Despite it being pretty much smack-bang in the middle of the city, we'd call this Chinese Garden one of Sydney's best hidden gems. Waterfalls, weeping willows, lily pads and blossoms make the garden a charming and calming oasis in Darling Harbour, near Tumbalong Park.
Officially opened in 1988, the Chinese Garden of Friendship was initially commissioned by the Guangdong Landscape Bureau in Sydney's sister city Guangzhou to reflect the bond between the two cities, and it incorporates architectural principles of the Taoist philosophy of yin (calmness) and yang (activity).
Featuring calligraphy, carvings and sculpture, alongside dragons and other mythological creatures, the garden transports visitors from Sydney's city of sin into a world of tradition and calm – a refreshing change from exhaust fumes and traffic.
The garden is dotted with hidden treasures, including an ancient cyad (fossil plant) and the red silk cotton tree (a floral symbol of Guangdong). A highlight is the Lake of Brightness, which is full of chubby carp.
The garden has recently had a $1 million extension, with a serene new bamboo forest called the Meandering Pathway of Tranquility.
Insider tip: One of our writers became a member of the garden (for $39), which gave them unlimited access to the garden for a year. They'd regularly visit to sit and write there, or for a regular dose of zen when they were working in the city. With your membership, you also get four complimentary parking passes (valued at $160) and other perks, so it's a pretty ace deal.
The Chinese Garden offers oodles of zen – the perfect environment to sip your tea, savour the peace and quiet and be cocooned from the crazy city.
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