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Saturday, May 30, 2009

Lan Su Chinese Garden (Portland Classical Chinese Garden) - Portland - Oregon

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While lil' sis was revisiting her old haunts in Downtown Portland, I decided to walk around the Classical Chinese Garden. I hadn't been in nearly a decade, shortly after it opened.

I like it a lot more than the Huntington Library's Chinese Garden because its smaller size makes it more intimate and the plants are more settled. It's right in the middle of Portland's Chinatown and I love the juxtaposition of serene bliss in the midst of skyscrapers.

The Classical Chinese Garden is Suzhou-style with workers who came from China to build it.

Not much commentary here. Just lots of pictures.

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The most fragrant gardenia ever.

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These are called "leak" windows.

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After taking a complete turn, I went to the tea house for a break. The tea house inside the gardens is operated by the Tao of Tea, a Portland company with really excellent teas. I like their Belmont location a lot so I knew I'd get real tea here.

I ordered Dian Hong, or Tippy South Cloud, tea from Lancang, Yunnan province, in southwest China. According to the menu, "Yunnan, or "South Cloud" is regarded as one of the areas for the genesis of tea. During the 3rd century B.C., the central area of Yunnan, around present day Kunming was known as "Dian." Often Yunnan black teas are referred to as Dian Hong teas. Made at a 100% organic tea garden with a mix of black and gold tipped leaves. The golden color emerges during processing and after accurate "withering," moisture drying of the leaves. Few areas in Yunnan contain these types of plants.

Plucking season: summer
Flavor profile: smooth, slightly smoky with full bodied texture
Presentation style: served in handmade Yixing teapot, $4"

Sounds pretty impressive right?

I sat facing the garden and just gazed at the view.

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Where are you? What are you doing? lil' sis text messaged me.

How boring, she replied when I told her where I was and what I was doing. :P

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I told her to give me an hour and she could pick me up.

So after enjoying my tea, I did another circuit of the garden, taking more photos along the way.

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That's the tea house in the back.

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Ah, didn't that just relax you?

Lil' sis picked me up at the corner and we headed to one of my favorite places in town, Powell's Books!

That's the back of the Chinatown arch.

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And the front. It's not much of a Chinatown. Most of the Chinese businesses are across the river on the Southeast side of town.

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All Oregon posts can be found in the tag, Series: Oregon. I suggest reading this particular trip in this order:
I-5 From LA to Portland
Mom and Dad's Garden
Burgerville - Portland - Oregon
Hakatamon - Beaverton - Oregon
I Think I'll Go For a Walk Outside Now...
Vista Point - Oregon City
End of Oregon Trail Interpretive Center - Oregon City
Stevens-Crawford Heritage House - Oregon City
Museum of the Oregon Territory - Oregon City
Mom's Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Sizzling Crepes)
Blackberry Cobbler
Bonneville Lock and Dam - Cascade Locks - Oregon
Bonneville Hatchery - Cascade Locks - Oregon
Multnomah Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Horsetail Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Wahkeena Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Bridal Veil Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Historic Columbia River Highway - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Latourell Falls - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Crown Point Vista House - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Banh Cuon Tan Dinh - Portland - Oregon (Closed)
Downtown Portland - Oregon
Lan Su Chinese Garden (Portland Classical Chinese Garden) - Portland - Oregon
Powell's City of Books - Portland - Oregon
Mom's Geoduck, Dynamite-Style and Chao Oc (Vietnamese Rice Porridge with Clams)

How to Prepare Geoduck and Razor Clams
Geoduck, Japanese Dynamite-style
Chao Oc (Vietnamese Rice Porridge with Clams)
Le Bistro Montage - Portland - Oregon
Kenny and Zuke's Delicatessen - Portland - Oregon

Lan Su Chinese Garden (Portland Classical Chinese Garden)
239 NW Everett St.
Portland, OR 97209
503-228-8131

The Tao of Tea
503-224-8455

Summer Hours
April 1 - October 31
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Winter Hours
November 1 - March 31
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Admission
$8.50 Adults
$7.50 Senior (62 & above)
$6.50 Student (6-18 and college student with ID)
Five & under free.

*****
1 year ago today, a gift of a case of mangoes.
2 years ago today, a very, very basic cucumber salad that I happily munch on all summer long.

4 comments:

  1. hi wc - gorgeous photos, especially the ones of the intricate rocks and the curvy windows. very nice. we missed this during our visit, but will def. have to see it next time we're up. we ended up going to a comic book place instead, floating world, which is right next to the 24 hours church of elvis!

    ReplyDelete
  2. CC,
    I like Portland's Classical Chinese Garden a lot. Just nice and peaceful. They even book weddings here! Imagine how nice that'd be!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm from Portland, OR and I visited the Chinese Garden every once in awhile and I loved it too. I'm glad you came visit Portland and like it. I love reading your blog... awesome!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Huong,
    I'm from Portland, so of course I like it. ;)

    ReplyDelete

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