Chinese Garden of Friendship

The Chinese Garden of Friendship features a high, jagged wall of gray granite that separates the lush interior from the bustling streets of Darling Harbour. Designed by architects from Sydney’s sister city, Guangzhou, the garden opened in nineteen eighty-eight to mark Australia’s bicentenary. While most public parks follow an open grid, this space relies on the principle of hiding and revealing, where winding paths intentionally obstruct a clear view of the next pavilion. It recreates the Ming Dynasty style of private scholar gardens.