Nestled on the outer edge of the city, you will find Lan Yuan, the Dunedin Chinese Garden. Dunedin and the Otago region has a strong Chinese heritage due to the gold rush, that occurred in the 1860s. According to their web site, the gardens are “Recognized as a six-star Garden of International Significance”.
The gardens are one of those little pleasant surprises you often find when traveling. Upon entering, you immediately feel the peace and tranquility washing over you. You have entered another world it seems, as the design hides what lies outside, and you could easily be in Dunedin’s sister city of Shanghai! Although not huge, the gardens are big enough to have lots of nooks and crannies to explore.
If the weather is terrible, then you are still able to explore most of the gardens and remain dry. And there are some indoor areas that allow you to sit, relax and contemplate or study. Be sure to checkout the tower room. It’s quintessentially Chinese, and has a library of books you can peruse. There is also an indoor area in the middle of the gardens where you can also relax and play games such as mahjong or Chinese checkers.
There is a gift shop and tea rooms as well. You are free to purchase a pot of soothing Chinese tea and consume it anywhere you like. Along with that, there are some nicely presented displays, that delve into Chinese history in the region. Of course, water is a big feature in the garden and adds to the serenity of the whole experience. The gardens are very authentic. Not surprising, as they were designed by experts from Shanghai. The garden was actually fully constructed in Shanghai before being disassembled and then reassembled in Dunedin. So, it is indeed a true Chinese Scholar’s garden. It took around 10 years from inception to completion.
Be sure to checkout some of our other Dunedin posts, such as Dunedin – Best City in New Zealand? or Olveston – Hidden Treasure of Dunedin.