(near the Sydney Entertainment Centre and adjacent to Chinatown)
Phone 02 9240 8888
We found a lovely little haven of tranquility right in the heart of downtown Sydney in the Chinese Garden of Friendship. Finished in 1988 as part of Australia’s Bicenterary, it was initiated by the local Chinese community to share in their cultural heritage. Using traditional forms of landscaping, architecture and garden design it does a wonderful job of recreating the natural form of nature – lakes, mountains, waterfalls and forests. One can sit on a rocky outcrop and watch fat happy carp sliding through the waters, dragonflys buzzing happily suspended in mid-air, or all manner of birdlife snoozing or catching some rays.
A gorgeous little teahouse waits at the end of your meandering walk, though I wished it were perhaps a little more “traditional” serving exotic ranges of teas etc. As it was, your usual cafe fare (and cafe tea) is available, although surprisingly there were three dim sum on offer. EG and I couldn’t resist kicking back with a steamer basket of siu mai and a chilled bottle of commercial iced tea (well, it was hot outside!). A nice escape from the bustling city.
The sui mai look good. Yes, my stomach is now rumbling.
Greetings, love your name! I’m in San Francisco, CA and while we have a beautiful old Japanese Garden with a tea house, they only serve rice crackers and tea… How lovely the garden looks.
Sandy
Hi kitchenhand – the sui mai were actually very good. Is it lunch time yet?
Hi there foodhoe – ditto, love your name as well
I was really impressed with the garden. I should actually put up some more photos as there were some stunning rotundas, an amazing waterfall, quaint areas of contemplation etc. We probably walked around for about two hours – our senses ever delighted by what we saw, heard, smelt (…and tasted!).
Hi Mellie and EG, I’ve been to these Chinese Gardens numerous times and did not know that there was a teahouse there. Will try to remember to visit next time we’re up there again.