Inner Peace in the Inner City
Are you looking for a place to relax, a place to rest your mind from the bustle of the city? Darling Harbour treats you to an experience in relaxation and serenity that you won’t easily forget.
Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/a1exand3r_/
Known as the Chinese Garden of Friendship, this walled wonderland is full of harmony and traditional Chinese gardening techniques. You’ll be inspired by the natural highlights of the garden, which differ greatly from modern style flowerbeds and man-made attempts at bringing the natural world to the city.
Instead, this beautiful oasis is the perfect place to forget you are anywhere near a man-made construction. Instead, let your mind rest with the peaceful sound of waterfalls and lakes. Watch the koi fish as they swim lazily around the pond, and wander through the pathways that traverse this Chinese garden.
Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/issi_wood23/
If you’re feeling peckish, head to the Teahouse for some traditional Chinese tea and dim sum. Sit under the weeping willows and watch the peaceful surroundings. You’ll feel the stress of the city wash slowly away.
Offering a great location for those visiting on a Sydney cruise, the Chinese Garden of Friendship brings harmony to your visit to the city. Events within the garden include a daily fish feeding at 11:30, and a guided tour of the highlights of this beautiful garden.
History of the Chinese Garden of Friendship
As its name suggests, this Chinese garden is a symbol of friendship. In 1988, this garden was constructed by Chinese architects to commemorate the friendship between the cities of Sydney, Australia, and Guangzhou, China.
The design of the garden is pure and follows the Taoist ideals for perfecting harmony and balance between the five elements: earth, fire, water, metal, and wood.
While balancing the forces of nature, it produces a feeling of true peace that cannot be had in the manicured gardens of the modern, Western culture. It captures the wildness of nature and her untamed beauty, drawing from centuries of Chinese garden design dating back to the Shang dynasty.
Visitor Information
The Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour is open every day from 9:30 to 5:00. From the months of October to March, it stays open until 5:30.
The entrance ticket is $6 for adults, $3 for children, or $15 for a family of four. Seniors and students from Australia can receive a discount.
Because of its location to the harbour, the Chinese Garden of Friendship is the perfect destination if you’re traveling on a Sydney cruise.