Our Mission The mission of Lan Su Chinese Garden is to cultivate an oasis of tranquil beauty and harmony to inspire, engage and educate our global community in the appreciation of a richly authentic Chinese culture. Our Story Opening in September 2000, Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of Portland's greatest treasures and most interesting sites to see while visiting Portland. A result of a collaboration between the cities of Portland and Suzhou, our sister city in China's Jiangsu province that's famous for its beautiful Ming dynasty gardens, Lan Su was built by Chinese artisans from Suzhou and is one the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China. Our Vision Lan Su envisions a world where people of all backgrounds are valued; all cultures are celebrated; and community members have a deeper, more immersive world view. Our Name The garden's name represents this relationship: sounds from both Portland and Suzhou are combined to form Lan Su. "Lan" (蘭 ) is also the Chinese word for "Orchid" and "Su" (蘇) is the word for "Arise" or "Awaken," so the garden's name can also be interpreted poetically as "Garden of Awakening Orchids." (蘭蘇園) We are #MoreThanAGarden Much more than just a beautiful botanical garden, Lan Su is a creative wonder — a powerfully inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, history, architecture, design and nature in perfect harmony. Offering more than 500 cultural and botanical programs each year, Lan Su is a window into authentic Chinese culture and a platform for the Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.