Astor Court, Chinese garden at Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, US
Astor Court is a Chinese garden within the Metropolitan Museum of Art featuring a circular moon gate entrance, covered walkways, and water features integrated throughout the space. The courtyard displays distinctive Taihu rocks and Ming Dynasty furniture arranged in traditional patterns.
The garden was completed in 1981 and represented the first permanent cultural exchange between the United States and the People's Republic of China. This project took place during a period of renewed diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Chinese artisans built the garden using construction methods passed down for centuries, with wooden columns fitted together without any nails or fasteners.
The garden is located within the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is accessible through the museum's main entrances. Visitors can explore the space during regular museum hours and should wear comfortable shoes as the walkways can be uneven.
Every element in the garden follows specific placement rules that ensure no similar components face each other directly. These design principles draw from classical Chinese garden concepts about balance and visual harmony.
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