This Little Known Natural Oasis Is Hiding In Portland

In life, sometimes all you need is a break; a moment or two to collect your thoughts and relish in the beauty that surrounds you. Luckily for those of us that live in Portland, there is a walled Chinese garden that spans an entire block in the Old Town/Chinatown District.

Once you’re inside, it feels as though you are exiting Portland’s urban downtown and entering another world.

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Yelp/Vincent L.

Lan Su Chinese Gardens was built by skilled artisans from Suzhou, a city in the Jiangsu province in China, and is one the most authentic Chinese gardens in the United States.

Flickr/Jonathan Miske

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Modeled after the Ming Dynasty gardens, this Portland garden is filled with traditional Chinese-originated plants and even has rocks that were brought in from the country itself.

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Flickr/Janey

Fusing the best of architecture, nature, and art, Lan Su Gardens makes a beautiful trifecta.

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Flickr/Susan Smith

Lan Su is always holding events, like Tai Chi classes, calligraphy classes, plants walks, and more. They even have a tea house, where you can sit and enjoy the atmosphere.

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Lan Su Chinese Garden is just a glimpse of how beautiful Chinese culture is, but we are so thankful to have this hidden oasis in Portland.