Lan Su Chinese Garden

In 1999, 65 workers came from Portland’s sister city in China, Suzhou, to the Oregon capital with the intent of creating a traditional Chinese garden. The product of this endeavor (which included bringing wood and rocks all the way from China) is the Lan Su Chinese Garden, a beautiful, 40,000-square-foot oasis that occupies an entire city block in one of Portland’s grittier downtown areas. Ensconced by high walls, the garden features serpentine walkways, ponds and a traditional teahouse, where visitors can linger with a warm beverage.