Chinese Garden of Friendship, Chinese garden in Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia
The Chinese Garden of Friendship is a Chinese garden in Darling Harbour featuring pavilions, water features, rock formations, and pathways designed according to traditional Chinese principles. The site combines these elements with local plantings across separate zones that invite exploration.
The garden opened in 1988 during Australia's bicentenary celebrations as a gift from Guangdong Province in China to Sydney. This offering marked the beginning of the sister-city relationship and reflected growing ties between the regions.
The Dragon Wall features two dragons in blue and gold, representing the connection between New South Wales and Guangdong in traditional Chinese symbolism. Walking through the space, visitors encounter architectural elements that reflect how the two regions relate to each other through this shared design.
The garden sits at the corner of Day Street and Pier Street in Darling Harbour and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors can take guided tours, participate in tea ceremonies, or use the space for special occasions.
The pathways are deliberately designed so visitors cannot see the entire garden from any single viewpoint. This layout creates a feeling of ongoing discovery as each corner reveals something new.
Location: New South Wales
Inception: 1988
Email: chinesegarden@shfa.nsw.gov.au
Website: http://chinesegarden.com.au
GPS coordinates: -33.87650,151.20300
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02
Sydney offers many places to photograph beyond the usual tourist routes. The city spreads from the harbor to outer suburbs, combining coastal landscapes with historic neighborhoods and modern urban spaces. Those looking for less common subjects will find small waterside parks, old industrial sites, tidal pools, and viewpoints that show the city from different angles. Architecture ranges from colonial-era buildings to contemporary structures, and the coastline reveals coves and rock formations that differ from the well-known harbor scenes. In Lavender Bay, Wendy's Garden is a terraced garden with views of the harbor bridge. The Queen Victoria Building in the city center has a whispering gallery where sound travels in unusual ways across the space. Bare Island at La Perouse is a former military installation on a small island connected by a causeway. Cockatoo Island in the harbor once served as a shipyard and prison, and still shows the old machinery and warehouses. Hornby Lighthouse at Watsons Bay stands on a cliff above the ocean. Ballast Point Park in Balmain East has a narrow beach and remnants of old industrial buildings. Susannah Place Museum in The Rocks preserves four terrace houses from the 19th century. The Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour follows traditional design principles with pavilions, water, and constructed paths.
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