Seattle Chinese Garden is located at South Seattle College. Having visited a few Chinese gardens including the one in Portland, I thought this one was a bit lacking and feels somewhat incomplete. It feels like a "set design" Chinese garden which has the facade, but not much of anything else. There is a main Chinese garden building and that is just about it. A bamboo garden can be found behind it, but it is not very big. Found it a bit difficult to get an Instagram worthy photo here. I would skip this spot if you are a tourist in Seattle and time is limited. From a community perspective though, I would find this an appealing place to visit if I lived in the neighborhood and was walking in the area. read more

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We attended Astro Lumina tonight. Wonderful experience. We were very lucky with the weather, which didn't hurt... but I can imagine in any weather it would be worthwhile. What I didn't realize before going is that there are 9 light installations. Each tells a 3-4 minute part of the larger story. The music and lights are coordinated to tell the story. I found it beautiful and soulful. It was a great way for us to feel part of a greater whole during this holiday season. read more

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I love Chinese Gardens and like to come to the Seattle Chinese Garden where I can relax and get some alone time away from the noisy parts of the city. It's a piece of Sichuan magically transported into Washington state. While the architecture is incredibly beautiful and intricate, my gripe is that the garden has been left on a building hiatus for years despite receiving some generous amount of donations in the past and having multiple well-outlined sectional plans of building out the garden. I had hoped they would've slowly build small sections every year to extend the garden until it grew into its full glory. I've been to other lovely Chinese Gardens across the whole West Coast, so it upsets me to see that this place is at a stand-still. But don't take my criticism to heart. I understand that a project like this is still expensive, and I know that this garden is trying its best to stay as authentic as it can be by importing material and professional builders from China. And if you don't know, as of June 6, 2025, the Seattle Chinese Garden has announced further plans on the campaign of raising more money to complete the construction of this monument. They hope to raise $30million to build out the remainder of the garden. So if you would also like to see this place be finished being built, support them by checking out the website and perhaps donating! While my rating reflects how I feel about the project at the moment and where it stands, I still truly enjoy the Seattle Chinese Garden and would love to rate it higher once more progress has been made. Good luck to the whole team working on this, I look forward to seeing more and would love to volunteer my time to help as well. read more

Seattle Chinese Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Authentic Chinese garden with peonies imported from China. I love the humongous brass carp, and the interesting journey it had getting to the garden. There are also some terracotta warriors (reproduction I presume) that you can get up close to when the garden is open. Oh, and lots of other plants also! Amazing how much is done with volunteers, and the garden is still free. In the fall & winter the garden hosts a cool light journey operated by an outside group at night. The Halloween one for 2025, Forest of Shadows, is eerie, creepy and beautiful all at the same time. We went as a family and it was cool to be outside in the dark following the trail through the wooded experiences. read more

Seattle Chinese Garden will likely be quite pretty when it's completed, however as it stands it's essentially a large patio and a small bamboo garden that ends in a sculpture. There are no onsite public restrooms open on the weekends. To clarify, the entire area seems a bit neglected. The adjoining SSC Arboretum is gorgeous, but clearly has sections that need to be trimmed back from the path. Currently the Seattle Chinese Garden patio is surrounded by a gravel pit. There is a half finished pond, a completed pond, and a rather underwhelming Stonehenge-like sundial. Once you climb up the gravel, you can see the bamboo edged path and the garden, complete with fish sculpture. Towards the end of the construction site are two statues, and as you walk down the muddy path, you see the benefactor wall. The entire space feels underwhelming at best and half finished. I wouldn't make a special trip to visit unless you're already there for the SSC Arboretum. read more

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The Seattle Chinese Garden at in the Soth Seattle Community College Arboretum is filled with beautiful walking paths and well kept plants. Beautiful pavilion and gorgeous grounds! So pretty to walk through. read more

Do not make a special trip to come here! It is mostly just a single structure with a nice patio surrounded by gravel and some plant plants. It's not incredibly easy to get there and there's not much to see once you get there. There aren't really any chairs except for a few benches in the middle. I really love Chinese and Japanese gardens but this one deserves a pass. Spend your time doing other things. read more

This hidden gem was a quick stop on the way out of Seattle. We enjoyed the quietness and serenity of location. Lovely colors found from the various blooms and the authentic decor was amazing read more

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I'm starting to feel like a broken record but this is yet another hidden gem in Seattle. We were there just as the leaves were turning color and it was beautiful so I can imagine how it must be when the leaves have fully turned color. The space is surprisingly big- at first I thought it was just a few trees and such but nope, you go in there is a whole pathway that leads to an open area with a Pavilion, Gazebo, etc. Definitely a nice stroll when the weather is nice. read more

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This small park gives the impression that early benefactors anticipated vibrant future growth that hasn't yet come to full fruition. The structures, landforms, sculptures, water features, and plantings now in place offer a pleasant diversion, but considerable space appears suitable for garden expansion. Perhaps I misunderstand the intent; I expected more extensive formal spaces and a clearer distinction from surrounding native and naturalized vegetation. Judging a garden during a severe drought isn't really fair, and August is probably not the best month to visit. The shrubs and bamboo are holding up alright though. Regular visits through the year would be worthwhile. If tranquility is a goal, the challenge is great--steady air traffic, regular train whistles, and distant sirens deliver a fair amount of noise to compete with the bird song and human voices that seem more appropriate to the surroundings. On this visit, only half a dozen people were present on a Sunday late morning, though that number tripled not long after noon. Someone played quiet flute music intermittently and inexpertly, which generally enhanced the ambience... at least until I recognized the strains of "O Danny Boy." Not the ear worm I would have picked. read more

Seattle Chinese Garden - A giant carp. Does it aspire to be a dragon? - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We came during the weekend of the Peony Festival, but around 10:30 AM so it was before any of the performances as we wanted to avoid potential crowds. However, the area was pretty spacious so I imagine distancing would still be easy. It's definitely no Tulip Festival in terms of volumes of flowers, but it's free (there was an optional donation box) and the workers were knowledgeable about the courtyard's history. The courtyard and garden itself feel small in terms of things to see, so I'd recommend checking out the arboretum next door before or after. There was a parking booth upon entry of the lot, but it was unstaffed on our visit Sunday morning. Unsure if this is typical for Sundays. read more

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I was hoping for a nice stroll, the garden is small. Unfortunately the Chinese side looked a bit worn down. I was hoping this place could possible be a wedding venue. There's not much to look at, and the koi ponds are a bit depressing. Murky waters, and some beautiful but small koi. The garden itself looks unkempt and had a desolate feeling to it. I wish there was more of a history vibe, very little placards or descriptions on the garden ** Perhaps the garden is run on donations, bear that in mind. read more

Seattle Chinese Garden - Koi pond, the fish looked hungry. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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It is a great Chinese garden near Seattle West Community College and is free to public. Like other comments noted, this is an unfinished project. However, the garden is still full of plants, care, thought, and scenery. The garden is also adjacent to other plant gardens at the community college so it is bigger than just the Chinese garden. The Chinese garden itself consists of bamboo forests, lily ponds, Chinese houses, courtyards. It is very peaceful and tranquil. The staff here are also very friendly and knowledgeable. I wouldn't suggest someone to go out of their way to just visit this garden, but it is great place to visit if you're in this area. Really hope that they have enough funding to expand the Chinese garden and maintain it. It's a lot of work! read more

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Chinese garden isn't advertised as much as Japanese one. We learned about the Chinese garden in Seattle by accident and decided to check it out. The garden itself is under construction but it's still nice and peaceful. There are a few sculptures hidden between various trees and bushes. Great tip: right next to it, you can find Arboretum of South Seattle College which is blooming in summer - absolutely gorgeous! read more

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This is located on the north end of the South Seattle Community College and what a joy to have this in the West Seattle area and for that matter, Seattle! It is free to visit (they have a donation box in the visitor trailer) and is quite large and lovely. The main courtyard is traditional Chinese architecture and is very relaxing and calming with inner pond with koi fish. This structure is just the beginning of a masterful plan of many other buildings and a huge lake. Make sure you stop in to see the future of this place. It was neat to see it at this beginning stage. read more

Seattle Chinese Garden - Main entrance - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Very pretty park with very traditional buildings. Very quiet and peaceful. It's a great place to hang out with family and take photos. We got a lot of compliments on the photos. My husband lived in Seattle for 38 years and never discovered this park. It's next to the campus with plenty of parking. Recommend for everyone! read more

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Though the grand opening is not scheduled until mid May, the South Seattle Community College Chinese Garden opened to the general public today. We participated in a guided tour where they filled us in on the process of the construction, the meaning of the Chinese elements, and the progress of the garden. Though we were standing in a haphazard landscape of partially constructed buildings, piles of rocks and dirt, muddy paths, and overgrown bamboo, it was possible to visualize the beauty that is yet to come. The tour guide emphasized that much of the work cannot be finished without additional funding, so I do suggest checking out the website if this is a project you would like to see completed. The area was chosen thoughtfully, providing a view of downtown, the Space Needle, and the Cascades. We started out at the main structure that leads to the garden. It is lovely and built in a traditional Chinese style, with modern elements (such as steel reinforcements) to make it earthquake proof. Artisans from China were actually flown in to do the construction! According to the website, the courtyard will eventually include twelve buildings, including an education center and a banquet hall. Then we stepped out into what will become a garden. There are a few structures in place and lots of plants. The area is designed in the Sichuan style and will feature a variety of plants, ensuring something is in bloom year round. Each season will bring a different look and feel to the garden. There will also be a pond that flows from inside the courtyard to the garden. The garden is designed to harmoniously incorporate elements of rock, water, horticulture, and architecture. After leaving the garden - in - progress, we saw an area that looked much more developed. There were signs indicating it was an arboretum. We missed the beginning of the lecture, so I don't know exactly how it relates to the rest of the Chinese Garden. But this part was very beautiful and much more complete. There are paved paths, bridges, benches, labels on the flora, a cute stream and an area with a fountain. I imagine it would be a very relaxing place to take a stroll or sit and contemplate on a less windy and more pleasant day. We used the college parking lot free of charge. The garden tour was also free today, but there will eventually be a ticket window and charge for admission. I'd definitely love to come back and see the Seattle Chinese Garden in a more complete stage. Today's experience was just a hint of what's to come (that's why I can't give it more Stars), but you can tell it will be stunning in the end. This site map looks terribly ambitious compared to what I saw today, but the website also mentions that the project may take ten years to complete! http://www.seattlechinesegarden.org/index.php?p=Overview_Map&s=51 From the website: "The Seattle Chinese Garden inspires global understanding by immersing visitors in the richness and beauty of Chinese culture. Our mission is to create a traditional Sichuan-style Chinese garden, the only one of its kind outside China, as a means of celebrating Seattle's rich Chinese heritage and supporting Seattle's future business and cultural relationship with China." Seattle is lucky to have such a project growing in our midst. read more

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The Seattle Chinese Garden is a nice concept. It is currently (as of Feb. 2011) largely incomplete, but they do have some parts open, and they have a visitor center showcasing the future plans. Even when it's complete, though, I expect to only give it one star. The main reason is that this is more like the Seattle "People's Republic of China" Garden than the Seattle Chinese Garden. The Chinese text is in simplified script, the wall map incorrectly places Taiwan within the international boundaries of China, and there are numerous references to gifts/praise from PRC leaders, with overall greater emphasis in the current government and politics of China vs. the Chinese culture. For my time, the Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver does a better job of honoring the Chinese garden vision I've seen elsewhere in the world. read more

As of March of 2014, one court, one pavilion and a carp statue are completed. It takes about ten minutes to tour the whole place. I look forward to its completion. If you don't mind walking an extra three minutes, you can park outside at the curb for free. read more

Seattle Chinese Garden - Pine and Plum Pavilion - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Adjacent to the College Arboretum is a beautiful (small right now) Chinese garden. The architecture and statues are more interesting than the "garden" part, right now, as it looks that the property is awaiting additional features. It was deserted on our visit (me and the baby in the stroller) and it was very peaceful; not to mention beautiful. I think you might have to pay to park in the college parking lot, however, street parking is free and not far away. read more

There was a great article about the tree peonies in this garden in yesterday's Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine. We went there today and wandered around for 45 minutes looking for them, without luck! There is no signage that provides information about the garden. The website says you can download a site map but not on my phone. A wasted trip, struggling with the traffic diversions necessary to reach West Seattle. read more

My favorite place in Seattle. To all the people that say it's too empty, that is because it's not done ding dongs. It needs more funding to be completed. It is still a gorgeous, tranquil, beautiful oasis in the city. Check it out. Make a donation while you are there so we can watch the garden grow together. read more

The Chinese style gate is beautiful, and I liked the carp statue, but the garden feels empty. The ground is mostly gravel and I think if more plants were placed, it would be a really beautiful garden. The arboretum to the left is more lush, and there are some beautiful roses. The Chinese garden seems like it has potential, but feels unfinished. read more

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This is a really interesting site that is still under ongoing construction and totally worth visiting. The master gardener there is a great guide to the site and very knowledgeable. If you're interested in being part of the development of the garden, they have a huge need for volunteers (or donors, as you prefer). read more

Very big plans but so far the Garden only has a lovely forecourt, with outer loggia on two sides, surrounded by gravel and a small, newly-planted garden with the fish sculpture and small pavilion. Few plantings and no other facilities. I give two stars for now - for the unique architecture of the forecourt and super-helpful staff - in hope of adding more as the Garden develops. read more

Very much enjoyed stopping by, and community college gardens next door were a plus. Meet horticulturist/garden expert Bob who answered our questions. Gorgeous beginning to this new jewel of garden. read more

This is a beautiful place and they are so gracious! I took a tour of senior citizens there with walkers and wheelchairs and they were incredible! So helpful and accommodating to our needs. AND it is a wonderful place!!!!! read more

The Seattle Chinese Garden is a hidden jewel in Seattle. It's a "don't miss" experience for visitors and residents of Seattle alike. Immediately upon stepping onto the garden property you'll experience the excellent fang shui and notice the beauty of garden's architecture, ponds and plants. I highly recommend you carve time out of your day for a visit! read more

I visited the garden today and had a great time and highly recommend it as a "must see"

It is just a small court yard with almost nothing yet they dare to charge $6 admission! Total Rip Off. The Plus it's ugly. It's a disgrace to the Chinese Garden's name. The Chinese writing on the wall and at the gate are all written by low class; talentless people (probably got the job because they are connected to the Chinese government). And the meaning of many of those Chinese writing are simply ass-kissing the Communist leaders, others sounds like it's copied from Chinese communist's propaganda media. The name of two courtyard (no actual courtyard yet, only the gate was built) were actually popular Chinese whore house name (), that should give you an idea how low class this place really is. Also, Construction was shabby (typical of current Chinese construction quality) because the whole thing was built by imported Chinese labor. Some of the supporting pillars are already cracking. For the small size of this garden, this project is also super expensive --- $ 8 million!! (That's just the cost of what has been built already, and the rest of the project they haven't even got money for yet!) Go to the near by Kubota Garden, which is 100 times better and free! read more