Chinese Gardens - Sydney

[The Julikenz]

The Chinese Garden of Friendship.

Has anyone else been to the Chinese Gardens in Darling harbor? I've been three times myself, firstly in May 2005 (Late Fall) with another CF member, then in September 2006 with my Mother (Early Spring) and finally early March 2007 (End of Summer, start of Fall) with my boyfriend. I particularly enjoyed it the first time, late May, because the overall density of the gardens was so lush and beautiful from the rainfall.

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. These gardens reached their peak during the Ming dynasty, where they provided a gentleman’s retreat from urban environments and the pressures of civil life.

The Chinese Garden of Friendship at Darling Harbour is a scaled-down version of a typical private garden from this era.

Have you been to Gardens like this before?