Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden, Vancouver

I'm so glad we came! The tour was a great addition to our visit, as well. My husband and I really enjoyed having a quiet refuge "hidden" from the city and our kids loved looking for the animals on the scavenger hunt (they even got a little prize for completing it!). I've lived in Vancouver my whole life and sadly had never visited the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden before because I thought the public park side was the same thing. The public park is still nice, but we really liked how the garden side looked more like the authentic scholar's gardens we saw on our trip to Southern China. We will probably purchase an annual membership so that we can come back to see the garden as it changes with the seasons.

It truly is a classical Chinese garden; we were amazed at how much could be packed into a relatively small area near Chinatown and downtown. Many interesting sights, free good tour of the place, and gift shop prices were in line with other places. Friendly staff all around. Beautiful and strange stones all over, wonderfully arrangements throughout. Enjoyed it thoroughly, even though we've been to several Chinese gardens all over the US. We highly recommend it!

Visited the garden in June 2007. It is a nice, well maintained garden. However, it is very small and a bit expensive. Would just visit the connected public garden if I had it to do over.

A tiny beautiful hideaway tucked into an otherwise ugly derelict area of Vancouver. Surrounded by an area struggling to bring itself back to life this beautiful place offers serinity and calm. Take the tour it will open your eyes to what realy makes up the garden and is worth the money and time spent. I recommend it.

The garden was quite small. We thought we were going to see some statues, which we didn't. The tour guide did not know what she was saying when she tried to translate the chinese characters. I'm Chinese and I read Chinese. I was very disappointed to see and hear someone represent the "Classical Chinese Garden" with the wrong knowledge.

The garden itself is pretty and well kept. I just didn't think that it should have cost $15 bucks to get in. It's a pretty small garden and there is an informative tour. If you are crunch for time, I would skip it. I know all the travel books say it's a must go but I've seen much prettier asian garden that charges less money.

If you take the tour, the understanding of the layout, elements and shrubbery are all explained in an enlightening context. The tour guide was knowledgeable, so the experience was even more rewarding. Feng Shui and the Ying and Yang concepts are incorporated in every inch of space. Although not very large in size, you will vicariously feel the tranquility and inspiration that the ancient Chinese scholar experience. It was explained that this garden was the retreat of the Imperial scholars who were not allowed any vacation time off since they were at the King's beck and call 24/7. So all the elements of a natural retreat, water, mountain, trees, etc., were incorporated to satisfy the scholar's spiritual, emotional and physical needs. Undoubtedly worth a trip.

I lived in Vancouver for 13 years and visited this garden many times. There is nothing like it in North America, perhaps the world (except of course in China) As you enter a feeling of calm washes over you that stays with you as you roam through this garden. In the heart of Chinatown, it is almost hidden from the rest of the city. Definitely a place to see and remember with photos! I can't wait to go back to Vancouver for a visit!

The garden is a lovely peaceful place. We visited in January 2005. It was very cold but the sun was out and we got some lovely pictures. We only came by chance, as we were on a day trip from our base in Seattle. Hopefully, we are coming back in September and we will visit again. This garden is soemwhere where you can sit and reflect on exactly what life is all about. The little old chinese lady is a superb guide, hope she is there when we go back. All of the materials in the garden come from China. The only thing i would not recommend is the tea. It's free so you can drink all you like!!!!!

I like this place cause the rooms are nicely prepared for other people to look at nicely.