Forbidden Gardens, Miniature park in Katy, United States.
Forbidden Gardens was a miniature park spread across a large outdoor area in Katy, Texas, where detailed scale replicas of famous Chinese structures stood. The grounds displayed recreated versions of the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven in reduced form.
The park was founded in 1996 by Hong Kong real estate developer Ira Poon to showcase Chinese architectural culture. It remained open to visitors until 2011, when closure became necessary.
The site brought together two cultures by recreating Chinese architectural traditions in Texas. Visitors could observe how ancient Chinese building practices were interpreted at a large scale, even as materials and techniques were adapted for the American climate.
The grounds were quite large, so comfortable shoes and plenty of time for exploration were necessary. The hot and humid Texas climate required precautions like sun protection and plenty of water.
The site contained roughly 6,000 terracotta soldiers at one-third their original size, referencing the ancient army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. These statues could be purchased individually, giving the place a distinctive character.
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