News Archive
Seattle Week in Chongqing and Beyond:• Visit 8th China–Chongqing International Garden Expo The Garden is excited to announce plans for the March 18–23 “Seattle Week in Chongqing” led by prominent Seattle city leaders. Chongqing is a vibrant, booming city set in a dramatic mountain and river landscape in Southwest China. Our Chongqing government partners are organizing an excellent array of programs for the two delegation tracks. Highlights will be the 8th China-Chongqing International Garden Expo showcasing more than 70 gardens from diverse regions of China and around the world, including our Seattle-style garden, and a welcome banquet hosted by high-level Chongqing officials.
Visit the following links for more program details, travel costs, and registration forms: Chinese Girls Drill Team Shines in Knowing the Spring CourtyardThe gray skies on Sunday, May 15 did not dampen spirits for the Open House Celebration. A crowd of several hundred people enjoyed martial arts demonstrations, traditional dance performances, and the spectacular precision and sparkle of the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team. For more photos and story on Dedication Day events, visit the blog.
Spring Festival Gala a Great SuccessA dynamic, colorful lion dance energized the crowd of nearly 600 at the Hong Kong Association of Washington (HKAW) Foundation’s annual Chinese New Year Gala. The primary beneficiary of the event was the Seattle Chinese Garden. The estimated $100,000+ raised will support continued site work and general operations.
During the dinner, Consul General Gao Zhansheng commended “our friends in this city and state” for major progress in Garden construction, predicting it will become “a landmark cultural center symbolizing the longstanding friendship and fruitful cooperation between Chongqing and Seattle, between Sichuan and Washington, and between China and the U.S.”
Benjamin Lee, Andy Yip, Stan Wu, Homing Tam and other HKAW leaders deserve a huge thank you for their generosity and commitment to the Chinese Garden. We wish everyone who has contributed to the vision of the Seattle Chinese Garden a most fruitful and fortunate Year of the Rabbit. Consul General Gao Zhansheng of the People’s Republic of China, San Francisco Consulate, and his wife, Ms. Wang Yanlai, toured the courtyard with four other consulate colleagues – our first official visitors of the day. General Gao applauded its beauty and Sichuan-style authenticity and expressed the desire to host consular events there on future visits to Seattle. Farewell to the Artisans and Thank You to Volunteers
The Chinese artisans finished their work earlier than expected, and flew home on November 10, timing that precluded planning a public farewell event. Instead, Garden leaders, staff, and core volunteers expressed their enthusiastic thanks for a job well done at an informal dinner on November 9 at Imperial Garden Seafood Restaurant. Gifts to the artisans included a wonderful book of photos taken during construction of Knowing Spring Courtyard. Speakers toasted their extraordinary craftsmanship and their dedication to building Knowing Spring Courtyard with heart, spirit, and skill.
![]() The event also put the spotlight of gratitude on the numerous volunteers (on the right Jeni Mar and Helen Lum) who ensured an excellent stay in Seattle for the artisans. Volunteers planned and escorted the artisans on field trips, welcomed them into their homes for barbecues and even a Halloween party, served as translators, and helped many other ways. Extra special thanks go to the volunteers who made sure the artisans received lunches and dinners on time by picking up meals donated by restaurants and delivering them to the Chan Center — keeping the artisans well fed was a most critical task! The artisans arrived on August 6 as strangers, but thanks to our dedicated volunteers, they left on November 10 as old friends — 老朋友。
Spots Just Opened for Garden 2011 Tour![]() A family dropped out of the Chinese Gardens tour for next April (April 1-18) – and several spaces have opened up! Please consider this wonderful, rare chance to join this incredible itinerary with garden and tour experts! One of the stops on the itinerary, the Humble Administrator’s Garden, in northeastern Suzhou, has been listed as one of the fourmost famous national classic gardens together with the Summer Palace,Mountain Summer Resort in Chengde and Lingering Garden of Suzhou. Thegarden is a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty Chinese classic garden.
Look Who’s Been Visiting the Garden …
A stream of high-profile public officials and other visitors have flowed through Knowing the Spring Courtyard over the past two months.
![]() Congressman Jim McDermott came for a look on October 7, welcomed by an enthusiastic group of Garden supporters including Benjamin Lee (chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Washington) and Christine and Omar Lee (owners of the Great Wall Mall). McDermott chatted with the project directors, asked questions about the rockery being placed in the pond, and lingered in the seating pavilion outside the northeast corner.
McDermott remarked on his role in helping to establish the Seattle-Chongqing sister city relationship in the early 1980s, and his delight in seeing this friendship between the cities manifest in the courtyard and vision for the full Garden (blog link).
![]() Congressman McDermott talks with Project Director Yangming Chu
Hethanked the artisans for their wonderful work, saying “You are creatinga beautiful garden here in Seattle. This is an important project thatwill help build stronger relations between China and the United States.”
Other prominent visitors over the past two months include Lt. Governor Brad Owen, Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, King County Councilmember Jan Drago, Former mayor Charles Royer, State Legislature Representative Bob Hasegawa; Bill Stafford, president of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle; Paige Miller, president of the Washington Park Arboretum Foundation; and Professor Jerome Silbergeld, Chinese art historian and director of Princeton University’s Tang Center for East Asian Art.
US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke greets the artisans
Garden leaders and volunteers have been equally thrilled to show off the courtyard to members of local garden clubs, docents from the Seattle Art Museum and the Seattle Japanese Garden, architects and landscape architects, Chinese language teachers and students, and many other community groups and organizations. Come visit too!
For “inside” stories on the courtyard construction, the artisans, and visitors, check out the Garden Blog.
Knowing the Spring Courtyard is CompleteWe are currently deep into the preparations for our public opening at the end of December. All public tours have been suspended until after the New Year. The Courtyard is complete, the artisans have returned home safely – it’s so hard to believe the amazing transformation! In early August, Knowing the Spring Courtyard was an austere concrete structure with bare steel columns. Now the ornate entrance gate and tile-roofed walkways are finished and a beautiful coat of paint enhances the exquisite woodwork. Late afternoon sun casts patterns through the lattice windows on the northwest corner of the main gate.
The corner pond and its rockery are just about ready for an infusion of water, while the stone “mountain” in the southwest corner awaits the softening green of trees and shrubbery. Our hardworking artisans have completed their work and returned to China, but there is still so much to do.
![]() We’ll keep you posted on plans and winter openings for tours in the new year. Keep in mind the big celebration which will be a formal dedication ceremony in late spring when good weather returns and the courtyard plants will be in bloom. 谢谢! Thank you — to all members, friends, donors and volunteers for your enthusiasm and the countless contributions that have brought us so close to opening. Artisans take a break after installing the rockery for the source pond.
Save the Date ◆ Saturday evening, February 5, 2011Hong Kong Association of Washington FoundationChinese New Year GalaProceeds benefit the Seattle Chinese Garden!![]() The biggest and best Chinese NewYear celebration in town features a rousing lion dance, David Lawrencefashion show, and more. Especially exciting news is that proceeds fromthe silent and live auctions will support the Seattle Chinese Garden.Can you contribute an unusual or exceptional item or experience for thesilent auction (minimum value $300) or live auction (minimum value$1200)? Your donation will contribute to the success of the evening.Please call or email Margaret Britton (206-523-4113,margaret.britton@gmail.com) by December 31st with your idea for an auctionitem.
Experience Immortality in the Seattle Chinese Garden!Anytree or plant you donate to the Seattle Chinese Garden will become along-living testimonial to your support of the Seattle Chinese Garden.What better way to express your love of nature and gardening than bydonating a needed plant or a cash equivalent for the Society topurchase in your name?
![]() Pinus parviflora If you have such a donation (which is tax deductible) please contact Jan Whitner at janwhitner@msn.com or Aaron Skinner at aaron@seattlechinesegarden.org.
We are especially interested in mature specimens, which the Society candig and transplant if it is in a home garden. We have a special needfor the plants listed below, but would like to talk with you regardingany Chinese-origin plant, or its cash equivalent, you are willing todonate. Magnolia denudata (2); Pinus parvifolia (7); Pinus tabulaeformis (7); Malus halliana (1); Koelreuteria paniculata (1); Photinia serratifolia (5); Pinus bungeana (2); Prunus serrulata (3); Rhododendron mucronatum (1). Artisans Raise Top Beam Over Courtyard GateArtisans pose after raising the top beam for KSC ceremonial gate. The red band signifies auspiciousness, happiness, and harmony.
Construction Milestone! The crackle of fireworks kept evil spirits away, and cheers from Seattle Chinese Garden volunteers, staff, and supporters celebrated placement of the topmost beam in Knowing the Spring Courtyard on August 31. Not even the gloomy weather dampened human spirits. Please check the blog for more details and updates on construction progress and the West Seattle Herald for fantastic coverage with a wonderful video.
Artisan Welcome Party Big Success!
![]() Sunday, August 22 was a beautiful celebration day – the welcome party for the Chinese artisans was attended by several hundred people from all over Seattle. The artisan demonstrations were particularly well attended. Stories and more photos to come. West Seattle Herald covered the event and posted a wonderful article and slide show. Come back to the Garden and watch our progress!
![]() Check out our new BLOG for additional stories and artisan updates!
Brick Campaign Kickoff Dinner Big Success!![]() Jon Geiger, SCGS president (far right), presents inscribed bricks to Chinese Community leaders:(from left) Benjamin Lee,
Charlene & Jerry Lee, Christine & Omar Lee, Tian Ho Tien,Wei Fang, and Faye Hong
Our most recent fundraising initiative launched June 19 with a Brick Campaign Kickoff dinner at the House of Hong in the Chinatown/International District. With the support of leaders in the Chinese community and a great turnout of 300 people, the event raised more than $45,000. Consul General Gao Zhansheng of the People’s Republic of China Consulate in San Francisco spoke with great enthusiasm about the Seattle Chinese Garden as a landmark symbolizing the many important ties between China and our region and state. Stay tuned for a report on the dinner with more photos and information onordering personalized engraved bricks soon! Major leadership gifts from the Municipality of Chongqing, the State of Washington, City of Seattle, King County, the Miller and Norcliffe foundations, private individuals, organizations, and corporations have contributed close to 70 percent of the $4.5 million cost of building the courtyard. Our funding goal is in sight, and with continued support from Garden members and friends over the next few months, we can open the courtyard to the public in late fall. June 19th Community Dinner Kicks Off Brick CampaignThe 27 skilled artisans from China this summer will construct the traditional gate, the tile-roofed walkways, intricate windows, and garden area for Knowing the Spring Courtyard. Every person who buys a personalized, engraved brick will help Seattle build an international landmark while creating a permanent legacy to honor family and friends. Thousands of bricks will reflect our diverse community and personal support for the Seattle Chinese Garden.
Special guest of honor at the June 19th dinner is Consul General Gao Zhansheng of the People’s Republic of China Consulate in San Francisco. Please join us! Attendees of the Brick Campaign launch even will be able to purchase bricks at a special promotional price. Detailed pricing and order information will be available on the website after June 28th.
![]() Opening the Garden Gate a Huge Success!太好了!
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