Chinese Gardens - Sydney

Continuing on our 3 day Sydney trip, today I will talk about the beautiful Chinese Gardens. We have been here before, but it is years and it finished up the day before we went off to the fancy dinner nicely.
This popular walled garden recreates the harmony and philosophy of a traditional Chinese garden with water features, traditional pavilions, plants and the spirituality of feng shui.
Opened as part of Australia’s Bicentennial Celebrations in 1988, the Chinese Gardens were built through a partnership with the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, in the province of Guangdong, and Sydney, NSW (being sister cities of sister states). It certainly feels very tranquil and on an expensive acre in the heart of Sydney. It is now heritage listed.

Entrance

 We luckily arrived just as a tour was about to start, so waited in the first area which was filled with beautifully kept bonsai.

The rocks behind me were what started the tour off. Of course I can't remember now exactly what these were about lol, but basically we went from one rock to the next.

There is a bit of a pathway which was locally done filled with smaller rocks this was for foot massages but represents a flower motif.

Pathway of Magnolias.

This is the first room that you come across and represents both Australia and Guangzhou, East and West. There are a lot of areas that represent "rooms" some overlooking water for meditation type purposes.

Dragon Wall with trees in front.

The Dragon wall represents NSW,( the blue dragon), and Guangzhou in China. The pearl between them represents friendship between the 2 sister cities.

Always great vistas

Wax Rock

 

Above is the view of the main waterway in the middle. There are 4 rocks. One represents a dragon, one a turtle, phoenix and unicorn, but this view leads up to the mountain where there is the Pagoda, with lots of wind chimes, known  as the windless chimes of Gurr. Soft looking rocks are the mountain while hard looking trees represent the top.

The windless chimes which automatically play. Wonderful carvings just below them.

There is a group known as the Rock Garden that are about a story of a young girl and her brave shepherd, but is kidnapped by a rich landlord for his son, and various players in the story, all represented by these very large rocks.

The young Shepherd I think

The young girl with her floating bonnet.

Every where you look there is a wonderful view.

Koi Carp

The rocks were discovered to have very, very old specimens on them. Excavated from Cumnock Station, in Cabonne Shire, NSW from an ancient river bed. 

There is a lot of fascinating history behind this garden and well worth the visit. If you catch one of the free tours,it is  worth going with it.Also there is a tea house where you can have a snack.

The zig zag Pathway.

We did spot a photo shoot of some Japanese girls, I think in Anime costumes.

After viewing this garden I was very glad to get back to the hotel for a rest, before our Ethopian Dinner I told you about last week, and so ends our wonderful Sydney Weekend.

Thanks Careena 💕


Till Next Time .