The Huntington "Chinese Garden" Ground Breaking on 8-28-18

The Final Phase of The Chinese Garden - "Liu Fang Yuan 流芳園" Ground Breaking Ceremony 8-28-18

The Road to Chinese Garden

In 1999, Peter Paanakker, a Los Angeles businessman and philanthropist donated $10 million to the Huntington Library. This donation, in combination with a $500,000 grant from the Starr Foundation of New York in 2002 and a community fundraising effort comprised of almost 300 donors (nearly 70% are from the Chinese and Chinese American community), made the dream of the Huntington Library Chinese Garden a reality.

The Huntington Library voiced their desire to build the Chinese Gardens couple decade ago. The planning community behind this massive undertaking began reaching out to various members of the Chinese community locally and abroad in an effort to better understand how to create a natural exhibit that accurately represented the beauty and richness of a Traditional Chinese Garden.

While the Huntington Library Botanical Gardens already served as a home to many plants originating from China – gingko, maple, bamboo, camellia, lotus, and plum and peach trees just to name a few – Jim Folsom, then assistant director and now director of the Huntington Library Botanical Gardens, started to map out the boundary to take an undeveloped site within the Botanical Gardens to bring together the diversity of Chinese flora already on the grounds.

The Chinese Garden opened in 2008 after completing its first phase of construction. Costing approximately $18.3 million, it covered 3.5 acres. A planned expansion to 12 acres will make it the largest garden of its kind outside China.

Built in the Southern Scholar Garden Style, the Chinese Garden is pronounced “Liu Fang Yuan - 流芳園” in Mandarin. “Liu Fang Yuan” translates into dual meanings in Chinese. The first meaning translates into “the garden of Flowing Fragrance.” The second meaning translates into “leaving a legacy for the next generation.” The union of these two principles perfectly sums up the vision behind the Chinese Garden; that the Chinese Garden be cultural center for growth that touches hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world. To quote Jim Folsom on the motivation behind building the Chinese Garden, “we hope this garden, and all the programs that it offers, helps move communities and peoples of varying heritage in Southern California to increase mutual understanding and appreciation.” The hope is that this motivation be extended to all peoples and all cultures.

With the majority of funding in place, The Huntington is beginning the final phase of construction on the Chinese Garden, Liu Fang Yuan 流芳園, the Garden of Flowing Fragrance.

Expanding the garden from the initial 3.5 acres to its long-planned 12 acres, significant new features include an exhibition complex at the north end comprising of a traditional scholar’s studio and an art gallery for changing displays; a new, larger café with outdoor seating; and a stream-side corridor and pavilion with scenic views. On the south end, a hillside pavilion will be situated on the highest point in the garden with a view of the Mt. Wilson Observatory in the distance. To the west, an event space for larger gatherings, and pending additional fundraising, a courtyard for the display of penjing (miniature landscapes) will be built, along with several acres of new garden spaces linked by winding pathways.
The garden will remain open to visitors during construction, with new sections anticipated to open in February 2020.
It’s been an incredible journey since our original “Friendship Fund Committee” started over 15 years ago helped to fund raise to kickoff with the gala “Prelude Of The Summer Garden” and start construction for the first phrase at the Huntington Library. Since then the The Huntington has 3 presidents in leadership. #sanmarinobuzz