Liu Ming Yuan | 柳明園 | LUB VAJ PHOOJ YWG

THE ST. PAUL-CHANGSHA CHINA FRIENDSHIP GARDEN

OF WHISPERING WILLOWS AND FLOWING WATERS

AT PHALEN REGIONAL PARK

THE FIRST SISTER-CITY CHINA FRIENDSHIP GARDEN IN MINNESOTA

Xiang Jiang Pavilion photo by Bryan Murphy, Architect St. Paul Parks & Rec

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MCFGS sends its sincerest condolences to the Lu family on the death of our Advisory Weiming Lu. Weiming was instrumental in the forming of the St. Paul-Changsha sister-city relationship in 1988, when he traveled with Mayor George Latimer to Changsha for the signing of the sister-city agreement. Weiming was also a key supporter for the China Friendship Garden, seeing it as another way to build bridges between Minnesota and China. We are proud to display his calligraphy of an art stone at the China Friendship Garden.

MCFGS thanks all our volunteers who helped “Grow the Garden” (weeding and planting) in 2022 – a total of 310 volunteer hours! In October, the volunteers “amended the soil,” planted 100 Siberian Irises and 5 Peonies.

MCFGS announces the 2023 Phase II BUILDING BRIDGES capital campaign. Individual donors giving $2,000 or more will have their names engraved as “Bridge Builders” on the permanent Donor Wall at the China Garden site ($4,000 donation for businesses).

UPCOMING EVENTS – SAVE THE DATE

The Hmong Plaza design was unveiled on 1/7/2023 at a Community Engagement Open House at Hmong Village. View the schematic designs for this and all the Phase II Hmong Plaza and Chinese elements, share feedback and ask Qs!

[Chinese elements: Chinese Arched Moon Bridge, Lakeside Moongate Entrance, Permanent Donor Wall, Chinese Chess Table space, Moon Viewing Platform, Xiang Jiang Paviion Mountain]

Go to: www.stpaul.gov/phalenchinagarden for all presentations, and meeting notes & recordings.

Watch for announcements about 2023 events to celebrate the 35-year anniversary of the founding of the St. Paul-Changsha sister-city relationship!

“Follow Us” on Facebook at St. Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden at Phalen Park.

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The China Garden is a place for:

Celebration
Recreation
Education
Meditation
Poetry Composition
Photography
Cultural Performances
Aesthetic Enjoyment
Painting
Relaxation in Nature

The St. Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden:

Is a symbol of Minnesota’s longstanding friendship with China and a recognition of its sister-city relationships
Promotes Minnesota’s understanding of China and of China’s rich cultural heritage
Promotes Minnesota’s understanding of the cultural and ancestral connection between the Minnesota Hmong and the Hmong in Changsha, Hunan Province
Serves as a recognition of the contributions of the Chinese American community to the Twin Cities
Serves to enhance peoples’ connection to and appreciation of nature
Builds a cultural bridge that will boost international trade and tourism between China and Minnesota

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Importance of China Gardens in Minnesota

Important Voice of Asian Minnesotans. The China Friendship Garden will engender a greater appreciation by the entire Saint Paul community of the ancient art form of the classical Chinese Garden, in which each garden element is imbued with deep, symbolic cultural meaning. For the local community, the Garden will broaden horizons, deepen mutual understanding and strengthen friendships among all community members, in a rare space in which Asian American voices, plus visual and intangible cultures of Minnesota’s Chinese and Hmong communities, are centered and foregrounded.

Important Cultural Bridge. The China Friendship Garden is an important cultural bridges to China, which is Minnesota’s second largest trading partner. This Garden will further enhance the partnership between China and Minnesota, as such Gardens have done in many cities in the U.S. and Canada. This Garden will not only add beauty to the neighborhood, but would show the world that Minnesota welcomes international investors and visitors to our global metropolis.

Recognize Chinese Contributions to MN. The Chinese have a long history in Minnesota, having been here since 1870s. They have contributed to Minnesota in many important ways. In the early days to mining, railroad building, restaurants, and laundry businesses, and then to the fields of science, medicine, technology, finance, education, and international trade. Today they are contributing research to many fields, including nanotechnology, bio-fuel, solar energy, Alzheimer disease, etc. The China Garden recognizes their many contributions to the City of Minneapolis, the City of St. Paul, and the State of Minnesota.

Celebrate MN’s Diversity. Minnesota has many diverse communities. For example, Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak pointed out, in connection with his organizing of the Minneapolis Mosaic Arts Festival, that the City of Minneapolis has 85 languages spoken. Having gardens related to various ethnicities in Minnesota will help to build better understanding and collaboration among communities, and enhance the partnerships between citizens and their government.

Land Acknowledgement. The Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society acknowledges and respects the Dakota who are the traditional and ancestral inhabitants of the land on which sits the St. Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden of Whispering Willows and Flowing Waters at Phalen Regional Park.

THE MINNESOTA CHINA FRIENDSHIP GARDEN SOCIETY