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, Capitol Theatre and Darling Harbour.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesChinese Garden of Friendship Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: Pier Street, Cnr Harbour St, Darling Harbour NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: (02) 9240 8888
Official Website: Chinese Garden of Friendship
Chinese Garden of Friendship Reviews
Rated out of 5
Super lovely place to visit for an afternoon! Entry was only $12 for adults and $8 for students. The scenery and garden design is so aesthetic and so stunningly beautiful and a great place to catch lunch with so many fantastic eatery options nearby in darling square. There is a Chinese restaurant that has opened up inside the gardens too that also looks like such a great place to have lunch.
Margaret Lam - a month ago
Would very highly recommend visiting this absolutely beautiful place. Definitely worth a visit. Very peaceful and beautiful. There are many steps so it’s absolutely NOT wheelchair friendly and would also not be easy for people with mobility issues but for the able bodied people, they would definitely find it a serene experience. There’s a Chinese restaurant for those that are hungry but if you’re just looking to experience the garden itself, that’s fine too.
Nerine Cummins - 3 months ago
The Chinese Garden of Friendship was a beautiful experience. An oasis of peace and greenery amidst concrete, impeccably landscaped. A perfect place to escape and lose an hour in nature, yet still in the heart of Sydney. The entrance fee, around 7 euros, is definitely worth it. I would highly recommend it.
Ivan Šarić - 3 months ago
Definitely worth getting out this gem! It does cost money to go inside, but it is very worth it. Such a gorgeous garden with photo opportunities everywhere and lots of water dragons!
Jane Zerafa - 2 weeks ago
Good garden to while away 45 minutes or so. $12 entry for adults. $8 for seniors and kids over 5 years. Kids under 5 free. Lovely water features, lizards, carp, trees, bushes, birds, rocks and Chinese structures. Unfortunately there was extensive maintenance going on while we were there so several areas were not accessible. Not disabled friendly, only lower part of garden accessible. Toilets available. Could use more seating to sit and contemplate the garden.
Mal Curtis - 2 months ago
Directions
| Train Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Light Rail L1 | Exhibition | 2 minutes |
| T2, T3, or T8 | Museum Station | 5 minutes |
How to get to Chinese Garden of Friendship by Train
By Light Rail: exit at Exhibition Stop, walk down the ramp on the east side of the station and cross Darling Drive. Continue east through the pedestrian path lined with palm trees until you reach the plaza on the east side of Sydney Theatre. The entrance to Chinese Garden of Friendship is across the plaza from the ICC Sydney Theatre.
By Train: exit at Museum Station and proceed west on Liverpool Street crossing Harbour Street via the elevated pedestrian overpass. Go left at Tumbalong Park and follow the garden wall through the pedestrian plaza until you reach the entrance.
Map & Instant Route Finder
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Accommodations near Chinese Garden of Friendship:
Photo Gallery
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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 -
Photo Credit: jjordan64816 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: justbeingdust - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: justbeingdust - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: justbeingdust - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: justbeingdust - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: justbeingdust - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: justbeingdust - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: justbeingdust - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: justbeingdust - cc license via Flickr
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