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Seattle Chinese Garden will likely be quite pretty when it's completed, however as it stands it's essentially a large patio and a small bamboo garden that ends in a sculpture. There are no onsite public restrooms open on the weekends. To clarify, the entire area seems a bit neglected. The adjoining SSC Arboretum is gorgeous, but clearly has sections that need to be trimmed back from the path. Currently the Seattle Chinese Garden patio is surrounded by a gravel pit. There is a half finished pond, a completed pond, and a rather underwhelming Stonehenge-like sundial. Once you climb up the gravel, you can see the bamboo edged path and the garden, complete with fish sculpture. Towards the end of the construction site are two statues, and as you walk down the muddy path, you see the benefactor wall. The entire space feels underwhelming at best and half finished. I wouldn't make a special trip to visit unless you're already there for the SSC Arboretum.
This hidden gem was a quick stop on the way out of Seattle. We enjoyed the quietness and serenity of location. Lovely colors found from the various blooms and the authentic decor was amazing
I'm starting to feel like a broken record but this is yet another hidden gem in Seattle. We were there just as the leaves were turning color and it was beautiful so I can imagine how it must be when the leaves have fully turned color. The space is surprisingly big- at first I thought it was just a few trees and such but nope, you go in there is a whole pathway that leads to an open area with a Pavilion, Gazebo, etc. Definitely a nice stroll when the weather is nice.
This small park gives the impression that early benefactors anticipated vibrant future growth that hasn't yet come to full fruition. The structures, landforms, sculptures, water features, and plantings now in place offer a pleasant diversion, but considerable space appears suitable for garden expansion. Perhaps I misunderstand the intent; I expected more extensive formal spaces and a clearer distinction from surrounding native and naturalized vegetation. Judging a garden during a severe drought isn't really fair, and August is probably not the best month to visit. The shrubs and bamboo are holding up alright though. Regular visits through the year would be worthwhile. If tranquility is a goal, the challenge is great--steady air traffic, regular train whistles, and distant sirens deliver a fair amount of noise to compete with the bird song and human voices that seem more appropriate to the surroundings. On this visit, only half a dozen people were present on a Sunday late morning, though that number tripled not long after noon. Someone played quiet flute music intermittently and inexpertly, which generally enhanced the ambience... at least until I recognized the strains of "O Danny Boy." Not the ear worm I would have picked.
We came during the weekend of the Peony Festival, but around 10:30 AM so it was before any of the performances as we wanted to avoid potential crowds. However, the area was pretty spacious so I imagine distancing would still be easy. It's definitely no Tulip Festival in terms of volumes of flowers, but it's free (there was an optional donation box) and the workers were knowledgeable about the courtyard's history. The courtyard and garden itself feel small in terms of things to see, so I'd recommend checking out the arboretum next door before or after. There was a parking booth upon entry of the lot, but it was unstaffed on our visit Sunday morning. Unsure if this is typical for Sundays.
I was hoping for a nice stroll, the garden is small. Unfortunately the Chinese side looked a bit worn down. I was hoping this place could possible be a wedding venue. There's not much to look at, and the koi ponds are a bit depressing. Murky waters, and some beautiful but small koi. The garden itself looks unkempt and had a desolate feeling to it. I wish there was more of a history vibe, very little placards or descriptions on the garden ** Perhaps the garden is run on donations, bear that in mind.
It is a great Chinese garden near Seattle West Community College and is free to public. Like other comments noted, this is an unfinished project. However, the garden is still full of plants, care, thought, and scenery. The garden is also adjacent to other plant gardens at the community college so it is bigger than just the Chinese garden. The Chinese garden itself consists of bamboo forests, lily ponds, Chinese houses, courtyards. It is very peaceful and tranquil. The staff here are also very friendly and knowledgeable. I wouldn't suggest someone to go out of their way to just visit this garden, but it is great place to visit if you're in this area. Really hope that they have enough funding to expand the Chinese garden and maintain it. It's a lot of work!
Chinese garden isn't advertised as much as Japanese one. We learned about the Chinese garden in Seattle by accident and decided to check it out. The garden itself is under construction but it's still nice and peaceful. There are a few sculptures hidden between various trees and bushes. Great tip: right next to it, you can find Arboretum of South Seattle College which is blooming in summer - absolutely gorgeous!
This is located on the north end of the South Seattle Community College and what a joy to have this in the West Seattle area and for that matter, Seattle! It is free to visit (they have a donation box in the visitor trailer) and is quite large and lovely. The main courtyard is traditional Chinese architecture and is very relaxing and calming with inner pond with koi fish. This structure is just the beginning of a masterful plan of many other buildings and a huge lake. Make sure you stop in to see the future of this place. It was neat to see it at this beginning stage.
Very pretty park with very traditional buildings. Very quiet and peaceful. It's a great place to hang out with family and take photos. We got a lot of compliments on the photos. My husband lived in Seattle for 38 years and never discovered this park. It's next to the campus with plenty of parking. Recommend for everyone!
Though the grand opening is not scheduled until mid May, the South Seattle Community College Chinese Garden opened to the general public today. We participated in a guided tour where they filled us in on the process of the construction, the meaning of the Chinese elements, and the progress of the garden. Though we were standing in a haphazard landscape of partially constructed buildings, piles of rocks and dirt, muddy paths, and overgrown bamboo, it was possible to visualize the beauty that is yet to come. The tour guide emphasized that much of the work cannot be finished without additional funding, so I do suggest checking out the website if this is a project you would like to see completed. The area was chosen thoughtfully, providing a view of downtown, the Space Needle, and the Cascades. We started out at the main structure that leads to the garden. It is lovely and built in a traditional Chinese style, with modern elements (such as steel reinforcements) to make it earthquake proof. Artisans from China were actually flown in to do the construction! According to the website, the courtyard will eventually include twelve buildings, including an education center and a banquet hall. Then we stepped out into what will become a garden. There are a few structures in place and lots of plants. The area is designed in the Sichuan style and will feature a variety of plants, ensuring something is in bloom year round. Each season will bring a different look and feel to the garden. There will also be a pond that flows from inside the courtyard to the garden. The garden is designed to harmoniously incorporate elements of rock, water, horticulture, and architecture. After leaving the garden - in - progress, we saw an area that looked much more developed. There were signs indicating it was an arboretum. We missed the beginning of the lecture, so I don't know exactly how it relates to the rest of the Chinese Garden. But this part was very beautiful and much more complete. There are paved paths, bridges, benches, labels on the flora, a cute stream and an area with a fountain. I imagine it would be a very relaxing place to take a stroll or sit and contemplate on a less windy and more pleasant day. We used the college parking lot free of charge. The garden tour was also free today, but there will eventually be a ticket window and charge for admission. I'd definitely love to come back and see the Seattle Chinese Garden in a more complete stage. Today's experience was just a hint of what's to come (that's why I can't give it more Stars), but you can tell it will be stunning in the end. This site map looks terribly ambitious compared to what I saw today, but the website also mentions that the project may take ten years to complete! http://www.seattlechinesegarden.org/index.php?p=Overview_Map&s=51 From the website: "The Seattle Chinese Garden inspires global understanding by immersing visitors in the richness and beauty of Chinese culture. Our mission is to create a traditional Sichuan-style Chinese garden, the only one of its kind outside China, as a means of celebrating Seattle's rich Chinese heritage and supporting Seattle's future business and cultural relationship with China." Seattle is lucky to have such a project growing in our midst.
Seattle Chinese Garden is located at South Seattle College. Having visited a few Chinese gardens including the one in Portland, I thought this one was a bit lacking and feels somewhat incomplete. It feels like a "set design" Chinese garden which has the facade, but not much of anything else. There is a main Chinese garden building and that is just about it. A bamboo garden can be found behind it, but it is not very big. Found it a bit difficult to get an Instagram worthy photo here. I would skip this spot if you are a tourist in Seattle and time is limited. From a community perspective though, I would find this an appealing place to visit if I lived in the neighborhood and was walking in the area. read more
We attended Astro Lumina tonight. Wonderful experience. We were very lucky with the weather, which didn't hurt... but I can imagine in any weather it would be worthwhile. What I didn't realize before going is that there are 9 light installations. Each tells a 3-4 minute part of the larger story. The music and lights are coordinated to tell the story. I found it beautiful and soulful. It was a great way for us to feel part of a greater whole during this holiday season. read more
1 year ago
I love Chinese Gardens and like to come to the Seattle Chinese Garden where I can relax and get some alone time away from the noisy parts of the city. It's a piece of Sichuan magically transported into Washington state. While the architecture is incredibly beautiful and intricate, my gripe is that the garden has been left on a building hiatus for years despite receiving some generous amount of donations in the past and having multiple well-outlined sectional plans of building out the garden. I had hoped they would've slowly build small sections every year to extend the garden until it grew into its full glory. I've been to other lovely Chinese Gardens across the whole West Coast, so it upsets me to see that this place is at a stand-still. But don't take my criticism to heart. I understand that a project like this is still expensive, and I know that this garden is trying its best to stay as authentic as it can be by importing material and professional builders from China. And if you don't know, as of June 6, 2025, the Seattle Chinese Garden has announced further plans on the campaign of raising more money to complete the construction of this monument. They hope to raise $30million to build out the remainder of the garden. So if you would also like to see this place be finished being built, support them by checking out the website and perhaps donating! While my rating reflects how I feel about the project at the moment and where it stands, I still truly enjoy the Seattle Chinese Garden and would love to rate it higher once more progress has been made. Good luck to the whole team working on this, I look forward to seeing more and would love to volunteer my time to help as well. read more
1 year ago
Seattle Chinese Garden will likely be quite pretty when it's completed, however as it stands it's essentially a large patio and a small bamboo garden that ends in a sculpture. There are no onsite public restrooms open on the weekends. To clarify, the entire area seems a bit neglected. The adjoining SSC Arboretum is gorgeous, but clearly has sections that need to be trimmed back from the path. Currently the Seattle Chinese Garden patio is surrounded by a gravel pit. There is a half finished pond, a completed pond, and a rather underwhelming Stonehenge-like sundial. Once you climb up the gravel, you can see the bamboo edged path and the garden, complete with fish sculpture. Towards the end of the construction site are two statues, and as you walk down the muddy path, you see the benefactor wall. The entire space feels underwhelming at best and half finished. I wouldn't make a special trip to visit unless you're already there for the SSC Arboretum. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
This hidden gem was a quick stop on the way out of Seattle. We enjoyed the quietness and serenity of location. Lovely colors found from the various blooms and the authentic decor was amazing read more
I'm starting to feel like a broken record but this is yet another hidden gem in Seattle. We were there just as the leaves were turning color and it was beautiful so I can imagine how it must be when the leaves have fully turned color. The space is surprisingly big- at first I thought it was just a few trees and such but nope, you go in there is a whole pathway that leads to an open area with a Pavilion, Gazebo, etc. Definitely a nice stroll when the weather is nice. read more
This small park gives the impression that early benefactors anticipated vibrant future growth that hasn't yet come to full fruition. The structures, landforms, sculptures, water features, and plantings now in place offer a pleasant diversion, but considerable space appears suitable for garden expansion. Perhaps I misunderstand the intent; I expected more extensive formal spaces and a clearer distinction from surrounding native and naturalized vegetation. Judging a garden during a severe drought isn't really fair, and August is probably not the best month to visit. The shrubs and bamboo are holding up alright though. Regular visits through the year would be worthwhile. If tranquility is a goal, the challenge is great--steady air traffic, regular train whistles, and distant sirens deliver a fair amount of noise to compete with the bird song and human voices that seem more appropriate to the surroundings. On this visit, only half a dozen people were present on a Sunday late morning, though that number tripled not long after noon. Someone played quiet flute music intermittently and inexpertly, which generally enhanced the ambience... at least until I recognized the strains of "O Danny Boy." Not the ear worm I would have picked. read more
We came during the weekend of the Peony Festival, but around 10:30 AM so it was before any of the performances as we wanted to avoid potential crowds. However, the area was pretty spacious so I imagine distancing would still be easy. It's definitely no Tulip Festival in terms of volumes of flowers, but it's free (there was an optional donation box) and the workers were knowledgeable about the courtyard's history. The courtyard and garden itself feel small in terms of things to see, so I'd recommend checking out the arboretum next door before or after. There was a parking booth upon entry of the lot, but it was unstaffed on our visit Sunday morning. Unsure if this is typical for Sundays. read more
I was hoping for a nice stroll, the garden is small. Unfortunately the Chinese side looked a bit worn down. I was hoping this place could possible be a wedding venue. There's not much to look at, and the koi ponds are a bit depressing. Murky waters, and some beautiful but small koi. The garden itself looks unkempt and had a desolate feeling to it. I wish there was more of a history vibe, very little placards or descriptions on the garden ** Perhaps the garden is run on donations, bear that in mind. read more
It is a great Chinese garden near Seattle West Community College and is free to public. Like other comments noted, this is an unfinished project. However, the garden is still full of plants, care, thought, and scenery. The garden is also adjacent to other plant gardens at the community college so it is bigger than just the Chinese garden. The Chinese garden itself consists of bamboo forests, lily ponds, Chinese houses, courtyards. It is very peaceful and tranquil. The staff here are also very friendly and knowledgeable. I wouldn't suggest someone to go out of their way to just visit this garden, but it is great place to visit if you're in this area. Really hope that they have enough funding to expand the Chinese garden and maintain it. It's a lot of work! read more
Chinese garden isn't advertised as much as Japanese one. We learned about the Chinese garden in Seattle by accident and decided to check it out. The garden itself is under construction but it's still nice and peaceful. There are a few sculptures hidden between various trees and bushes. Great tip: right next to it, you can find Arboretum of South Seattle College which is blooming in summer - absolutely gorgeous! read more
This is located on the north end of the South Seattle Community College and what a joy to have this in the West Seattle area and for that matter, Seattle! It is free to visit (they have a donation box in the visitor trailer) and is quite large and lovely. The main courtyard is traditional Chinese architecture and is very relaxing and calming with inner pond with koi fish. This structure is just the beginning of a masterful plan of many other buildings and a huge lake. Make sure you stop in to see the future of this place. It was neat to see it at this beginning stage. read more
7 years ago
Very pretty park with very traditional buildings. Very quiet and peaceful. It's a great place to hang out with family and take photos. We got a lot of compliments on the photos. My husband lived in Seattle for 38 years and never discovered this park. It's next to the campus with plenty of parking. Recommend for everyone! read more
16 years ago
Though the grand opening is not scheduled until mid May, the South Seattle Community College Chinese Garden opened to the general public today. We participated in a guided tour where they filled us in on the process of the construction, the meaning of the Chinese elements, and the progress of the garden. Though we were standing in a haphazard landscape of partially constructed buildings, piles of rocks and dirt, muddy paths, and overgrown bamboo, it was possible to visualize the beauty that is yet to come. The tour guide emphasized that much of the work cannot be finished without additional funding, so I do suggest checking out the website if this is a project you would like to see completed. The area was chosen thoughtfully, providing a view of downtown, the Space Needle, and the Cascades. We started out at the main structure that leads to the garden. It is lovely and built in a traditional Chinese style, with modern elements (such as steel reinforcements) to make it earthquake proof. Artisans from China were actually flown in to do the construction! According to the website, the courtyard will eventually include twelve buildings, including an education center and a banquet hall. Then we stepped out into what will become a garden. There are a few structures in place and lots of plants. The area is designed in the Sichuan style and will feature a variety of plants, ensuring something is in bloom year round. Each season will bring a different look and feel to the garden. There will also be a pond that flows from inside the courtyard to the garden. The garden is designed to harmoniously incorporate elements of rock, water, horticulture, and architecture. After leaving the garden - in - progress, we saw an area that looked much more developed. There were signs indicating it was an arboretum. We missed the beginning of the lecture, so I don't know exactly how it relates to the rest of the Chinese Garden. But this part was very beautiful and much more complete. There are paved paths, bridges, benches, labels on the flora, a cute stream and an area with a fountain. I imagine it would be a very relaxing place to take a stroll or sit and contemplate on a less windy and more pleasant day. We used the college parking lot free of charge. The garden tour was also free today, but there will eventually be a ticket window and charge for admission. I'd definitely love to come back and see the Seattle Chinese Garden in a more complete stage. Today's experience was just a hint of what's to come (that's why I can't give it more Stars), but you can tell it will be stunning in the end. This site map looks terribly ambitious compared to what I saw today, but the website also mentions that the project may take ten years to complete! http://www.seattlechinesegarden.org/index.php?p=Overview_Map&s=51 From the website: "The Seattle Chinese Garden inspires global understanding by immersing visitors in the richness and beauty of Chinese culture. Our mission is to create a traditional Sichuan-style Chinese garden, the only one of its kind outside China, as a means of celebrating Seattle's rich Chinese heritage and supporting Seattle's future business and cultural relationship with China." Seattle is lucky to have such a project growing in our midst. read more
16 years ago
13 years ago
As of March of 2014, one court, one pavilion and a carp statue are completed. It takes about ten minutes to tour the whole place. I look forward to its completion. If you don't mind walking an extra three minutes, you can park outside at the curb for free. read more
5 years ago
9 years ago
The Chinese style gate is beautiful, and I liked the carp statue, but the garden feels empty. The ground is mostly gravel and I think if more plants were placed, it would be a really beautiful garden. The arboretum to the left is more lush, and there are some beautiful roses. The Chinese garden seems like it has potential, but feels unfinished. read more
13 years ago
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12 years ago
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15 years ago
More info about Seattle Chinese Garden
6000 16th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98106
Riverview
Directions
(206) 934-5219
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http://www.seattlechinesegarden.org
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