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Located near South Seattle Community College, the Seattle Chinese Garden provides a peaceful retreat from the busyness of the city. Still in development, the park is make possible by a partnership with Seattle's sister city in China, Chongqing. The Chinese municipality helped develop the park in the style of Sichuan gardens. Since the cities established sister city ties in 1983, there have been more than 200 exchanges in education, the arts, as well as business and government.
One exchange is the Song Mei Pavilion, designed and made in Chongqing, and assembled in Seattle by a team of Chinese artisans. It is the first of many planned structures in the six-acre garden.
Sichuan gardens function both as backdrops for civic celebrations and quiet contemplation. You'll likely enjoy more quiet than celebration here, but the water features flowing through the park and rock formations reflect the natural landscape and provide something of a soundtrack to go with your visit.
As the park develops, buildings and structures will afford visitors glimpses of Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle, as well as the striking Olympic Mountains. For now, enjoy what it is today, and be sure to revisit as it grows and changes.
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