'Sister Gardens' celebrate deep roots between Canada and China

BEIJING, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from China Daily

The event "Suzhou Week" recently launched in Victoria, Canada, celebrating two milestones - the 55th anniversary of China-Canada diplomatic relations and the 45th anniversary of Suzhou-Victoria sister-city ties.

Zeng Zhi, acting Chinese consul-general in Vancouver, remarked that Suzhou classical gardens are world-renowned for their exquisite designs, while Victoria is famous for its natural scenery. "Both places emphasize the harmony between humans and nature," he said.

Marianne Alto, mayor of Victoria, highlighted the core role of people-to-people exchanges in sister-city relationships, stressing that face-to-face interaction deepens mutual understanding and helps uncover shared values.

A highlight of the opening ceremony was the signing of a Garden Friendship and Cooperation Statement between Lion Forest Garden, one of Suzhou's most prestigious gardens, and the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, one of the world's most beautiful private gardens. The agreement officially established them as "Sister Gardens".

Centered on the principles of "celebrating cultural heritage, deepening friendship and mutual trust, and promoting global conservation", the statement outlined four key cooperation initiatives.

These include exploring ecological protection and sustainable development paths; exchanging global best practices in garden conservation to advance the living inheritance of traditional gardening techniques; expanding people-to-people visits and tourism cooperation between China and Canada; and holding regular consultations on projects like flower exhibitions and horticultural technology sharing.

Qian Yucheng, deputy director of Suzhou Gardens and Greening Bureau, said that this garden alliance will lay a foundation for cooperation in garden management, plant horticulture, and cultural promotion, elevating the cooperative relationship between Suzhou and Victoria to new heights.

During the ceremony, Kunqu opera performers, intangible cultural heritage inheritors, and symphony musicians performed for the audience. These shows not only paid tribute to the 45-year friendship between the two cities but opened a new chapter in the mutual appreciation of Eastern and Western garden aesthetics and cultural exchanges.

Additionally, the art exhibition titled "The Vast within the Tiny, Classical Gardens from Suzhou - Lion Forest Garden Featured in the Butchart Gardens" debuted that same day.

It showcased nine Suzhou gardens inscribed on the World Heritage List, presenting the elegance of Jiangnan - the region along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River - and explaining the gardening wisdom of "seeing the big in the small" through rockeries, water features, and plant configuration.

The exhibition also allowed audiences to experience the timeless charm of gardens through photographic works featuring poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving.

Organizers also arranged interactive events to help people gain a deeper understanding of Jiangnan culture and Suzhou gardens. The "Garden Seal" activity, for example, featured seals engraved with iconic images of the two gardens.

Stamping these seals displayed Taihu Lake stones and the latticed windows of Lion Forest Garden alongside the Rose Carousel of Butchart Gardens, symbolizing the expectation for lasting friendship.

Meanwhile, Portland - another sister city of Suzhou - celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Lan Su Chinese Garden on Sept 12. With lantern decorations, Kunqu opera performances, and a showcase of Su embroidery, an intangible cultural heritage, the event left a profound impression on visitors.

Built by Suzhou garden craftsmen and officially opened to the public in 2000, Lan Su Chinese Garden showcases the unique charm of Jiangnan scenery through its pavilions, terraces, towers, small bridges, and flowing water.

Over the past 25 years, it has become a must-visit destination in Portland and a vital window into cultural exchanges between China and the United States, welcoming approximately 150,000 visitors annually. Regular Chinese cultural events are held there year-round, including Mid-Autumn Festival, Spring Festival, and Lantern Festival.

Elizabeth Nye, executive director of Lan Su Chinese Garden, said that the garden upholds Suzhou's essence in both gardening techniques and cultural connotations. Currently, an expansion project is underway, planning to add spaces such as an art gallery and a performance hall to expand its cultural communication functions.

The friendship between Lan Su Chinese Garden and Suzhou's Master-of-Nets Garden serves as a vivid link in the sister-city relationship, according to the Suzhou Gardens and Greening Bureau.

Moving forward, the two sides will continue to promote exchanges in gardening techniques and intangible cultural heritage displays, enabling more North Americans to appreciate the beauty of Suzhou classical gardens and the profound heritage of Chinese culture.