread out on the sidewalks, dodging sketchy looking people and their tents, while all the time having your thumb on the pepper spray in your pocket made the whole trip to the garden quite an adventure.

You need to be buzzed in at the gate and there is a $16 entree fee. It might have been a cute little eclectic stop on your tour of Portland's Chinatown and downtown to spend a few minutes against the backdrop of beautiful traditional Chinese architecture, the pond and the garden, back when Portland downtown was more accessible to regular folks. But now I would rather advise you to go to the Japanese garden, which is several times larger than Lan Su, is away from the horrors of Zombieland and is only slightly more expensive at $21.95 for entree ticket.

Well worth visiting this is a gorgeous array of temples, flowers, water features, a tea house, gift shop and a large quantity of amazing koi fish.

This walled garden complex occupies a city block in one of downtown Portland's seedier neighborhoods. Ponds, grottoes, paths and bridges are surrounded by exotic plants, some of which are quite singular. Half an hour is plenty of time to see everything in detail and at a leisurely pace. The souvenir shop has some nice art. It was crowded the day I went.
At $12.95 for an adult ($11.95 for 62 and over. Wow! What a savings! Almost makes it worth being old!), this small garden is way overpriced.

Very nice with a utopian escape like feeling since it is in the middle of a metropolis but also somewhat pricey considering its size in my opinion.

Heavenly Oriental Retreat for refreshing Chinese Tea and Mooncake surrounded by authentic artefacts and flora...Divine

A wonderful, surprising respite in the middle of the city. An authentic reproduction of a traditional Chinese garden. Don't miss the tea room, with great snacks and a wide offering of teas overlooking the garden.

A lovely, peaceful Chinese garden created in the traditional way. Definitely worth a visit to see the structures, water gardens and interior designs. The docents are very helpful. If you have never been to a traditional Chinese garden, this is the place to go. The gift shop has some lovely items.

This is a lovely garden in the middle of the city. We were easily able to park on the street (paid). Covid restrictions included timed entry, as well as a reduced crowd, which was kind of nice. Because it wasn’t overflowing with people, you could walk along at your own pace. Still, it only took about 35-45 minutes to walk through. There is a tea house inside, but we didn’t stop.

Probably the best Asian garden I have seen yet. Hard to believe this is in the heart of the city. Even on a rain day, this is a great place to spend an hour or so.

The grounds are small but nicely maintained. Guided tours are available but feel free to roam at your leisure. Tai-chi lessons are offered in the morning.

Absolutely lovely small garden in the heart of old Chinatown. Not the best part of town (nor the worst), but so worth the stop! A nice oasis and calming atmosphere amidst a busy day of Portland sightseeing.

I enjoyed all the different stone path patterns. The Gardens are well maintained. Staff are friendly. No problem with social distancing.

The garden is beautiful and tour guide was very knowledgeable. Great place to take pictures. Lots of flowering trees.

The Chinese Garden is a surprisingly quiet escape in the center of a somewhat failing neighborhood of Downtown Portland. If you enjoy plants, Chinese history and tea, or want to learn more about any of these or just enjoy an hour or two of peace and contemplation or quiet conversation, this is the place. There is a centrally located tea house for a bite and a sip, or try different teas and hear about the history of tea, how tea works (how is it made, what are the differences between different kinds, and how to properly prepare and enjoy it) try them out. There is a visitor brochure that talks about the textures, design elements and some Chinese traditions featured in the garden. While it is not covered, it is lovely on a clear day or in the Portland rain.

Walked into Chinatown from our timeshare at the Worldmark. Went down 3rd Street to get to LS Chinese Garden. Not a recommended path as there is a homeless shelter on the route. I would recommend taking 4th or 2nd street. Once at the garden it is beautiful. Very peaceful. The tea garden was outstanding. Well worth a visit.

I went to Lan Su Chinese Garden as part of a tour that I took. The garden is beautiful like an oasis in the middle of the city. The only inconvenience was the koi fishes pond. The water was green and smelly.

The most beautiful place in Portland Or., hidden away in the downtown area. The pond is magical with the Koi swimming amongst the water lilies and the lotus - the plants and flowers are ever changing with the seasons and the smell was fabulous.
The staff members are so helpful and seem to love their jobs. I read that September 3rd & 4th, they are having a Mid Autumn Lantern Festival with a Market Place and Asian dancers and Musicians and the Lion Dancers from 2:00 to 9:00. Sounds like a date to put on my calendar. Peaceful, Relaxing, Tranquility - we need this in our lives.

Arrived in Portland on a rainy evening, the following day was sunny, so we decided to walk to the Lan Su Gardens. A calm relaxing space in the middle of Portland. The trees were just beginning to flower. Highly recommend visiting the tea shop, and if crowded they do offer to go options. There are a number of huge Koi fish which is always relaxing to watch.

Certainly more than I expected and the tea house just pushed it over the top. This escape within the city is a miniature paradise of flowers pagodas lily ponds and beautiful natural stone works properly displayed. Coy in the ponds and tremendous photographic opportunities are everywhere. One must take in the Tea house and taste the fine snacks and excellent beverages. I recommend the Daikon salad, Candied Mango slices, and Mao Do (edamame) and Jasmine Pearls tea and Rose Petal Black tea. Possibly the nicest item in your visit to Portland.

We stayed downtown and walked to the garden. It was very beautiful. It was a nice and calm place in the middle of the city. Had to walk by a lot of homeless people. I wouldn’t do this in the evening or at night. But it was worth the walk. We enjoyed it.

This garden is located in Chinatown in the middle of a city block. It was beautiful, blissful and took me completely by surprise. Some highlights:
-The rocks are gorgeous. Underwater rocks from Lake Tai imported from China.
-The foliage is gorgeous. Just sitting for a while in this beautiful garden relaxes you.
-Los of bathrooms: clean and well-maintained.
-Teahouse in the garden. We didn't get to eat as we were too full. But patrons seemed to be enjoying their food and I am sure it was quite an experience.
-They have a scavenger hunt for children and that was brilliant. Kids want to see everything to cross off their list and parents get to spend more time at the garden without the kids getting bored. A win for everybody.

I would highly recommend people to visit this lovely garden and support it.

This is one of my favorite spots in Portland. In a city with so many beautiful features--the Japanese Garden, Washington Park, Powell's, nearby Multnomah Falls--the Chinese Garden is special. Very meditative and exceptionally lovely. An original palace, it was brought over in pieces from China and reconstructed in downtown Portland by skilled Chinese artisans. There are often art exhibits, music and dance performances there. There is also a lovely tea room.

We had just returned from China when we took visitors to this fabulous place. It is truly, just like China. The curators have done a terrific job and the caretaking of this place is magical. We always enjoy the gardens and have the when we visit and it is on our must see tour when friends visit. I am sure anyone would enjoy....bring a camera and plan on 1.5 hours.

My lover and I wanted something beautiful and romantic to do and this was perfect. A small heaven in this town. Lovely employees all friendly. The food was fantastic and is a must visit. We loved it 💜

It's so easy to forget you're in the middle of a city when you enter Lan Su Chinese Garden. We've never had any problem finding parking nearby. There are free guided tours with admission or travel through on your own. Different "rooms" and areas are dedicated to different types of botanicals. There is a Tea Room for tea and edibles. The pond is home for Koi and ducks. This place is perfect for an afternoon of peaceful serenity.

Oh my goodness was not expecting such a tranquility in the city. This place took me by surprise, it was so quite I felt transformed after being here just a few minutes. Honestly I could of stayed for hours, expect we got there a little late in the day and they were closing. Will be going back when I can spend more time here.

This was our first stop in Portland on a Saturday afternoon. Surprisingly we were able to park right outside the gardens.We purchased two senior tickets and received and additional discount for being AAA members.This is a nice tranquil garden where you can leisurely stroll through taking in all the sights.You really do get the feel that you’ve been transported to another place and time.

Such a tranquil place in the middle of a metropolis. You can easily spend 3 hours just sitting and relaxing. It's strategically built to protect you from the rain during your visit, but it also harvest the rain.

This is, as others have noted, not a large garden, but it is beautifully laid out and a very peaceful place to have a slow wander through and enjoy. There are koi in the pond to watch, some really big, and the buildings have lovely displays inside. It was lovely in late October, and we would love to see it again in spring or summer for a different display from the plants. The staff are also very helpful and friendly. Only downside is that it's in a pretty rundown area, but well worth the visit. Make sure to check out the gift shop too - they have some really nice pieces.

What a nice serene place smack dab in the middle of Downtown. It's street parking and thankfully it wasn't terribly difficult to find a spot.

The front gate is locked and you will be buzzed in. You pay your fee at the ticket booth. You explore the grounds and enjoy the greenery and ambiance of it all. Unfortunately, when I visited there was scaffolding so it was a little bit of an eyesore. The brighter side, it just means I have to come back again to fully enjoy the beauty of the place. There is a small body of water in the middle and beautifully decorated architecture around.

Our first stop in Portland was the Lan Su chinese Gardens. We were aiming to get there for the 2:30 Asian food demonstration, but missed the demo. But we were in time to eat the food!! Delicious! The gardens were beautiful, all within a walled exterior so you forgot you were in the middle of a city. Lovely buildings, carvings and the plants were exquisite. Goldfish swimming in the pond-so serene. Different places to be seated to get differing views of the gardens. We stopped into the Teahouse and were seated on the second floor by the open windows so we had an aerial view of the gardens. We had tea and desserts, lovely experience.

Larger than it looks from the outside. Strange location for such a beautiful place. We went on a docent lead tour, and she was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Glad we went. A lot of homeless people in that area, so be aware.

The Chinese Garden is very nice and very peaceful. Just a little pricey for the relatively small size.

Not large but a wonderful reprieve from the bustle of the city. Peaceful and very well done. Well worth the time to visit.

The garden is jut gorgeous! The ponds feature waterlilies and coy, and the grounds are beautifully laid out. As I am a photographer, with a passion for beautiful flowers, this place was a delight to me and my camera.

Small but Fantastic place, gardens, little bridges, tea service demo,. Great for photos, stunning landscaping, gorgeous buildings. Very easy to walk around. Loved it.

A visit to the garden is a soothing experience. You can spend a long time just watching the koi and water lilies. The free docent tour is a delight and contributes to the mood. If you are in search of further calming, you can get some tea in the tea house and enjoy it while watching the calm.

The Lan Su Chinese Garden in downtown Portland is amazing. Lan Su is a gorgeous garden but at the same time, it is so much more. A cultural center, a venue for musical concerts, an eating and drinking destination with an authentic tea house, an exhibit space for painters, photographers and other artists. You can pay for a single visit or sign up to become a member of this lovely organization. If I lived in Portland, I would!!

We were exploring Portland on foot and came across this garden. The small site is so well laid out, that it seems much bigger than it is, with the garden divided into different areas, full of flowers, carp ponds, small buildings and shaded places to sit. It's a delightful place to wander or to sit quietly and contemplate. Don't miss the wonderful range of teas on offer, when you need some refreshment.

We visited the Chinese garden on a rainy day, there weren't many other visitors. It is a small garden, but beautifully maintained. The water is full of carp in amazing colors. We found the admission a bit much for the amount of time you can spend here, but it is a beautiful place in the heart of Portland.

What a beautiful garden. It is so peaceful you forget you are in a noisy city. Even though it was cold and overcast during our visit and most things weren't in bloom I still enjoyed the layout and the serenity of the gardens. They provide excellent socent/volunteer guided tours, a great flower & tree picture guide you can carry around d as you wander if you like to identify the foliage. Very pleasant way to spend an hour or two.
There are also art, pottery, & photo exhibits in the garden Pagodas, with guest artists available. The gift shop is excellent with many quality items.

A beautiful, quiet spot in the heart of Portland. It's not terribly busy, even on weekends.We spent about 45 minutes in the garden.

Do not be concerned about the homeless who share the streets at the entrance to China Town. Brave it and you'll be rewarded with a memorable experience. This garden is truly beyond description. It will be a return visit for us when we visit Portland again... And, the bonus is you can either stop at Voodoo donuts on your way in or out...

Visited with a friend since we were downtown. It is rough to see downtown, it’s not the nicest right now, but we did not feel unsafe. The garden is pretty, but small, and if you’re a local, probably worth checking out, but wouldn’t recommend for a tourist to go out of their way.

The garden is small and has some pretty basic plants - nothing really unique. It is pretty and peaceful with all the flowing water. Unless you are really into gardens I would skip this one and go to the free rose garden in Washington Park.

If you been to a Chinese garden before, this is the same set up. Lovely but compact garden with some traditional interiors in a square shape. Manicured trees and walking paths. There were also huge old koi in the water. So much fun to watch! Tea and snacks aavailable for purchase at the cafe.

Loved the garden, the fact that it was 41° and also drizzling didn't deter me. There was a tour by Lucinda a volunteer which was very informative and enlightening. It was really fun and beautiful.

Really wonderful and beautiful experience inside, once you get past the homeless tents. The tea was extraordinary as were the finger foods. Very peaceful on the grounds. We loved it!

This is a must-see while you are in Portland. Really beautiful gardens with fountains and koi. Authentic tea house, great for a break in your travels around downtown area.

A must visit in Portland. An excellent exposure to one aspect of Chinese culture. It is surprisingly well kept. I loved the tranquility and beauty of the lovely garden.

We found street parking on the block. There was a scavenger hunt which kept our 10 & 12 year olds interested for about an hour. Beautiful plants which I wished were better labeled. A fun diversion near our hotel but not sure I would make a special trip for this unless you are serious about Chinese architecture.

I am a member of this place and haven't made it there to visit until now. There was Harvey Moon celebration approaching and I wanted to see what the place looked like., How it was shaping up for the Harvest Moon Festival.

Using my membership I got in free. and saw all the paper lanterns all over the place. I am guessing that these were place for the Harvest moon. The gardens looked marvelous. Large colorfull fish were swimming in the waters. Huge fish, Colorful fish.

The tea house was doing a swift business catering to the thirsty visitors. It was a nice warm sunny day. and many people came to Lan Su Chinese Garden to enjoy the sites and the tea in the tea house. I was just glad to get a look at the place in advance of the Harvest Moon Festival, This place is always a pleasant site. well worth visiting every season to see how the seasons effect the look of the garden. I find the place is atmospheric, tranquil, and a pleasant way to get my mind in a positive frame of mind. To reset itself and to tap into a positive vibe.

This is a gem in Chinatown. A site worth seeing and experiencing.

Very relaxing place with a lot of Chinese history for viewing pleasure. They have a tea cafe with several teas and some food available. It was very relaxing and it is designed very well to make you feel like you are out of the city all on only 1 acre of land!

The gardens are a beautiful respite within the city. From the walkway, to the buildings to the plants, the details to make the garden authentic are inspiring.

It is a great place, so peaceful and beautiful. We really enjoy to walk around but unfortunately we didn't have the tour. The tea house has delicious tea and it is very nice. The place is small, you will spend around one hour there.

My wife and I recently visited the Lan Su Chinese Garden and very much enjoyed the experience. The grounds are beautifully crafted and you begin to forget that you are in an urban environment. Admission charges were reasonable. This is a great way to spend a couple of hours in Portland. We would definitely go back.

I am sure that the gardens are very nice, but unfortunately, I'll never find out. We bought tickets to visit last week, but we never made it inside because the place is swarmed with homeless people completely surrounding the area and blocking the entrance. There are literally tents covering the sidewalks to the point that it is impossible to walk around. When attempting to park nearby, the parking machine was not working, and we felt extremely uncomfortable leaving our car with dozens of people sitting around watching us. We were then accosted by homeless people who live outside the garden. In the end, we decided to leave and throw away the cost of our tickets.

The gardens and Portland have got to do something about the homeless population. We have traveled throughout every continent of the world, and we have never seen a situation as bad as Portland.

The people there were very nice. I liked the gardens - a place of quiet, away from the city noise. There's a nice little tea shop inside (a good selection of teas). I liked their little gift shop too. If you have an hour to spare, drop on it, I think that you'll like it.

This garden is beautiful!!We had a complete family outing. The garden is very tranquil. Beautiful landscaping and gorgeous buildings. Well worth the money. Highly recommend.

I've lived in Portland 2 years before finally coming to the Chinese Garden. It was small but worth the visit. Take your time walking around and getting to know each space. They have an educational guide map that explains each part of the gardens. It's a visual/spacial treat. Tranquil too.

In the middle of the city this is a small but beautiful garden. The live music and tea we enjoyed was a nice touch. Worthy of the visit.

Once inside the garden we found it beautiful and authentic. The numbers of homeless crowding the walkway on the walk there were disconcerting. No one was overtly aggressive but it was a gauntlet to walk through. Knowing this I would go again but take a car or uber or lyft to go directly there. Once inside it was peaceful and the guide was very knowledgeable. We had tea in the tea house to extend our time and experience there.

This place will make you feel as though you have been transported from downtown Portland. It is so peaceful and the architecture is quite remarkable. Very beautiful garden.

The museum was happening it was an anniversary. I was so thrilled by the dancers and the story the dancers told. Monkeys should not drink. Lol. The dogs oh may goodness. Instruments being played I had not had the joy of getting so close to. What appeared to be a ghostly female played an instrument in a mournful wail. The colors, . the food, sounds a special opening of the social club. The tea house as always is a lovely place. I enjoy the calm of places just around the corner .Anytime of day or year special event or no this is a great peaceful place.

I visited the Gardens today for Lunar New Year. They can’t do the Lion Dances or special crowd type events, but the garden was beautiful. They have very Covid safe protocols, timed entry, limited admissions. The gardens were beautiful and tranquil Worth the visit. Enjoy!

Lan Su Chinese Garden is a wonderful way to wind down from the hectic pace of city life. The gardens have special events such as the Mumbember event in November celebrating mums and art. The garden is beautifully arranged, has incredible meaning and allows visitors an opportunity to experience and enjoy Chinese culture.

I was with my 15 year old grandson when we visited this garden. It is located in the Chinatown section of downtown Portland. It was amazing how once inside the garden area there is a really calm feel. You can see the high rise buildings around, but you get transported to this peaceful place. We loved watching the koi in the pond ... some of them are huge. We also enjoyed the lovely plants and the bonsai trees. There is some beautiful artwork posted as well and lovely Chinese architecture. We really enjoyed our visit. I was surprised by how much my grandson enjoyed it as well.

This pretty and relaxing garden was descriptive of the clean lines I expected to see in this Chinese garden. It was simply beautiful! Upon leaving I felt I had a tiny glimpse of the Chinese culture. The stone floors were breathtaking! The hours of care is mind boggling!

I have actually been to this little garden on two separate occasions. The first time I traveled here alone and dropped in on a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)lecture performed by a local TCM practitioner. I brought my elderly Asian mother to the garden on this last visit. The garden was not that crowded; a Tai Chi class was present on the grounds. Although small, the garden is lovely providing multiple buildings to wander in and out of and several places to rest and enjoy the view. Beautiful artwork is located throughout the buildings. A covered bridge and lots of water provided an ambiance of a far away land. Tea/Chinese snacks in the Tea House was lovely. Metered street parking is available. There is a great little gift shop near the entrance. I purchased many beautiful gifts there on both of my visits.

Compact, but arranged to appear much larger, this is a great place to wander around, have a cup of tea, take your kids, or even meditate. As an added bonus, they also have great music events in the warmer months.

I went to their Chinese New Year celebration with five kids, ranging from 3-11. Everyone had a very good time despite the cold weather. There was a show with dancers and a dragon. They had calligraphy, which the kids loved, got to make a chinese paper lantern, throw coins at a wishing tree, enjoy the Koi in the pond. A good time had by all!

Need an hour or more to chill, to meditate, to appreciate another culture? This garden in the midst of Portland's Old Town makes the best use I can imagine of a city block of a former parking lot. For a small entrance fee, walk in and enjoy a different world, arguably a better world of exotic plants and water features and ancient architecture.
The highLight for us on a recent visit was a mother duck herding her baby Malards through the lily pads in one of the side ponds.
Well labelled plantings will give you ideas for your own garden.
A tea room offers yet another way to immerse yourself in a different culture.
Breathe.

It's been many years since I visited this garden. It is very peaceful and you wouldn't even know you're downtown! The buildings are beautiful as is the koi pond and landscaping. We walked into the tea house to have a look but didn't have time to stay. There are tours that you can join or do a self guided tour and read all the information for each item or building as you go. It was a beautiful day and we were lucky to find parking right in front of the place! There is a very small gift shop with items for all ages although I would not take small children into it. The wall that surrounds the garden blocks out most of the street noise. We really enjoyed our visit!

I actually paid to be a member of the garden. It is SO affordable. And since I live and work in Portland, it was a great decision. I go sit in the garden on my lunch breaks, and I love bringing friends and family to visit. It is an absolute oasis in the city. Constantly blooming flowers, and art displays, there are also events and a great little gift shop. The pond, full of koi fish, is my favorite part.

It was an autumn morning when I took my (adult) ESOL students to the garden. Prior to coming, we’d talked about its origin and the symbolism of what they would see in its design, architecture and plants, Once there, we each wandered at will, following the winding paths, constantly surprised and delighted by something unique around each bend - a rock or tree or fish or bridge or color.... so many surprises in the one city block with the modern high rises beyond its walks looming like guardians of this place of peaceful beauty.
The students’ homework was, as you’d expect, to write about their time in the garden. Almost all wrote about the tranquility, the sense of being in another world and the pleasure of being lost in thought.... a rare treat.

We enjoyed touring this small but exquisite garden. It was calm and serene and had a lot of enjoyable things to see. Wished there had been more papers explaining what we were viewing.

Went on Mother's Day and had a fun time! In addition to wandering around the garden, our toddler had fun making cards (and the boy helping us with the Chinese characters was really nice, and the other kids helping were too) and origami. There were other activities as well (like henna tattoos and corsage making).

It is small, but it's lovely and peaceful, and if there are events or activities, it can be even more enjoyable, like it was for us.

Informative display of chinese culture, love the symbolism attached to the architecture.. pleasant walk in the mid morning..

We enjoyed the tranquil, lovely gardens and appreciated the informative details provided by the written materials throughout. A “scavenger hunt” approach to engaging kids was appreciated and educational to boot. Worth a visit for sure!

Spank in the middle of China town you find this beautiful, tranquil place. Area around it is rundown, but area felt safe and the gardens are calmly, impressive.

Visiting this garden brought back memories of the gardens we toured in China many years ago. It is very compact, so it doesn't take long to wander through it. There are docent led tours too, but the timing wasn't right for us. Very pretty and well done.

This garden is just beautiful and peaceful. We loved the authentic buildings and large koi pond. Right in the downtown area, the tall buildings dwarf the exhibits. Worth the admission fee to see this wonderful museum.

This is a lovely garden, even in winter. I was lucky enough to get a tour from a friend who is very involved in the garden- not sure if formal tours are available. It really improved the experience. Some things she said were to look for the layers, they will mix plants that are soft, with spiky ones next to it, they like the contrasts, see the contrasts of the stone at your feet, black with white, round with square, etc. See how all the windows have a different pattern in the wood carvings, feel the change in the air in each little area ( yes, there is one!) what you can hear and what you cannot. I was told to go when it rains as the roofs have intricate tiles that when the rain runs off the drops cascade down like strings of pearls! Lovely little peaceful garden!

We stopped here on a recommendation. The location was surprising. I didn’t expect it to be right in the city. It was a very peaceful and tranquil garden. They also had a peony display at the time which was beautiful and smelled amazing. There is also a tea room and a gift shop. It was interesting to look around but we were only there for maybe an hour. We went right when they opened so it wasn’t too busy but it was picking up when we left.

This is a one block Chinese garden created in China and reconstructed here. Very serene setting though the tour guide had given some information that contradicted information actually gotten in China.

Not sure that would have explored this on my own, but was glad to have been sent here as part of a surprise trip. The neighborhood was sketchy for a single female to walk around in, but the garden itself was so tranquil and peaceful. I enjoyed tea in the afternoon and it was a perfect start to my trip.

This is an excellent Chinese Garden. Very much like the special gardens in shanghai or Beijing. The rocks, the trees, the walkways, the walls and the buildings were very much like the gardens we visited in China. Although it is a residential block square, it was very nice. A little pricey on the entrance fees. 2 adults, 2 seniors and 1 child was $59.00 !!!! Take your time and enjoy. Unexpected in Portland. If you go here, do not miss the Japanese Gardens in Portland. They are much, much larger and exquisite !!! An easy Uber/Lyft ride from the Chinese gardens. You will enjoy seeing the two styles of gardens and begin to understand the two cultures.

Not to be missed- even in freezing weather! A masterpiece in the middle of the city, absolutely breathtaking!

We have lived in Portland 11 years now, and I do not know how I missed going to these gardens!!
My mother was visiting town, and she is a lover of everything Chinese, (& Garden! ) so I thought she might enjoy a visit to the Chinese garden.
Oh boy was I right!!! As you enter the door, it as if you are on a journey... we slowly made our way winding thru the garden enjoying the gardens and the fish pond and the art works.
It was lovely and so peaceful.
Then we found our way to the little tea house and went upstairs to a table by a window overlooking the gardens. There we enjoyed a little tea ceremony, and some delicious Pur tea. (Which my mama loved so much she bought some from the shop, to take home and share with her friends!!)
It was a magical time.

Small but intimate garden in downtown Portland features many Chinese structures, gardens, and fish. The path through the park is very relaxing. There are even classes for TaiChi during the morning.

I’ve lived in Portland for 16 years and always said “we need to go to the Chinese Gardens”. Well my wife and I and a friend went the other day, it was fantastic. I quiet spot in the middle of the city. Of course there will be busy times... have some tea on the second floor, enjoy the breeze and look out over the pond and gardens. Worth the money if you take your time.

This place was a wonderful surprise. The floors are stone mosiac and the landscaping is a delight. You travel from outdoor "room" to outdoor room. Small but worth seeing.

One of Portland´s greatest treasures is this authentical Chinese Garden created in the style of the Ming dynasty, a wonderful place year-round and enchanting every visitor who looks for tranquility and nature. Walkways and small bridges are partly sheltered. Along the Lake Zither with its kois, lotus and waterlilys and red dragonflies are open colonnades, lovely pavilions furnished with beautiful Chinese artifacts – all of them surrounded by a lush planted landscape of bushes, shrubs, trees, flowers and the famous lake Tai rocks, formed underwater over many decades, eroded and left outstanding shapes.
The visitor should not miss to visit The Teahouse, for a nice tea ceremony and snacks while overlooking the garden with China´s native flora.

A bunch of my lady friends and I finally got a time out this summer and decided to go here for their tour and out to lunch after.
You just feel like your on vacation in China. The architecture, the trees and flowers in the pond makes you feel so peacefulness. When we were there I saw furnishings from China as well as painting of places from there, (bringing back memories of my own trip to China with my husband, Which I will never forget the amazement and adventures ).

After you have finished your tour if you can visit the Tea room on their property it will complete the experience.

This is my second time there and it won’t be the last.

Cute gardens with a very nice tea room experience. It’s not in a great neighborhood so good idea to take an Lift/Uber there.

The garden is looking rundown and surrounded by homeless people. Rather than being rude and berating customers, the garden should strive to be more inviting and overdeliver if they want more guests. I stopped in to see the end of the chrysanthemum display and it was a joke. Sparse and half dead plants. Management was very rude to me when I asked for a refund after 10 minutes when I realized there was nothing to see —no refund. Save your money and go to the Japanese Garden instead.

Lan Su Chinese Garden is probably the most authentic Chinese garden in the USA. Portland is the sister city of Suzhou, China, famous world-wide for their gardens. Garden designers from Suzhou came to Portland, bringing with them tons of important rocks and plants to design and build this important place. Only a city block square, it is beautiful, tranquil, and, at the same time, wonderfully educational.

Definitely a must.. We did the tour with our guide, Marta, who had lived in China for 2 years. She was very knowledgeable and approachable to answer questions. The garden provided textures, scents, sounds and views arranged to reflect nature's harmony. One of the many facts that I will remember is that more than 600 tons of Tai rocks were imported-formed under water for many decades and used throughout the garden. Also, watching the Koi and hearing the movement of water was fascinating An incredible place to quiet your mind and meditate. There is a gift shop and we took the time to have tea and almond cookies in the Teahouse. The name Lan Su is interpreted poetically as "Garden of Awakening Orchids". A very special place in my memory.

I have never seen anything like this personally. It really is a beautiful and magical space. I was a bit disappointed to have missed the last tour, and any musical performance, but I will give it five stars for how well well the presentation is.

Traveled by plane for 4 hours to Portland in order to participate in the Chinese New Year activities. What an absolute disappointment. The facilities are extremely small and the activities were greatly exaggerated. The only enjoyable part was having tea in the tea house. The visit was a waste of both time and money. We flew to Colorado the next day in order to get away from the disappointment, giving our lighting tickets ($90) to the clerk at our rental car company. Hope he and his wife had a chance to enjoy them.

In a not so perfect part of the city, rests a garden of serenity and tranquility. Beautifully landscaped with authentic Chinese architecture. Tea house on the grounds that serves various teas and small snacks. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. Small gift shop at the entrance.

This is a must see. Beautiful and serene place. Everyone in our group of 9 were so thankful that the day was gorgeous and the tour was unhurried and very informative. It had been scheduled for Sunday which turned out to be a little rainy.

In downtown so a bit noisy (bring some music-classical Chinese perhaps?) look up where to park and check and see if you need advance reservations, but once inside it is pure magic, don't miss the tea house food offerings if you are there when it is open.

Tranquil. Beautiful. Not far from Powell's City of Books (which is why I came to Portland in the first place)

Wow, just wow. It’s breathtakingly beautiful! It’s smaller than the Japanese Garden in Portland, but packed with so much more! Flowers and water lilies were in bloom in July. There was beauty at every turn and I was guilty of taking sooo many photos. Entrance fee was just $1-2 dollars below those for the Japanese Gardens.

Check the website and try to do a FREE docent tour as it will enrich your enjoyment of the gardens.

It was surprisingly peaceful to me since we were in the middle of downtown Portland, and there were a lot of people visiting the day we were there. We had a nice stroll through the Gardens and structures. Unlike the Japanese Gardens, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is like walking through a small town. It is concrete instead of dirt and gravel, and it is pretty flat instead of hills and trails. We were treated to a Dragon Dance while we were there. I had never seen one up close and it was beautiful and fascinating to watch and listen to.

We visited the garden several times 20+ years ago when they first opened. It truly has an authentic feel of old Chinese garden. It is located downtown Portland, near the old China Town. While during our visit on a Friday afternoon we did not encounter any homeless people nor drug dealers mentioned by other reviewers, it definitely is in the part of town that could be viewed as "unsafe". It is downtown Portland, not located in a suburb with gated community. Only street parking is available, it does not have its own parking lot.

That is what makes this garden so special. It is a sanctuary from the real world. So beautiful and serene. Very old world and classic Chinese architectures. Gorgeous pavilion with water views to lilies and lotus flowers blooming. Colorful koi swimming along. There is a tea house. We spent over an hour just strolling and taking in the peaceful space.

It is disappointing (but not surprised) to find out that the tea house no longer serve any hot food items -- that was one of the highlights to be able to get some dim sum and classic tea eggs to enjoy. Now they just have a small display case with some almond cookies, mooncakes, and various bakery items. They were at least sourced locally. Quite pricey and we are not sure on the freshness since we felt the turn around may not be quick.

A few people were enjoying hot tea, but definitely not like in the past with some amazing varieties and servers that had great knowledge. Sign of the time, unfortunately.

We thought the $16 entry was quite reasonable. $15 for seniors and students. Our friends were members so they actually got the group in for free, as that was part of the membership perks. Keep that in mind.

This garden was both unusual and uniquely comforting, an absolute delight in the center of a busy, dirty neighborhood in the center of downtown. Inside the garden, the outside noise seems to fade away, leaving tranquility. I loved the interplay between grey stones and splashes of color!

The gardens are extremely small, but peaceful. The real star is the tea and food. Truly something deliciously atypical. Get the fava beans, Daicon salad, and dumplings.

I stepped through the doorway into the serene gardens I visited in China. The landscaping is very authentic. It is easy to forget that you are in the middle of a city while in the privacy and calm of this garden.

This was a great way to pass an hour or 2 in Portland. The gardens are tranquil and the stop for a hot tea was a nice pause too.

This garden covers just one city block in the middle of downtown Portland but makes you feel transported to a peaceful beautiful place. There are several buildings, courtyards, and nooks to wander through. The buildings and the plants are harmonious and pretty. Take your time and look at the ground and the tops of buildings and arches - there are beautiful details everywhere. The brochure you get with your ticket provides interesting information that adds to the attraction. It started raining while we were there and watching the rain on the pond from one of the buildings was lovely. We enjoyed tea and cookies in the tea house. There was a camellia display in one of the buildings that was especially beautiful - I look forward to returning for other special displays and in different seasons. We didn't take a guided tour but if you don't enjoy reading a brochure to do a self-tour, definitely do a guided tour so you don't miss the details. This is worthy of a special trip on its own, or as a break when touring the city.

The day we were there a troop of Japanese dancers performed, celebrating Pacific Asian Month. They were beautiful. The gardens had all the elements needed for a few minutes of peace: greenery, water, architecture that was pleasing to the eye, and of course koi. How can you not have the koi? Got some nice pics of the koi swimming among the water lilies.

Spent a couple hours there.This is a delightful surprise in the middle of the city. It is so well planned, with grace and beauty.
The cafe with a musician was a treat.

Lan Su Chinese Garden was just beautiful. From the moment I stepped through the entrance I felt the calmness. The walkways were pavers with moss between each one. Everywhere you looked was beauty. There were many places to just sit and watch, or close your eyes and meditate. We enjoyed refreshments in the tea garden. It was just lovely. They serve Tao of Tea there, which I believe is made in Portland. There are so many flavors! You can also purchase teas and other tea related items.
The koi in the ponds were huge and, of course, hungry! Everywhere you looked was beauty. Of course there is a gift shop. But the prices were easy on the pocketbook. I pick up some Christmas gifts there and some little things for the grand kids. Overall a very well spent few hours.

amazing garden in the center of the old city. We loved learning about the creation and seeing the history and visiting the tea house and enjoying the views. It is in a terrible area of the city where the homeless and drug dealers have taken over.

Small, inner city garden with lots of interesting structures. Feels like a home in old China. Very well maintained with excellent ponds and interesting stone work.

The Lan Su Chinese Garden is well worth a visit. The gardens and architecture are beautiful providing a serene space in the middle of Old Town Chinatown. Take some time to enjoy the subtle beauty and walk away refreshed. Enjoy!

Very nice garden in the middle of the city. You can have a cup of tea and tasty snacks at the tea house. Peaceful ambiance, flower smell, 👌

I live in Portland but I still come here often and always bring my out of town guests. I have been to Chinese gardens in China and Vancouver, BC. Portland’s Garden is authentic, well done and well curated. Take the tour.

We spent a vacation in Portland and were surprised to find that this was our 8 year old's favorite spot. When asked, he said because it was "so relaxing."
It's set up like a wealthy Chinese official's home, breaking nature into the home complex of buildings.
There is a tea room - be sure to try this. We were surprised how much the horse beans tasted like chestnuts, and we all enjoyed trying different kinds of tea.

Very nice to visit, it’s small place but it’s worth to visit you will enjoy, very good maintained and you will get free coffee in the entrance

Not in the same class as the Japanese Village nor as much value for the price of admission. In addition, the surrounding neighborhood is sketchy.

We went here right after we landed in Portland. It was so beautiful and helped me to slow down in my mind from the busyness of my daily life to the vacation my wife and i were about to embark on. A wonderful experience.

After a busy day of sightseeing, a stop at the Lan Su Chinese Garden offers a nice stop to enjoy a peaceful and serene breather surrounded by water and nature.

We saw many people in the area where the park is situated that are not really good natured people with roof over their head. Park itself is ok. It is in bad area.

Beautiful place to enjoy the Chinese artistry in a Garden. The Tea House is not to be missed & you can properly learn how to pour tea. Plus if you go on a Thursday you can enjoy instructions on Tai Chi. A beautiful setting in a busy city.

We had not previously visited this garden, but had visited the Chinese Garden in Vancouver, BC. This garden is located in the heart of Portland not far from the waterfront. It encompasses a city block and is amazing tranquil given its location. It was raining the day we visited and the weather did not add to our enjoyment. We spent about forty-five minutes to walk through the garden. My wife was probably more impressed that I. I prefer the Japanese style gardens. You need to judge for yourself.

This garden is astonishingly beautiful and peaceful. The tours are interesting and engaging. The serene setting is a breath of fresh air and soothing water... in fact, I learned that Feng Shui means air and water while at this garden!

We visited the Chinese Garden. We parked right outside mid-day without too much trouble and then just used the parking app. There were lots of homeless in the area surrounding. The gardens inside were beautiful. We stopped in the tea house, for tea, sticky buns, won tons, almond cookies and moon cake. All were wonderful, especially with my rose tea. Then we went to another area that had calligraphy and drawing demonstrations. We stayed to watch and we got to take home a drawing.

This was my favorite place to see in Portland. I've been to Chinese gardens in China and this was no different! Very authentic and full of cultural elements that you'd normally only find in China. More enjoyable than the Japanese Garden in my opinion - it's more accessible, more efficient to walk through, and has more educational aspects. Plus it's a lower price so if I had to choose again between this place and the Japanese garden I'd choose this place.

So pretty and restful. Water and plants plenty of spots to meditate. Amazingly quiet for right downtown.

This traditional Chinese garden was made by artisans who came over from China
It is very welcoming.
Lots of shade and places to sit. There was a breeze even in 90 degree weather.
Great place to spend an afternoon

Beautiful gardens and ponds created in China, then shipped to/assembled in Portland. The craftmanship of the various materials and plants installed was incredible, as is the maintenance and care of the garden. Very tranquil.

Although it is small, we could have spent several hours enjoying the quiet, serene garden. It should be on every tour of downtown Portland. We had tea in the garden and enjoyed the calm environment. The stone pathways are incredibly beautiful.

We were a little concerned about the number of homeless people in the area, although they seemed peaceful enough. In any case, we parked our car on the street and had no issues.
The garden itself was lovely. We actually liked it more than the Japanese gardens. The gardens take up a full city block and had lots of colorful buildings, beautiful flowers and nice ponds.
Recommended.

This beautiful garden has something to offer in every season. Much of the area has covered walkways so even if it’s raining you will be comfortable. You can gaze at the koi, relax and take in the view, or even read a book in the many different tucked away places. The BEST part of the garden though is the tea house! The staff are kind and knowledgeable l, the menu is full of tasty options, and I’ve never felt rushed out. Truly a respite and gem in the city

We visited while we were waiting to get into our hotel. It's really pretty and worth spending some time here. It's very peaceful and there are places where you can sit and relax.
The area nearby isn't the greatest but worth visiting if you're in Portland.

Key is to go at the right time when the gardens are blooming. But even if not, take the guided tour and you will learn much about what to look for in a Chinese Garden that you would otherwise not know if left on your own. I enjoyed it as a way to pass a few hours, but again, if the flowers are blooming, it will be nicer. The Koi fish are beautiful, and again, take the guided tour and don't run through it.....look, listen and feel......

We visited Lan Su Chinese Gardens the morning before our conference began. We took a LYFT ride into town, across the bridge from our Hotel Eastlund, and amongst the chaos of the homeless meandering around in a drug daze, or in hysterics as they are having visions and hearing voices, it was a frightening journey to these gardens, but once we were there, it was as though we were in another world. The front gate is locked and you'll have to be let in, as again, sadly it is located in a complicated area of Portland (though everyone would probably say all of Portland is complicated from what I've researched and heard from the locals). But Lan Su Chinese Garden is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful. Take your time, walk through slowly, take a moment to meditate, take a breathe before you go back into that city, because this is the only place you'll find peace for a few miles out. A must see and well worth the trip. You'll also find some beautiful original paintings on display. A terrific experience. I didn't want to leave.

This tranquil gem of a garden in downtown Portland is a beautiful oasis in which to spend a few hours. This garden is one city block in the Chinatown part of the city. Unfortunately there are a lot of homeless on the streets of Chinatown but there is a locked gate for paid entrance into the garden. Once inside it is very clean and safe. The koi ponds, lotus and water lilies and stunning, as are the numerous Chinese walls and buildings. I was surprised by all the ancient bonsai placed around the garden and the weather worn limestone Taihu rocks from Lake Tai in China. Even some walking paths are patterns made from stone mosaics. Around every corner is something to surprise and delight you! Waterfalls! A tea house, a “scholars garden”…. Every inch was thoughtfully planned and executed. I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon here.

The rating here is one of the most unjustified one I have EVER seen. To start off the overall place is TINY. There is not alot to see here and what they do have is not that impressive. A waste of money at any price

We were completely het lagged and had to keep awake. Found this place while walking aimlessly in the streets if Portland. We came in for a few minutes but stayed there for a couple of hours.
This is a beautiful gem. Quiet and serene. Full of colors with a lit if hidden places to sit and reflect. It was quite busy but you don't really feel it. It's like you have the place for yourself.
When you come in you get a map with good explanations and can also grab an atlas of the different plants and flowers. We used it very easily and it was a nice touch.
We had tea in the small tea room watching the pond. It was lovely and you should definitely not miss this.

You can get list there. So just left yourself for a few hours. It will be worth it. I promise.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Peaceful, Beautiful Escape in the Heart of the City

Lan Su Chinese Garden is a stunning retreat from the noise and energy of the city just beyond its walls. It up a whole city block. Once you step inside, the atmosphere shifts completely—tranquil, balanced, and deeply immersive. It’s hard to believe you’re still in downtown Portland.

Built 25 years ago with materials, stones, sculptures, and architectural details brought directly from China, the garden feels incredibly authentic. One of the guides explained that it’s modeled after a private scholar’s garden that might have been gifted to a lord by the emperor—adding even more meaning to the experience.

The layout, from the water features to the intricate stonework and pavilions, is beautifully done and clearly well-maintained. It took us about 25 to 45 minutes to walk through, but we easily could have gone around again or sat longer to soak it all in. There’s also a fully functioning teahouse on-site, which adds to the calm and cultural depth of the visit.

If you’re in Portland, don’t miss this. It’s a peaceful, enriching place to slow down and appreciate craftsmanship, nature, and history. One of the highlights of our trip—I recommend it wholeheartedly.

The good is it was a pretty little garden. The tea house fills up, but we still were able to get a table with a view of the koi pond. Service was quick and we enjoyed the food and tea. They had a few displays of artist and little vignettes around the pond to sit.
I chose this over the Japanese Garden because it was closer to a few places I wanted to see, and it was downtown about 20 minutes from our rental. I also chose it because it was raved about and one review, I got from my apple maps preferred this over the Japanese. It's sad to think how much the reviewer was paid to write that article because we were disappointed. This was also our very first stop after getting off the plan. (We had to wait for check in so why not knock out some sightseeing!)
It was a shock to see the environment around the garden. I know they can't control what's on the other side of the fence, but it was crazy sad. Come to find out China town is one of the worst sides of town in Portland. I was literally worried to park our car a block away especially with all of our luggage. We didn't encounter anything personally but its where the homeless have set up camp, so you do see a lot of vagrants hanging out in the parking lot, sleeping on the street, or having an episode in the middle of the intersection.
On top of that it cost $28 per person, and we walked through the entire garden in about 30 minutes. Having tea and a snack killed time and we ran into a tour group, so we tagged along for a few minutes to get some info. (That was worth it! defiantly do the tour! We didn't know they even had one!) Overall, I chopped the cost up to my first tourist trap and it helped to support the garden, but it was maybe worth $15/person at most. I never had time to see the Japanese garden and I regretted it the minute I started looking for parking. I should have kept driving.
The staff was super nice though. If you have time to kill and happen to be in the area, then sure take a look. If you're like me and have a limited amount to time to see as much as possible go to the Japanese Gardens and visit the rose test garden next door.

While the Japanese Garden seems to get all the love, my bid is on the Chinese Garden. It's a hidden oasis right in the heart of downtown Portland. I love how it's tucked in between high-rise buildings, yet it's so quiet and peaceful. I've been there a number of times, and there's always something new and interesting to see. If possible, try to get in a group tour with a docent. They're all super knowledgeable and will fill you in on many details you may not otherwise notice. Make sure to plan time to stop into the tea house for a bite, as well. Don't miss this special Portland gem!

Spanning one city block in the middle of the city is this walled garden oasis. Beautifully finished by artisans from Portland's sister city Suzhou in China, during the the year 2000. Most of the plants shown are indigenous to China. Large Koi and their off spring are numerous throughout the ponds. Many areas to sit and contemplate this stunning garden. Relax and enjoy tea, sweets and light snacks in the two story tea house. At the end of your visit of course there is a gift shop when you exit.

Step into a lovely landscape within downtown Portland. Graceful architecture and foliage combined, allowing reflection and admiration of the resources of the culture and people who are able to bring such beauty to Oregon. Definitely worth a visit. To avoid crowds and better your enjoyment, you might want to go during the week.

We walked here from our hotel-very accessible. It was very nicely done, and a good spot to take photos. Unfortunately we missed the tea room, which would have been a nice rest and a warm break from the chill

This was very small. Preferred Japanese Garden much better. They do have a charming tea house that looked fun but we were not in mood for that. Perhaps it would have been more enjoyable if we took the free tour, but timing was not right

I have thought about visiting this garden for years, and today I finally did it. I was looking for contrast - an oasis of zen located near the gritty streets of Portland’s Chinatown - and I wasn’t disappointed. This was a pandemic visit, so masks and social distancing are the norm, but the garden was beautiful and peaceful. They had it timed so that one would spend an hour in the garden after paying admission. An hour was about the right amount of time here and included some tasty hum baos in the tea room. Leaving the garden I was confronted again with homeless tents and city grit but for an hour I was in a magical garden.

Several takeaways:

1) If you can, take a free tour conducted by volunteers. It really adds to the experience. Our tour was led by a retired East Asian history professor who pointed out things we otherwise would have missed and answered questions galore.

2) Don't hesitate to go if it's raining. Most of the paths are covered.

3) Even if you don't like tea, the tea garden has excellent Chinese pastry, too.

4) If the entry gate is locked, ring the bell. The locked gate protects the garden from folks who wander in.

All-in-all, a gem in the inner city.

In fairness, we've been to China so this venue didn't wow us, but we absolutely think it's worth visiting. It's very lovely

It is indeed a treasure. We did the tour. Our guide, Marta is a treasure as well. She has lived in China and gave meaningful information on the tour with wonderful storytelling, and history. The landscaping is spiritual, peaceful and as their brochure describes "helps us to escape the problems of everyday life while being inspiring". True "poetry-engaging all your senses".
The architecture, combined with the water, plants, amazing Tai rocks, the koi fish, all allow one to slow down and meditate and contemplate. Absolutely loved this experience. We finished our time in the garden at the Tea House enjoying tea and almond cookies.

The Lan Su Chinese Garden is an oasis in the middle of Portland. It will transport you to another place and culture. Your mood will change as will you knowledge of Chinese Gardens and the Chinese culture. You can do this as a self guided tour or wait for a volunteer guide. Do not leave without having some Tea in the tea House!

Decided to check out the lan su chinese garden after being recommended by my tour guide. It is quite small, the size of a block and there is a small tea house inside. The ticket price in my opinion is quite expensive at 16usd. I was told it was all designed and built in china and brought over to portland to be constructed. It is a nice place for a stroll and be surrounded by tranquility in the city.

Lan Su is small and authentic. There are free guided tours everyday; is also a pleasant place to spend an hour. The tea house is nice with wonderful teas and traditional food, although the seating is not comfortable for older visitors like my mom.

We had some time to kill and were in the neighborhood. It was really cold outside and because it was winter, nothing was blooming. The garden is interesting. I especially enjoyed the different stone pathways throughout the garden.

This garden built by Chinese craftsmen many decades ago is a wonder. It occupies the better part of a city block and is a series of interconnected buildings grouped around ponds with shaped vegetation. The carefully planned viewpoints and finely built buildinds are a delight.

This is a beautiful park and great place to visit. Well worth the price of admission. There are beautiful plants, ponds with fish, architecture, artwork, and more. Nice way to learn a little about Chinese history and culture. We also enjoyed visiting the tea house and doing a tea ceremony. Fun and educational.

If you can , take an informative tour of the garden to help you understand the philosophy behind the design. Areas represent stages of medition and insight, windows represent the ability to reflect upon life from various perspectives. The tea house is a unique experience . this is not a place to visit and rush but rather to be sipped and savored

There are group tours with a tour guide, or you can just walk around and read the written information on the wall or with a tour pamphlet. My friends had lived in China, and were thrilled with the garden.

The Chinese Gardens were beautiful and peaceful, even in February. My teenage daughter and I visited the gardens and had tea and light meals at the Teahouse. We wished that we had more time to relax in the gardens but they closed at 4. Give yourself at least 3 hours to enjoy the views, learning, and tea.

This one is better than the Japanese Garden. The tour guide is very nice and informative, the garden is pretty and open. Nice cafe with a view. Highly recommended. The reason I did not give 5 stars because it's small for the price. I'm used to with large garden in greater Los Angeles with lower price.

What a treasure Lan Su Chinese Garden is. We had a wonderful tour with Charlie. He was illuminating in so many ways. So serene and peaceful.

As soon as you step inside this place you forget you are in the middle of a city! it was so peaceful and quiet. Beautifully laid out and maintained gardens and so many different colours and sizes of koi!

The Chinese Garden, near downtown Portland, offers a brilliant respite from the hectic city. There is a beautiful lake in the center, and we even got to do Tai Chi Tuan there, with a master in attendance (that was pure serendipity!). There is a wonderful cafe with exquisite delicacies for a light lunch. Wonder displays throughout the garden, and some interesting hands-on activities.

I visited during their mums displays. Very creative flower arrangements. Always a great place to meditate.

So enjoyed the quiet ambiance, the unusual and ancient rocks. Had tea and cookies overlooking vista's created to draw one into nature.

I really enjoyed the space with all its history and knowing real Chinese artisans came over to build it. It’s right in the heart of the city...an oasis.

We really enjoyed the aesthetically pleasing layout of the garden - beyond the koi pond and bridges - the stone floor and intricately carved woodwork enhanced the overall experience. Great spit to spend an hour or so

I definitely recommend this place! It was so beautiful and so relaxing to walk around. It was a quick activity but nonetheless, would recommend.

I thought visiting Chinese Rose Harden in Portland city tour was a complete waste of time! I would go to China/ Asia if I wanted to see a glimpse of Asia, how and why is this an integral part of Portland is beyond me.
Serence calm place but again Im here to see portland at its weirdest, not Chinatown.

Being at a conference in Portland is very interesting. During breaks I visited this splendid Chinese garden. There are no words to describe it: it's a little paradise in the middle of the city. With attention to every detail, it really makes you feel China. Absolutely not to be missed!!

The Lan Su Chinese Garden was the first thing we saw after landing in Portland (Aug 2019). We first stumbled upon a free tai chi class taking place, which was a really special memory. We then took the 45 min guided tour with the docent, which really explains everything and brings it all alive -- I highly recommend it. You will see a moon gate, a pond with water lilies, a ziz-zag bridge, tea house and more.

After touring the gardens, we went in the tea house for tea and a moon cake, looking over the gardens.

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The garden is very small but is as authentic as you can get for a Chinese (Ming Dynasty style) Garden. In order to appreciate its beauty, I'd recommend that visitors do some research on the history of the Ming Dynasty and the style of gardens in that period. Otherwise, unless they enjoys anything new and different like me, they might end up being disappointed.

Any time of year you are visiting Portland, you won't want to miss Lan Su! Many times they will have activities you can participate in that are free with your admission. But, it really is a haven right in the middle of the city. BRING YOUR CAMERA! Great photo ops at every corner.

I will say, as a native Oregonian, that area of Portland has gotten sketchy over the years, so don't be shocked when you see folks who live outside around that area. Parking can be a bit of a challenge, too, but I've always found a decent spot within walking distance. OR, take a Lyft or something like that and you won't have to worry about it!

This was a return visit, so I knew I woud like ti, but since lunar new year was coming they had special exhibits. dragons and many lanterns. The rocks that make up he special gardens and water features are great. The houses are wonderfully done. It is all amazing for a mid-size city that had an earlier history of discrimination and somehow still has a substantial Asian population. It has something ot do with their sister city Suzhou, in China.

Tranquil, beautiful and educational.....a do not miss when in Portland...I always visit when in the city

On a chilly day in November, my adult daughter and I visited the Lan Su Chinese Garden (the Garden of Awakening Orchids). A few years before, we had visited this garden, and it was a pleasure to do so again. This garden is patterned after a classical Chinese garden, The Humble Administrator's Garden, which is in Portland's sister city of Suzhou, China.

We were just in time to join a small group for a free tour. The tour guide was excellent. He was knowledgeable about the history of the garden, the plants on the grounds, and the architecture. The tour took about an hour.

Afterward, we decided to visit the teahouse, which we had not done before. The guide had said that the best view of the grounds was to be had from its second story. This was certainly true; as we took a seat at a table by the windows, we could see the lovely grounds, especially the koi pond, spread out below us. However, if you want to view the grounds from the teahouse windows, you must remain standing. Otherwise, you have a very nice view of tree branches and the sky.

At the teahouse, we ordered two kinds of tea (bamboo leaf "tea" and charcoal oolong tea), and snacks to share: a small mooncake filled with red bean paste, almond cookies, and edamame ("mao do"). We sat and savored our teas and food while we chatted. As our teapots emptied, the waitress came by to fill them again. The price for this small repast was quite reasonable: $23.00.

The admission price to the garden is also quite reasonable. For adults, the total was $20.00.

This delightful garden is a place that we will visit again and again in the years to come.

We had a fantastic experience! The entry is gated to ensure the privacy of visitors and we noticed a policeman not far away. Looks like they have solved any disturbances noted in the past. The entire area throughout the Garden is in excellent condition. Quite beautiful! We took one of the hourly tours and our guide, a woman in her 70s or more, was unbelievably knowledgeable and thoroughly interesting. You do not need to be a China scholar to enjoy the tour. We definitely will return and bring our friends.

There are several Chinese artifacts in art as well as interesting landscape. A tea house with Chinese food is a nice stopping off place. Be careful as this is a rough area one block away.

Worth it only if you have a history of Chinese culture or you take the free guided tour. Highly recommend the guided tour. Lucinda does a wonderful job!!
On the other hand, this garden oasis is surrounded by the homeless and a super sketchy area. You actually have to get buzzed in (security gate) by the Garden staff. As a solo woman traveler, I made it there from downtown, but was definitely not prepared to head back the same way alone. It truly freaked me out.

Lovely Chinese gardens with a really nice tea house.
I took a self guided tour through the gardens, when they opened. It was total serenity and beauty all at once. I wish I could have stayed longer because their are so many little nooks to explore. Also they provide daily tours, if you would like more information.
The area around does have some homeless around, but don’t let that stop you. Go in the morning to take in its glory and have a morning tea & snack.

Not to mislead travelers this rating is a mixture of our overall experience around and within the gardens. The gardens I rate 4, the surroundings 1.
The gardens are really beautiful and authentic, I've been all over China so I can tell. Once inside it was really a pleasure to spend some relaxing time within it in tranquility.
However, the surroundings are catastrophic, I was even arguing with my wife and daughter who didn't want to walk the area.
It's the Homeless habitat with sidewalk tents, individuals lying, zombie like creatures walking around, yelling, drug using, etc....
Later during the day, we saw it all around downtown and refrained from walking the streets again.
I am really shocked with City officials allowing that and I'm positive this business as well many others all over Portland are suffering because of that.

Lovely and peaceful experience. Not only gorgeous displays of art, architecture, and botany, but a really good tearoom as well. Well worth the trip.

Walked through this garden and buildings on a warm August day, and I truly don't think I could have done anything better that day. The garden is beautiful, with facts and stories layered on every object, waiting to be told. Do yourself a favor and go with a group that has a Guide. They are all fabulous, and they have wonderfully informative answers for any questions. There's a small restaurant, but it's very crowded much of the time. They don't mind if you bring a snack and read, paint, daydream, knit, or just spend your day looking at everything there is to see.

Absolutely breathtaking. The Lan Su Chinese Garden is like stepping into another world right in the heart of Portland. Every detail — from the koi ponds to the intricate stone pathways and traditional architecture — feels peaceful and intentional. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and you can really feel the authenticity and care that went into building and maintaining this space.
It’s the perfect spot to slow down, take photos, or just clear your mind for a while. The tea house inside is also a gem — relaxing atmosphere, amazing teas, and beautiful views of the garden. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, this place is a must-see. Truly one of Portland’s hidden treasures.

Had to walk over homeless people to get to the garden. Another experience in Portland ruined garbage, homeless tents, etc.

We enjoyed visiting this lovely garden and buildings in the middle of Portland. The architecture and gardens were lovely.

This garden is a treasure - pure and simple! We joined a few months ago and attended a few events including an evening concert in August 18. Food at the little restaurant is "ok" thought most items aren't our "cup of tea" (pun intended). Art work and offerings for members is stellar. If you haven't visited and are close enough to drive there, go!

Well worth a visit, particularly if you are lucky enough to hear one of the staff giving a guided tour (which she was happy to let me and a few others join). Very tranquil stop.

This island of urban serenity is just a short walk from the Old Town/Chinatown stop on both the Red and Blue MAX light rail lines. Its name is a mash-up of syllables from Portland and its Chinese sister city, Suzhou. Interestingly, “lan” in Chinese means “orchid” and “su” means “arise” or “awaken” so an expressive interpretation of the name might be “Garden of Awakening Orchids.” The number of different vistas in this compact space (just a single city block!) is simply amazing! Once inside the garden walls, it is easy to forget you are in the heart of the city. We found a comparison of the Japanese and Chinese gardens fascinating. Japanese gardens tend to be more for appreciating from a distance, much as one would a work of art, while Chinese gardens tend to be more engaging environments, designed for enjoying with others. Daily guided tours, included in the price of admission, are indispensable for appreciating the way Lan Su Chinese Garden incorporates the elements of water, stone, plants and architecture to reflect the Taoist principle of the balancing forces of yin (shade/shadow) and yang (sunny/light).

A little oasis in a very run down and empty china town . Well worth a visit as the buildings are lovely and the tea room worth a visit.

We visit many Chinese and Japanese gardens throughout the country and in China and Japan. You will feel you have stepped over the ocean and have been transported into a gem enclosed in the walls of ancient China. The foliage, flowers, plants, rocks, stones and more have been painstakingly and delicately arranged as a story, a tale of a garden. Lan Su is a mixture of the names Portland, Oregon and Suzhou, China - Sister cities. Themes such as Scholars Courtyard, Court of Tranquility, Hall of Brocade Clouds, Fish Pavilion, and Tower of Cosmic Reflections await you. Spend an hour or most of your day in this blissful oasis. Do not miss the tea house where you can sample delicious teas and sumptuous dishes and desserts.

This is a must do in my book. I was very happy that we went to this attraction while in Portland. It was just stunning.

This Chinese Shangri-La garden of sorts, but just amazing. In the middle of the city, you can escape into a different place and forget the world around you. Each section of the garden had something different and spectacular to see. It is landscaped to perfection with every detail giving you a full feel of being in a true Chinese garden.

While there, make sure you visit the Teahouse operated by the Tao of Tea. The teas are amazing along with the light bites to eat and everything is presented so elegantly in a very relaxing environment that really helps you get you Zen on. It is also very affordable.

This attraction does offer a AAA discount, so don't forget to ask for it if you are a member. I would go early when they first open to avoid the crowds. There are docents on hand that give walking tours if you prefer or just walk around on your own with their guide map.

We were there to celebrate Chinese New Years. They had a dragon ceremony, which was beautiful and fascinating. But we were there during a quieter time and were able to enjoy the tranquility of the space. There is a lagoon with a traditional bridge as well as several "rooms" to explore. The Garden covers one complete city block. There is also a tea house to enjoy. The Garden is beautiful in every season and there is usually some demonstration or art exhibit going on.

I knew these gardens were small before I visited, but the posted pictures depicted such beauty in the architecture and grounds, I decided to visit, anyway. Entry costs $11, which seems a bit steep for such a small place, but it's more than just gardens.

When you enter, a docent briefly explains the layout and hands you a brochure of information. The docent is proud of the gardens and excited to answer any questions guests have.

I really appreciated the brochure, which focuses on the construction and purpose behind the more unique aspects of the garden, as well as how the recurring themes of the power of nature, reflection, balance, harmony, and tranquility are represented throughout the gardens.

I also enjoyed the few small cultural exhibits inside the houses. One house contained paintings and a few Chinese porcelain pieces, another house contained exhibits about the history of the Chinese Silk Road and silkworms, a different house contained Chinese chairs, desks, and trunks. Although only a few items were in each house, I found it interesting and spent double the time here than the 45 minutes I'd planned.

I did pop into the Tea House and was surprised to find such a variety of natural teas. There were also a few food items on the other side of the menu. What I didn't like about the Tea House was that it was enclosed by walls of dark wood, so it felt small... even depressing. The shutters were all closed and the windows were too high (once seated) to see much of anything outside. I find it odd that it wasn't more of an open-air patio with a better view of the gardens...

Now, I like tea, but I do not know a sophisticated tea from a chamomile, so I asked for the sweetest tea blend and the waiter brought the 8 Treasures Ba Bao Cha Tea with flowers, fruit, green tea, herbs, and rock sugar. It was delicious! Every tea is $5, made fresh, and steeps in a small teapot that fills 1.5 small teacups. You can have the teapot refilled with hot water if you wish. If I'd had more time, I definitely would've tried a few more blends.

The small gardens were only semi-crowded on at 5pm on a Saturday in July, but the talking and laughing was amplified within the high walls of the small compound, so I'd suggest going mid-week in the morning for a more tranquil experience. The obvious draw here is the bridge over the koi pond, as well as the small pavilion in front of the Tea House, and I waited a long time to try to get pictures of those without people in them. It was a futile effort.

But I spent more time just marveling at the architecture, from the individually placed stones in the walkways to the stylized dragons and drip tiles on the roofline. Every area reflected time and attention to detail.

If you just want to snap a few pretty pictures, you might be happier at the larger, and more tranquil, Japanese Gardens in Washington Park. I chose to come here because I wanted something different than another Japanese Garden. I feel like I found more focus on culture and fine architecture here in the Chinese Gardens.

Hope that helps. Enjoy Portland!

I love this beautiful garden tucked in the middle of the city. Lots to soothe the senses and tempt the eyes!

Fairly centrally located and easy to find in the often confusing Portland city streets, this beautiful and stunning garden is a breath of fresh air. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through pebble stone walkways, over bridges overlooking a coi pond and into some beautifully authentic structures. Don't forget to grab a bite to eat and enjoy a variety of teas in the tea room. A Portland must see!

Good place to relax and enjoy the setting. The self-guided tour was perfect with a smartphone. Remember to buy tickets online prior to showing up to ensure admission.

This garden is set up as a home and is meticulously laid out and cared for. The koi pond is in the center and there’s much to see all around, including art exhibits in some of the buildings, and also apparently performances, although none while I visited. Dragonflies abound, and the water lilies and lotuses were especially beautiful (and in bloom when I visited). There is a lovely tea room that’s worth a visit as well.

Surprising discovery in downtown Portland. Well done Chinese garden with peaceful ponds to wander through.

I think this garden is really like the one I visited in Jiangsu province 4 years ago, but this one is much smaller. I tried the mooncake in the tea house, really good.

Lan Su Chinese Garden is only about a block or so in size but my husband and I spent over 2 hours there. If you can time your visit to get a tour, it is probably worth it. We got there too early for the first tour so we downloaded the audio tour on our phones and listened while we wandered around. We were able to stop and start the audio in order to take more time at each stop. The tea house near the end of the tour is very nice. We each got a cup of tea and sat at a table enjoying the serenity of the garden. This is a must see attraction. We almost missed it in our searches of what to do in Portland.

A fantastic experience. Some colors can be added here:

Portland became sister cities with both a Japanese city and a Chinese city(Suzhou). So you can see Japanese garden and Chinese Garden here.

The mayor of Suzhou(Deming Chen)decided that so it only took 10-14 months for this project(depends on measurement). It is inevitably related to politics but it really helps spread Chinese authentic culture (Scholar/elite lifestyle, spirits, architecture, tea) vs some fakers(Shenyun is everyone but there is no real historical stories backing it…)

I actually wish there could be sister cities so people know each others cultures better. Stereotypes really create biased impressions and make things look ridiculous.

It is hard to believe you are on the city when you enter the Alan Su Chinese Garden. The space is peaceful and a beautiful sight. It engages all your senses. There were a couple of demonstrations while we were there and it was very informative. Be prepared to spend a pleasant couple of hours here.

This Chinese Garden is well worth the visit. We took the tour which was included in the ticket price and the narrator was fabulous.

Knowledgeable tour guide, lovely gardens. Fun to watch the huge koi. Great selection of authentic teas in the tea room with nice live music Traffic noise if very noticeable, even on a quiet Sunday.

It was a typical raining and fairly cold day in Portland so we chose to do the gardens then when we hoped it would be less crowded. It was a great idea. We were able to leisurely walk through and enjoy taking pictures, looking at the buildings and artwork and learning more about the gardens in an relaxing manner. They are well maintained, the tea house was very popular and the art work was beautiful. The staff are very friendly

I realllly wanted to enjoy this place, but it was just meh for me. I found street parking and mind you, this isn’t in the most safest of places. Lots of transients walking around. So be mindful.
We came on a Wednesday and we were literally the only ones in the garden. I booked on-line so it was easy just saying my last name and gaining entrance. The garden is surrounded by buildings as it is in downtown/Chinatown so that took away from the setting. They do the best they can. There was construction noise on the street that runs along the gardens which defeated the purpose of a mindful morning. Not their fault, albeit I would have had the gardens in a much quieter neighborhood like where the Japanese gardens is.
We opted out of the free tour and paced ourselves. The garden is not big, but having no guide I am certain we missed out on lots of information. We also did not enter the cafe as I heard they just give you tea bags. No thank you. My suggestion would be to pipe in Chinese instrumental music to drown out the noise of construction and cars.
The gals in front were friendly and willing to chat, I guess I was expecting Asian staff (not being racist) and not a predominantly Caucasian one in discussing the Chinese gardens This was not worth the entrance fee nor was looking for parking in a seedy neighborhood with my kid.

We went early on a Sunday morning and there were no lines or crowds. Very beautiful place to relax and reflect. Excellent tea service with knowledgeable staff. Excellent place to take pictures.

We stayed in the Pearl district which was a 10 minute walk to the gardens. Unfortunately, you have to walk by many homeless people. The price is very reasonable to spend time here in beautifully kept gardens. Be sure to get the pamphlet that explains what you are walking through and seeing. They have guides walking throughout which you can talk to about what you are seeing. Spending about 1 hour here is sufficient.

I was a member for several years when we lived in PDX...usually visit the garden when we visit PDX It has a lovely tea shop that serves wonderful small plates. Often special events and music. a must see

This garden was smaller, but the buildings had more detail. Overall, it was ok for me. I give it a lower rating because of this: The tea house has some good food and we we’re really looking forward to the music but what was really weird was that the woman’s cell phone rang while she was playing and then she just stopped and took the call. Real mood killer.

We stopped in here to visit as we are Chinese and found this interesting. Unfortunately, we just visited the Japanese Gardens which are way better. Not much to do here except snap a few photos.

Every time we are in Portland I visit these gardens. I enjoy the special attention to Chinese gardens and buildings. My favorite activity is to have tea at the tea house. It is easy to see even if you do not have a lot of time
Any season is interesting and enjoyable.

I wandered by this place last time and thought it looked small. But decided to visit with some time on our hands after an appointment was cancelled. Somtimes good things come in small packages. Everything fits so well together. Would like to come back and see the place in different seasons.

While the garden itself is charming, the surrounding area is so scary and unsafe. Homeless people doing drugs are everywhere and feel very menacing. It made me nervous to park my car and walk in. What is going on with the city of Portland that they allow people to be openly shooting up drugs and acting aggressive near their tourist attractions.

Tucked away in Chinatown and near downtown Pearl District it has a distinct other world charm.The 10 $ entrance fee is worth it after a tiring day of shopping and a food cart meal. Though small it is deeply meditative and relaxing to simply sit there and watch the garden and the quaint Chinese pagodas. It transports you into a different era. Spend at least an hour there to experience its ambience. Don't forget to pick your fortune stick that predicts your future. Closes at 7 pm.

My husband and I stopped here during our trip to Portland and he enjoyed this garden more than the Japanese Garden. It's very small but tranquil given it is in Chinatown in downtown Portland. The grounds are very lovingly maintained and while there were others also touring the garden with us, we never felt crowded or rushed. The tea house was a very peaceful spot to unwind with delicious almond cookies, mooncakes, and teas. A must for people who just want a little beauty and peace in the city.

Tucked away in the old town part of Portland this lovingly created Chinese tea garden is a thing to behold. I have been lucky enough to visit China itself and this place really does do it justice. The buildings, gardens, reflective pools are all amazing and the tea garden cafe is worth a stop, great green tea, sake, and pan fried dumplings

Chinese philosopher-aristocracy over five millennia have refined the urban walled garden into microcosmic vistas on the most awe-inspiring features of the natural world, using spaces that look through screens or framed windows into other worlds, beautiful landscaping all year round, philosopher rocks, ponds, koi. Participate in complimentary tai chi, sip tea. I often re-visit. If you take Amtrak or TriMet or the MAX, it is a convenientcouple of block's walk from the station. Student price offered.

This garden is a tranquil spot in the middle of downtown Portland. While small, the garden is beautifully kept and a lovely to explore. We spent less than an hour, but enjoyed our time there.

If you are looking for a slice of heaven and want to recharge this is the destination for you. A must see in Portland. So much more than a garden.

Zen serenity in the heart of Portland, who knew? There's not a whole lot to see here, but what you do see is beautiful and poetic.

Our flight arrived in Portland a bit after noon on a Sunday. After picking up our rental car, this was our first stop, mostly as we were not as concerned with crowds here vs. some other places we wanted to see (the International Rose Test Garden, for instance). Parking was just on-street, though this was easy to find. The garden covers a full city block within Portland's Chinatown area.

When we arrived (Maybe around 2:30 p.m.) the surrounding area seemed deserted, other than a homeless person walking down the middle of one street. The garden had a steady stream of visitors, though. Admission was around $15 per person.

There is a large central pond that has a few extensions out towards the perimeter walls. The garden is segmented into a number of courtyards, such that each one has a more private feel than the central area. There is a small pavilion built over one part of the pond and some bridges over other parts. There are also about 3 'tea house' type structures spread around the complex - one is the gift shop, one houses some artifacts and sometimes art demos, and the 3rd is an actual tea house.

I won't bother to look for or review that separately. Basically they have a limited menu of Chinese food like dumplings or buns, plus (of course) teas. We did get a snack here. They were doing a brisk business (with a few tables on the ground floor, a few out on a small patio, and a few upstairs from which you could see most of the gardens. It is a nice place to get something light to eat and spend a few minutes observing the gardens.

In terms of plants, they let you borrow a guide to look at as you walk through. There were a decent variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers throughout.

If you are in the mood for a relaxing and tranquil stroll this is a good bet.

Entering the Chinese Garden is a journey to another world. The meticulously crafted surroundings, with the high walls to block out the rest of the world, are a pleasure to experience. The tea house inside should not be missed, either.

Great experience in the heart of the city. The garden is absolutely beautiful. Walk around and look at all the amazing views. We enjoyed a tea at the tea house which I highly recommend. Take the time and visit this garden.

Rock work must see - extraordinary rock hand-laid flooring, worth it just to see the walking surfaces.

Beautiful, small, very doable for all ages and abilities, and best of all, FREE! Downtown - no tour needed...just walk through after breakfast or either side of lunch for a lovely and peaceful time in a big city. a wonderful place to experience the beauty of another culture, and to take a break from the briskness of life in a big city. A journal or computer for a short period of reflection - great place and atmosphere.

I stopped in for a walk through on a sunny day. Some flowers were starting to bloom and a gentleman shared several points of insight as I entered. The grounds are peaceful with so many interesting nooks and pockets. It's a value at $14 but I wish I was a local to enjoy an annual pass. They have a tea house offering tea and snacks.

What you REALLY need to know before you go: this is located in the heart of Portlands homeless and drug crisis. Across the street is Blanchet House of Hospitality. The garden sits on one square block. Two sides of the block are homeless camps, sketchy people clearly on drugs. I watched a man urinate on the sidewalk and another talking to the air. The garden has one entrance/exit that has armed police men in bulletproof vests. I don’t know if police are always there since I was supposed to go for the lantern festival. As a single mom with a young child with me we didn’t feel safe going. There is no parking lot or parking area near by. You will have to park several blocks away and walk by all the homeless and drugged out people. The surrounding area is equally as sketchy and I wouldn’t even feel comfortable leaving my car to be broken into or vandalized. What a shame. I’m sure the garden is lovely but who wants to risk their safe and well-being to go?

We have seen few other Chinese gardens to compare to this one. Montreal's botanical gardens contain a very large one; Fukushu-en in Naha, Okinawa is another that is well worth seeing. What sets this garden apart from the others is its overall integrity of architectural design, and its authenticity and sincerity of approach. We never miss this experience when in Portland. The Tao of Tea runs the tearoom and does a beautiful job with the tea selections. The docents are knowledgeable, but this time we just strolled and breathed in and out the extraordinary peace that this place embodies. The artwork that is on display and for sale is a real treat, and is not overpriced at all by our standards. Do not miss this garden if you love Asian culture--this is a very special place that will win your heart and clarify your mind. I am not making that up.

May wife and I enjoyed the guided tour. It takes roughly an hour. The guide was knowledgeable and a good presenter. My teenagers were not as excited.

A relaxing, welcomed space in the city but separated. The tea room is a delightful find within the gardens. Lots of teas to try and snacks.

Started with not enough change for the parking meter. Put in $1.00, but the meter said I put in $.50 - good for only 15 minutes. Went to Garden ticket entry asking for change. Lady said she couldn't give me change unless I bought a ticket. I said I can't buy a ticket until I get parking secured. Asked if there was a place close by to get change. She said "No". Not true. There was an adjoining vendor selling garden plants who was happy to give me change. I put $3.00 in the meter, now good for 1 ½ hours. I hoped that would be enough time to see the garden. My wife and I got tickets for $11.95 each. We toured the place in 10 minutes and were ready to leave. We went around again, taking an additional 10 minutes. Then we left after 20 minutes. About half of the sounds areas are covered with buildings of sorts. One washroom, ticket place and other open concept building with nothing to see inside of them. Over a couple of little bridges and we were out of there and on our way. What a waste of time and money. We still had over an hour left on our parking meter so wandered the local streets for another 20 minutes or so. Nothing but dilapidated buildings and lots of bums on the sidewalks. Obviously not the best part of town. The whole experience was depressing - and expensive for what we got out of it. Maybe you'll see something we didn't.

I have been there like 3 times in the last year, and always discover something new, a tree, a drawing, a detail in the walls or ceilings. It is a place full of nice little details than show the richness of the Chinese culture

It was alright. I've been to Japanese gardens, so maybe I'm a bit of a snob. First off, this is no fault to the gardens, but the homeless situation around the vicinity is just ridiculous. They weren't begging or anything, which is great, but just kind of an eyesore for the business and others. That aside my main beef was how small it was vs the cover charge. On the positive side, to have something nice like this in the city is great to see, and the employees seem very good and friendly.

This is in no way reflective of the gardens. The garden looks inviting from online photos, and I'm sure it is, but we could not safely visit. We drove past before they opened and had hoped to catch breakfast somewhere close (DimSum would have been ideal!) But, as we arrived, every building was boarded up, and there was a group of approximately 15 people actively shooting up across the street. I'm sure the gardens are lovely, but visitors should be aware of the surrounding areas. Maybe it would have been different mid-day, but for 9:30am, it was an intense scene.

Wonderfully recreated and so historically interesting. The grounds are amazing. Definitely recommend to put on your “must see” list! Would also recommend to take the tour!

Suggest you first walk around the garden just to get the feel and atmosphere. Then take the guided tour for the history and purpose. After that stop into the small tea room for a cup of tea and maybe a light snack. At least that’s what we did. The atmosphere is relaxing and very serene. Our docent was interesting and well versed on the garden. Questions were answered and there was no rush. The garden is inside a walled area covering about a city block. There is a small charge to get in no reservation required.

In the heart of Portland is a small jewel that teaches as much as it pleases the eye. Don't miss it!

What a peaceful meditative oasis! There is clearly some special energy here, transplanted by the artisans from Suzhou China who crafted the design and contents of this garden.

We especially loved the tea house with an impressive variety of teas and baked goods, with tables overlooking the picture perfect lake and garden. The gift shop is also well stocked with a wide variety of items.

I can totally see spending hours just quietly reading or soaking in the special special ambience of this meditative space.

What a wonderful little find in the middle of a bustling downtown. Gorgeous, calming, awe-inspiring.

We spent about one hour here on our first day in town. I'm so glad we visited.

Admission for the garden is pricey for what you get. I agree that there is a lot of history here, but it is a self guided tour and nothing is labeled. So you were left wondering what the names of the native trees were or there history. There is no staff on site when walking through to ask any questions. Ive been to many gardens throughout the US and this was by far the priciest with the least amount of viewing and information.

We were charmed by this beautiful garden built by the sister city to Portland in China. Lovely contemplative spaces, beautiful gardens, tea house.

Were not planning to stop in, but glad we did. We joined one of the docent let tours as we probably would not have learned as much on our own. Very nice walkways and gardens.

Rain or shine, the Lan Su Chinese Garden in a visual delight. While the basics remain the same -- the tea room, the Scholar's Room, the ponds, the koi -- the flowers and trees offer different colors each season. It's peaceful, informative, and a gem of a garden in the midst of a busy city!

This is a very tranquil retreat while spending time in Portland. The grounds are stunning, and there is a wonderful Dao of Tea Teahouse within the gardens. This location has totally different dishes and tea than some of the other locations and the upstairs overlooks gazebos and ponds and the fabulous gardens. Don't pass up an opportunity to visit these gardens!

Enjoyed this small garden. Love how it’s aged. Tea pavilion has a good selection, and service was excellent. An oasis in an overly urban setting. Admission seemed high at first but afterwards I felt it was worth helping to preserve this gem.

Beautiful mixture of architectural elements as well as plantings and lovely ponds. A wonderful place to just sit and read a book.

An unique and solitary garden of Eden in Portland gives one a place to ease the stress and aches of body and mind. Relax by the various secluded areas of meditation to reduce the pressures of the day or week. A slow pace will open the mind, heart and soul to clarity of thought and peaceful emotions of healing. Enjoy!

The place opened right on time. It was very well maintained, and they offered a lot of great sceneries if one wanted to take photos. Word of warning, if you are looking to take professional photos, they will ask you to rent the place, esp when doing a prenup. And it will be worth it because the place is very picturesque.

Our family stopped here when first arriving in Portland. Such an unexpected treat! Upon entering, they had a scavenger hunt for the kids which was super fun. Each item taught you a little about traditional Chinese culture. There are several areas throughout the gardens, each with a different feel and hand laid floor. So interesting and beautiful. We easily spent over an hour here looking, reading, spotting koi, and taking pictures. What a hidden gem in China town right in the middle of the city!

An oasis in the middle of the city. Beautiful gardens with an interesting assortment of plants. A great tea room, too.

I have been a member for years and visit the garden each time I am in the area which is twice per year. The plants, trees, flowers, walkway and bridges are authentic and totally beautiful. Each season has a different look but all lovely. After a slow stroll, I notice something new or inspiring, I end the visit in the tea house. The menu is small but it contains numerous tea flavors. I particularly enjoy the red bean moon cakes and rose petal black tea. I always purchase a little something in the cafe or gift shop. Do not miss this gem! Membership offers a guest pass, entrance fee and ten percent discount in shops. Love this place!

Nice oasis in a run down city. The tea house was very nice and there are freee tours offered every hour. Good for families and couples.

A must visit place when in Portland. Peaceful and good for the price Don’t forget to visit the Teashop when in there.

The garden is relatively small, the size of one city block, but is very nice and tranquil. You can have a guided tour there (free with admission) or just walk by yourself.