The Chinese Garden of Friendship is nestled at the south end of Darling harbour and a short walk from Chinatown. Entering the gardens is like walking backwards in time into the quiet solitude of ancient Chinese architecture and it's relationship with nature. The garden combines the elements of water, plants, stone and architecture.

Running water, towering willow trees, cool lagoons with lotus plants and large colorful fish all make this an idyllic spot to read a book or recharge your batteries. It really is something special. The gardens occupy several acres combining waterfalls, lakes, pavilions, sculpture and animals; the fish and the ibis.

The key features to look out for are the Courtyard of Welcoming Fragrance, Dragon Wall, Water Pavilion of Lotus Fragrance, Twin Pavilion, Gurr, Rock Forest, and the Penjing.

To enjoy the quiet serenity and overlook the gardens take time for a jasmine tea in the traditional Chinese Teahouse. Share crumbs from your plate with the confident sparrows that will almost feed from your hand.
Location: Chinese Gardens Darling Harbour Sydney Australia South End, Darling Harbour, near to the Sydney Entertainment Centre and adjacent to Chinatown.
How to Get There:
A 10-minute walk from Town Hall or Central Stations
By Light Rail get off at Haymarket Station.
Telephone: +61 2 9281 6863
Opening Hours: Daily 09:30 to 17:00 (closed from noon of 24 December and all day 25 December)
Services: Because of the stairs and rocky pathways access by wheelchair is difficult.
Website: Chinese Garden of Friendship
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Initiated by the local Chinese community to share their rich cultural heritage and celebrate Australia's 1988 Bicentenary, the Chinese Garden is the result of a close bond of friendship and cooperation between the sister cities of Sydney and Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, China.

The garden was designed and built by Chinese landscape architects and gardeners. Similar to every classical Chinese garden, traditional principles govern the use of four key elements of water, plants, stone and architecture. Together, these four elements combine to create perfect balance.

The art of Chinese garden design began in imperial parks during the Zhang dynasty 3000 years ago. Later they flourished on a smaller scale in the private gardens of China's rich and powerful. The Chinese Garden of Friendship at Darling Harbour is a scaled-down version of a typical private garden from this era.

Chinese gardens differ from western-style gardens in that there are no planted flowerbeds or manicured lawns. Instead, wild aspects of nature are recreated in artfully designed landscapes that feature waterfalls, mountains, lakes and forests.

Exploring a Chinese garden is a journey of discovery: there are many details to be observed and only a part of the garden is visible at a time. Follow the serpentine walkways as they lead you through private courtyards and traditional pagoda-style pavilions.