THE MINNESOTA CHINA FRIENDSHIP GARDEN SOCIETY

& THE US-CHINA PEOPLES FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION, MINNESOTA CHAPTER (USCPFA-MN)

PROUDLY ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF

Liu Ming Yuan | 柳明園 | LUB VAJ PHOOJ YWG

THE ST. PAUL-CHANGSHA CHINA FRIENDSHIP GARDEN

OF WHISPERING WILLOWS & FLOWING WATERS

AT PHALEN REGIONAL PARK

THE FIRST SISTER-CITY CHINA FRIENDSHIP GARDEN IN MINNESOTA

A multi-cultural landmark offering an inclusive cultural gathering space

that strengthens community connectedness, health, & healing

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MCFGS Expands Board to 15 Directors

MCFGS held its annual meeting and election on August 24, 2023. We added 4 new Board members: Sue Klevan, Christina Le, Pa Thao, Audrey Busch; Two new Honorary Advisory Council members: Ken Lau and Ying Chu-Yang-Heu; and six new committee volunteers: Vue Chu, Jay Her, Jeremy Tok, Yao Tu, Dona Yang, Jerome Younger. Congratulations!

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MCFGS Poetry Contest!

Click here to enter Poetry Contest

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Construction of the Hmong Cultural Plaza began in May 2023. Visit the site and our Facebook page to see current progress. Go to the Changsha Garden Design page to view the Phase II Hmong Plaza and Chinese elements designs.

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

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

MCFGS sends its sincerest condolences to the Wong and Graff families on the death of our Honorary Advisory Council member, Walter Graff. Walter was one of the founding board members of the China Garden Society in 2005 and later moved to our Honorary Advisory Council a few years ago. He has been a strong supporter of the China Friendship Garden.

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

SAVE THE DATE: May 18, 2024 Hmong Plaza Opening

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

Click here.

The China Garden is a place for:

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

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 & Flowing Waters at Phalen Regional Park.