Chinese Garden of Friendship
The Chinese Garden of Friendship is a beautiful oasis within the city
The Chinese Garden of Friendship was opened in 1988 as part the commemoration of Sydney's bicentennial. Located near Darling Harbour at the northern end of Chinatown, this lovely garden is well worth a visit and the admission fee is very reasonable.
The garden was designed by landscape designers and gardeners from Sydney's sister city of Guangzhou in China. It is modelled after the likes of private gardens common during the Ming Dynasty, but is somewhat smaller than they were. A unique aspect of the design is that there is no point in the garden where you can see all of the garden at one time.
You will be delighted by the beauty of the gardens natural features and settings accented by a variety of architectural backdrops and Chinese sculptures as you stroll along the meandering pathways through the garden. It is this natural beauty that makes the garden very popular for wedding photography. Some of the features to watch for include the Dragon Wall, the Water Pavilion of Lotus Fragrance, and the Twin Pavilion.
The garden also has a Tea House, where you can enjoy a cup of Chinese Tea of some other refreshments. Be sure to bring your camera.
Nearby attractions include: Chinatown, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Capitol Theatre and Darling Harbour.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesAddress: Pier Street, Cnr Harbour St, Darling Harbour NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: (02) 9240 8888
Official Website: Chinese Garden of Friendship
Directions
| Train Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Light Rail | Exhibition | 2 minutes |
| T2 or T3 | Museum Station | 5 minutes |
How to get to Chinese Garden of Friendship by Train
By Light Rail: exit at Exhibition Stop and go down the ramp on the east side of the station and cross the street. Continue east on the sidewalk staying next to the south end of the Sydney Entertainment and Convention Centre until you get to the plaza on your left. The entrance to the Chinese Garden of Friendship is across the plaza from the Entertainment Center.
By Train: exit at Museum Station and proceed west on Liverpool Street crossing Harbour Street via the elevated pedestrian overpass. The entrance to the Garden is around to your left at the far side of the pedestrian overpass.
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Reviews
Rated out of 5
The Chinese Garden of friendship is a beautiful little gem in the heart of the city. I have gone several times with friends and family and we always pay the extra $10 to dress up. One little girl even came up to us and said "excuse me queens, can I have a photo with you?" And then she let me hold her bunny in the photo. The whole garden is beautiful and tranquil and there are lots of hidden little spots. Last time I went we fed the fish and a turtle came and joined in the fun :) They also have a cute little tea house where you can sit and have tea. Honestly this is one of my favourite places!
The Invisible Fly - 18 days ago
The Chinese Garden of friendship is a beautiful little gem in the heart of the city. I have gone several times with friends and family and we always pay the extra $10 to dress up. One little girl even came up to us and said "excuse me queens, can I have a photo with you?" And then she let me hold her bunny in the photo. The whole garden is beautiful and tranquil and there are lots of hidden little spots. Last time I went we fed the fish and a turtle came and joined in the fun :) They also have a cute little tea house where you can sit and have tea. Honestly this is one of my favourite places!
A charming garden with some really tasteful architecture and an interesting layout. It will provide the visitor with lots to discover, enjoy and cherish. The whole garden can be easily covered in about an hour and has a lot of interesting nooks and corners to discover. The only drawback is that the city looms large all around the space and you can’t really escape the sights and sounds of it from anywhere within the garden. The cafe inside the garden has limited food choices but can provide a very relaxing experience due to the surroundings.
Prabal Chatterjee - 24 days ago
A charming garden with some really tasteful architecture and an interesting layout. It will provide the visitor with lots to discover, enjoy and cherish. The whole garden can be easily covered in about an hour and has a lot of interesting nooks and corners to discover. The only drawback is that the city looms large all around the space and you can’t really escape the sights and sounds of it from anywhere within the garden. The cafe inside the garden has limited food choices but can provide a very relaxing experience due to the surroundings.
Divya S - 27 days ago
Shion Ishida - 1 month ago
Eric Wong - 1 month ago
Video
Photo Gallery
A pond reflecting the natural beauty of the Garden cc licensed photo by David Swhartz 
Bonzai plants in the Chinese Garden of Friendship cc licensed photo by craigcullum -
Chinese Garden of Friendship cc licensed photo by Travolution360 -
Sydney Chinese Gardens HDR cc licensed photo by David Lochlin -
Sydney Chinese Gardens HDR cc licensed photo by David Lochlin -
Sydney Chinese Gardens HDR cc licensed photo by David Lochlin -
Sydney Chinese Gardens HDR cc licensed photo by David Lochlin
