Dunedin Chinese Garden, Dunedin
The Dunedin Chinese Garden (Lan Yuan) offers visitors a tranquil and culturally immersive experience in the heart of the city. Opened in 2008, the garden was built to celebrate the enduring relationship between Dunedin and its sister city, Shanghai, and to honor the contributions of Chinese immigrants to the Otago region. It is one of only a few authentic Chinese scholar’s gardens outside China, constructed using traditional techniques and materials imported directly from Shanghai.
Designed in the style of a late Ming Dynasty garden, Lan Yuan features intricately arranged pavilions, bridges, and courtyards, all framed by carefully placed rocks, water features, and native and exotic plantings. The central pond reflects the curved rooftops and delicate latticework structures, creating a sense of harmony and balance. Every aspect of the design is intended to inspire contemplation, encouraging visitors to slow down and appreciate the details of nature and architecture in unison.
Inside the garden, guests can explore various cultural elements including calligraphy displays, traditional Chinese musical instruments, and seasonal exhibitions that shed light on Chinese heritage. A tea house on site serves Chinese teas and snacks, adding to the sensory experience. Guided tours and cultural events such as lantern festivals and tea ceremonies further enhance understanding of Chinese philosophy and aesthetics.
Designed in the style of a late Ming Dynasty garden, Lan Yuan features intricately arranged pavilions, bridges, and courtyards, all framed by carefully placed rocks, water features, and native and exotic plantings. The central pond reflects the curved rooftops and delicate latticework structures, creating a sense of harmony and balance. Every aspect of the design is intended to inspire contemplation, encouraging visitors to slow down and appreciate the details of nature and architecture in unison.
Inside the garden, guests can explore various cultural elements including calligraphy displays, traditional Chinese musical instruments, and seasonal exhibitions that shed light on Chinese heritage. A tea house on site serves Chinese teas and snacks, adding to the sensory experience. Guided tours and cultural events such as lantern festivals and tea ceremonies further enhance understanding of Chinese philosophy and aesthetics.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Dunedin. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Dunedin Chinese Garden on Map
Sight Name: Dunedin Chinese Garden
Sight Location: Dunedin, New Zealand (See walking tours in Dunedin)
Sight Type: Park/Outdoor
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Dunedin, New Zealand (See walking tours in Dunedin)
Sight Type: Park/Outdoor
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Dunedin, New Zealand
Create Your Own Walk in Dunedin
Creating your own self-guided walk in Dunedin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
University of Otago Historical Buildings Walk
The University of Otago, founded in 1869, is New Zealand’s oldest university, and its early buildings remain some of the most distinctive in the country. The story of these structures is tied to Dunedin’s wider history. When gold was discovered in Otago in the 1860s, the city boomed into a wealthy provincial capital, eager to match the institutions of Europe. Education became a central part of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Dunedin Introduction Walking Tour
Mark Twain had a way of dressing compliments in sarcasm, and when he visited Dunedin in 1895, he couldn’t resist. Looking around at the Scottish settlement on New Zealand’s southern coast, he quipped: “The people are Scotch. They stopped here on their way from home to heaven-thinking they had arrived.”
The city of Dunedin carries a name that reflects its Scottish roots. The word comes... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The city of Dunedin carries a name that reflects its Scottish roots. The word comes... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles


