Visit the heritage-listed Chinese garden located in the heart of Sydney.
The Chinese Garden of Friendship is a beautiful, secluded garden by Darling Harbour. During the day, the Garden is a peaceful area to explore, while at night it is illuminated with colourful lights.
You can spend around 1 to 2 hours walking through the Gardens, admiring the waterfalls, plants, and pavilions. The Garden is open from 10am to 5pm and closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. There is a small entry fee, with children under the age of 5 entering for free.
History of the Chinese Garden of Friendship
The Garden opened in early January 1988 as part of Bicentennial Celebrations in Sydney. It was built to symbolise friendship between Sydney and Guangzhou, the sister cities of New South Wales and Guangdong.
The Garden was designed by Chinese landscape architects and constructed by craftsmen from Australia. The Garden recreates landscapes featuring waterfalls, lakes, forests, and mountains.
What to see
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Dragon Wall
The Dragon Wall, made of ceramics, features 2 Chinese flying dragons. The blue dragon represents New South Wales while the brown dragon represents Guangdong. On the bottom right corner of the wall, there are square stamps with Chinese inscriptions that read, ‘Shi Wan Fine Ceramics,’ the signatures of the 2 artists.
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Lunar New Year celebrations
During the beautiful summer months, visit the Chinese Garden of Friendship to enjoy the Lunar New Year events. The celebrations include the opening ceremony, traditional tea ceremony, music, red envelopes with chocolate coins, and the closing ceremony.
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See the plants
The Garden represents a smaller scale of the gardens that existed during the Shang Dynasty. As you walk through, you will spot the lily pads, weeping willows, orange blossom osmanthus, and many more. There are also various trees, including the small penjing, black pine, and black bamboo.
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Enjoy a delicious meal
Inside the Chinese Garden of Friendship is the restaurant One Dining, where you can enjoy the beautiful views with a glass of wine. This casual yet elegant restaurant offers exquisite culinary delights from the a la carte menu or a delicious yum cha set.