Lan Su Chinese Garden 'hidden garden' lore

Lan Su Chinese Garden, opened in 2000 in Old Town Chinatown, was constructed by artisans from Suzhou using materials imported from China and modeled on a Ming dynasty private garden. Its enclosed layout and location on a site that was once part of Portland's Chinatown have led locals to refer to it as a 'hidden' or 'secret' garden in the city. The garden's construction, sister-city ties, and role in Portland's cultural landscape are documented and frequently cited in local stories.