Lan Su Chinese Garden: Self-Guided Audio Tours
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appAudio tours on your smartphone
After purchase, you will receive the link to download the app to take this tour.
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With the in-app audio guide, you decide when to start, pause, and finish your tour.
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Top sights near Lan Su Chinese Garden
Welcome to the laid-back downtown Portland, Oregon! This in-app audio tour guides you west of the Willamette River, narrating the city's history as you pass by the emblematic bridges, coffee shops, craft beer breweries, and quaint urban spaces. The tour begins in the trendy Pearl District and Fields Park overlooking the second long tied-arch bridge in the world, the Fremont Bridge. From there, you will come to enjoy the artwork at the Jamison Square, famous for its wading fountain. Next, you will drop in the flagship Powell's Books, an iconic local bookstore with the concept of selling new and used ones. After that, you can line up for the off-the-wall treats at the legendary Voodoo Doughnut shop. The ornate Chinatown Gate will catch your eye on the way there. As you walk the riverside next, you will see the Burnside Bridge marking the border between north and south Portland. And then, observe the Hawthorne Bridge, an oldest highway bridge in the city. Back to downtown, you will stroll the majestic twelve-block South Park Blocks park. Passing by the Oregon Historical Society, you will discover the city's foundation plot and get a chance to witness the evidence on display inside if you like. To round up, you will take in the bustle of Portland’s Living Room, as they call the fun Pioneer Square, the most-visited urban site in Oregon. Join this tour to enjoy the unique cityscape and try to grasp the fabled weird vibe that Portlanders are proud of!
About Lan Su Chinese Garden
Our walking tour of downtown Portland takes place just a short distance from the Garden, so you can start or finish your tour by spending an hour or two at the Garden.
The Garden is open daily, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in winter and from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM in summer. The last entry is at 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM, respectively.
The Garden is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
The Garden can get somewhat busy, so we recommend visiting on weekday mornings or late afternoons. Also, seeing the Garden when it's raining is considered an exceptional experience, so don't let the weather discourage you - it is likely to be less crowded, and there's plenty of space to stay dry, look at the drops, and listen to the rain!
Opened in 2000 as part of the effort to revitalize the local area of the Old Town Chinatown, Lan Su Chinese Garden was inspired by many of the famous classical gardens in Suzhou, Portland's sister city (in fact, Su in its name represents Suzhou and Lan goes for Portland). More precisely, a garden of this type would belong to a wealthy Chinese scholar.
A walled green space occupying a whole city block, the Garden was designed using stone from China and features hundreds of Chinese indigenous plants and a tranquil artificial lake Zither at its center. Bridges, walkways, ponds, and pavilions are complemented by water plants, shrubs, and flowers, creating a unique atmosphere in the midst of a busy urban setting.
A few things, in particular, make the gardens special:
- Koi carp fish and ducks in the lake
- 51 unique patterned "leak" windows in the garden walls
- Calligraphic couplets carved into the walls throughout the Garden
- An extensive selection of teas (that change in order to reflect the change of seasons), traditional light meals, and snacks at the Teahouse in the Tower of Cosmic Reflections
- festive events, including community activities, cultural demonstrations, and Lan Su's Chinese New Year Celebration with lantern viewing shows and performances.
The Garden's address is 239 Northwest Everett Street, Portland, Oregon 97209. It is located close to the river Willamette, practically in the center of the old town, and easily accessible by car, public transport, or on foot. A walk from Pioneer Courthouse Square would take you 15 minutes.
Old Town/Chinatown MAX Station is just a 2-minute walk away.
Buses 4, 8, 16, 35, 44, and 77 stop on NW Everett & 2nd.
Bicycle racks are available right outside the Garden, and the local bike share service Biketown operates in the area.
If you're driving, there's paid parking on the streets of the neighborhood, and there are a few parking lots in the vicinity.