The Seattle Chinese Garden was designed and built in conjunction with architects and artisans from our sister city of Chongqing, China, and is the first garden in the United States to authentically represent the Sichuan style.
Chongqing, China
With a population of 32 million, Chongqing is the largest municipality in the world. Its mountainous terrain extends more than 500 miles from the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River westward to Sichuan Province, with which it has strong cultural and historical ties.
The booming core city of Chongqing, with 6 million people, is a major Yangtze River port and the commercial, industrial, and transportation hub of Southwest China.
Exchanges between Seattle and Chongqing have opened doors, deepened cross-cultural understanding, and forged close friendships.
Education Exchanges - These expand the horizons of students, from grade school children to adults. Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle is partnered with the Chongqing Nankai School, and more exchanges from the high school to community college level continue to develop.
International Festivals - Examples include The Seattle International Children’s Festival showcasing The Peking Opera Troupe of Chongqing and the Chongqing Youth Acrobats.
Zoo/Animal Exchanges - The Golden Monkeys enchanted visitors to the Woodland Park Zoo in 1986, as did the exotic Pallas Cats in 1995. Planning is underway for new animal exchanges.
Business Opportunities - Encouraging business ties between our two cities continues to be an important goal. Seattle companies with a presence in Chongqing include Starbucks Coffee Co. and Callison Architecture.
