Lan Su Chinese Garden
Lan Su Chinese Garden
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Lan Su Chinese Garden is much more than just a beautiful garden. It’s a creative wonder — an authentically built, powerfully inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, architecture, design and nature in perfect harmony.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Lan Su Chinese Garden and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Old Town - Chinatown
How to get there
- Union Station • 6 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,086 within 5 kms
Attractions
593 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Paige RNashville, Tennessee408 contributionsPeaceful & TranquilNot sure that would have explored this on my own, but was glad to have been sent here as part of a surprise trip. The neighborhood was sketchy for a single female to walk around in, but the garden itself was so tranquil and peaceful. I enjoyed tea in the afternoon and it was a perfect start to my trip.Visited October 2023Travelled soloWritten 14 January 2024
- Miss SarahPortland, Oregon8 contributionsMy favorite garden in Portland!I actually paid to be a member of the garden. It is SO affordable. And since I live and work in Portland, it was a great decision. I go sit in the garden on my lunch breaks, and I love bringing friends and family to visit. It is an absolute oasis in the city. Constantly blooming flowers, and art displays, there are also events and a great little gift shop. The pond, full of koi fish, is my favorite part.Visited February 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 7 February 2024
- Tim K110 contributionsWonderful oasis in cityThis was a return visit, so I knew I woud like ti, but since lunar new year was coming they had special exhibits. dragons and many lanterns. The rocks that make up he special gardens and water features are great. The houses are wonderfully done. It is all amazing for a mid-size city that had an earlier history of discrimination and somehow still has a substantial Asian population. It has something ot do with their sister city Suzhou, in China.Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 13 February 2024
- kisssmeeLos Angeles, California825 contributionsSo pretty.What a nice serene place smack dab in the middle of Downtown. It's street parking and thankfully it wasn't terribly difficult to find a spot. The front gate is locked and you will be buzzed in. You pay your fee at the ticket booth. You explore the grounds and enjoy the greenery and ambiance of it all. Unfortunately, when I visited there was scaffolding so it was a little bit of an eyesore. The brighter side, it just means I have to come back again to fully enjoy the beauty of the place. There is a small body of water in the middle and beautifully decorated architecture around.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 February 2024
- Dewayne VPittsboro, North Carolina575 contributionsGreat respite in a big city.Walked into Chinatown from our timeshare at the Worldmark. Went down 3rd Street to get to LS Chinese Garden. Not a recommended path as there is a homeless shelter on the route. I would recommend taking 4th or 2nd street. Once at the garden it is beautiful. Very peaceful. The tea garden was outstanding. Well worth a visit.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 August 2024
- luvthecarribean!Saint Cloud, Minnesota276 contributionsYes, but noWorth it only if you have a history of Chinese culture or you take the free guided tour. Highly recommend the guided tour. Lucinda does a wonderful job!! On the other hand, this garden oasis is surrounded by the homeless and a super sketchy area. You actually have to get buzzed in (security gate) by the Garden staff. As a solo woman traveler, I made it there from downtown, but was definitely not prepared to head back the same way alone. It truly freaked me out.Visited September 2024Travelled soloWritten 17 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,576 reviews
Excellent
1,742
Very good
624
Average
155
Poor
27
Terrible
28
Sawadeeann
Oahu, HI438 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
I realllly wanted to enjoy this place, but it was just meh for me. I found street parking and mind you, this isn’t in the most safest of places. Lots of transients walking around. So be mindful.
We came on a Wednesday and we were literally the only ones in the garden. I booked on-line so it was easy just saying my last name and gaining entrance. The garden is surrounded by buildings as it is in downtown/Chinatown so that took away from the setting. They do the best they can. There was construction noise on the street that runs along the gardens which defeated the purpose of a mindful morning. Not their fault, albeit I would have had the gardens in a much quieter neighborhood like where the Japanese gardens is.
We opted out of the free tour and paced ourselves. The garden is not big, but having no guide I am certain we missed out on lots of information. We also did not enter the cafe as I heard they just give you tea bags. No thank you. My suggestion would be to pipe in Chinese instrumental music to drown out the noise of construction and cars.
The gals in front were friendly and willing to chat, I guess I was expecting Asian staff (not being racist) and not a predominantly Caucasian one in discussing the Chinese gardens This was not worth the entrance fee nor was looking for parking in a seedy neighborhood with my kid.
We came on a Wednesday and we were literally the only ones in the garden. I booked on-line so it was easy just saying my last name and gaining entrance. The garden is surrounded by buildings as it is in downtown/Chinatown so that took away from the setting. They do the best they can. There was construction noise on the street that runs along the gardens which defeated the purpose of a mindful morning. Not their fault, albeit I would have had the gardens in a much quieter neighborhood like where the Japanese gardens is.
We opted out of the free tour and paced ourselves. The garden is not big, but having no guide I am certain we missed out on lots of information. We also did not enter the cafe as I heard they just give you tea bags. No thank you. My suggestion would be to pipe in Chinese instrumental music to drown out the noise of construction and cars.
The gals in front were friendly and willing to chat, I guess I was expecting Asian staff (not being racist) and not a predominantly Caucasian one in discussing the Chinese gardens This was not worth the entrance fee nor was looking for parking in a seedy neighborhood with my kid.
Written 17 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jordan W
26 contributions
Jun 2021 • Solo
This was an excellent place to relax amidst the hustle and bustle of PDX. Even though it’s in the middle of the city, Lan Su Chinese garden was so peaceful and quiet.
I felt truly relaxed watching the koi fish and sitting in the tranquility courtyard. I would highly recommend this to anyone who needs a break from the city speed
I felt truly relaxed watching the koi fish and sitting in the tranquility courtyard. I would highly recommend this to anyone who needs a break from the city speed
Written 22 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa
13 contributions
Oct 2022
Lan Su Chinese Garden is only about a block or so in size but my husband and I spent over 2 hours there. If you can time your visit to get a tour, it is probably worth it. We got there too early for the first tour so we downloaded the audio tour on our phones and listened while we wandered around. We were able to stop and start the audio in order to take more time at each stop. The tea house near the end of the tour is very nice. We each got a cup of tea and sat at a table enjoying the serenity of the garden. This is a must see attraction. We almost missed it in our searches of what to do in Portland.
Written 6 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffrey H
Honolulu, HI100 contributions
Oct 2021
I have visited the Scholar Gardens in Suzhou, China and I was happily surprised to step into the Lan Su Gardens, a facsimile of a real garden. However, one must really slow down to appreciate the surroundings. I saw people arrive, take one quick turn and exit. I wonder what they got out of their visit. This is a place to spend time, to let go of one's rush-rush schedule, to sit in one of the many pavillions or open spaces and just let nature talk to you. If there is a negative, there is a tall red brick building that looms over the space and the sound of Union Station nearby. Overall, thank you Portland for creating this garden.
Written 6 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YoukoS
Portland, Oregon, United States38 contributions
Jun 2019
The garden is very small but is as authentic as you can get for a Chinese (Ming Dynasty style) Garden. In order to appreciate its beauty, I'd recommend that visitors do some research on the history of the Ming Dynasty and the style of gardens in that period. Otherwise, unless they enjoys anything new and different like me, they might end up being disappointed.
Written 11 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer L
Portland, OR131 contributions
Aug 2021 • Solo
This traditional Chinese garden was made by artisans who came over from China
It is very welcoming.
Lots of shade and places to sit. There was a breeze even in 90 degree weather.
Great place to spend an afternoon
It is very welcoming.
Lots of shade and places to sit. There was a breeze even in 90 degree weather.
Great place to spend an afternoon
Written 16 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RandyRoss
Ridgetown, Canada12,815 contributions
Aug 2022
We were a little concerned about the number of homeless people in the area, although they seemed peaceful enough. In any case, we parked our car on the street and had no issues.
The garden itself was lovely. We actually liked it more than the Japanese gardens. The gardens take up a full city block and had lots of colorful buildings, beautiful flowers and nice ponds.
Recommended.
The garden itself was lovely. We actually liked it more than the Japanese gardens. The gardens take up a full city block and had lots of colorful buildings, beautiful flowers and nice ponds.
Recommended.
Written 26 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr. B
San Antonio, TX112 contributions
Oct 2022
We visited Lan Su Chinese Gardens the morning before our conference began. We took a LYFT ride into town, across the bridge from our Hotel Eastlund, and amongst the chaos of the homeless meandering around in a drug daze, or in hysterics as they are having visions and hearing voices, it was a frightening journey to these gardens, but once we were there, it was as though we were in another world. The front gate is locked and you'll have to be let in, as again, sadly it is located in a complicated area of Portland (though everyone would probably say all of Portland is complicated from what I've researched and heard from the locals). But Lan Su Chinese Garden is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful. Take your time, walk through slowly, take a moment to meditate, take a breathe before you go back into that city, because this is the only place you'll find peace for a few miles out. A must see and well worth the trip. You'll also find some beautiful original paintings on display. A terrific experience. I didn't want to leave.
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PortlandFoody
Portland, OR25 contributions
Aug 2022
The most beautiful place in Portland Or., hidden away in the downtown area. The pond is magical with the Koi swimming amongst the water lilies and the lotus - the plants and flowers are ever changing with the seasons and the smell was fabulous.
The staff members are so helpful and seem to love their jobs. I read that September 3rd & 4th, they are having a Mid Autumn Lantern Festival with a Market Place and Asian dancers and Musicians and the Lion Dancers from 2:00 to 9:00. Sounds like a date to put on my calendar. Peaceful, Relaxing, Tranquility - we need this in our lives.
The staff members are so helpful and seem to love their jobs. I read that September 3rd & 4th, they are having a Mid Autumn Lantern Festival with a Market Place and Asian dancers and Musicians and the Lion Dancers from 2:00 to 9:00. Sounds like a date to put on my calendar. Peaceful, Relaxing, Tranquility - we need this in our lives.
Written 8 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave T
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK630 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Tucked away in the old town part of Portland this lovingly created Chinese tea garden is a thing to behold. I have been lucky enough to visit China itself and this place really does do it justice. The buildings, gardens, reflective pools are all amazing and the tea garden cafe is worth a stop, great green tea, sake, and pan fried dumplings
Written 26 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have a small chihuahua and he is. for emotional support.he is leash trained is he allowed thanks
Written 23 August 2019
Chinese_Garden
Portland, Oregon
Only service animals are permitted in the garden.
Written 26 August 2019
Chinese_Garden
Portland, Oregon
Lan Su has a wheelchair accessible route that travels throughout the garden. Almost every area of the garden can be accessed by those using mobility devices, and benches are available throughout the garden.
Restroom are also fully accessible, and an elevator in the Teahouse allows patrons with limited mobility to access first and second floor seating.
Written 24 June 2018
Chinese_Garden
Portland, Oregon
Lan Su Chinese Garden is open year-round (closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day). Please check the garden's website for any updates before planning your visit.
Written 15 April 2018
How far from union station?
What public transportation would I take?
Written 17 June 2017
It is about half a mile from Union Station and unless you have difficulties, I would walk. From the station take four blocks South on the NW 6th Avenue, then turn left onto NW Everett Street and it is four blocks along. The blocks are not huge and the Gardens are well marked. If walking is a problem I guess there will be taxis at the station and you can arrange for the driver to pick you up after an agreed time.
Written 17 June 2017
Chinese_Garden
Portland, Oregon
Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (62+), $7 for students (w/ ID), Free for children 5.
Written 23 April 2017
Sugarbooger500
Eureka, California
How much time should I plan to spend here on average?
Written 6 July 2015
Chinese_Garden
Portland, Oregon
An average visit to the garden can last about an hour. Join a docent led tour (included in your admission) or stop in the teahouse for a vast selection of delicious teas and treats, and your visit to the garden can easily extend through an afternoon. Thank you for your question, we hope you enjoy your visit!
Written 6 July 2015
Showing results 1-7 of 7
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing