The St. Paul – Changsha Friendship Garden of
Whispering Willows & Flowing Waters at Phalen Regional Park
明州中國友好花園協會
The Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society
In Partnership with the City of Saint Paul Department of Parks & Recreation
& Hunan Jianke Landscape, Changsha, Hunan, China,
Proudly Create and Sustain
Liu Ming Yuan | 柳明園 | Lub Vaj Phooj Ywg
The First Sister City China Friendship Garden of Minnesota
A Public Gathering Space that Strengthens Community, Health & Healing
Announcements
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2026-2027 BOARD OF DIRECTORS!
The Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society welcomes our new President and 3 new Directors.
At the August 28 Annual meeting and election, the Board welcomed Brian Hammer as the new President (previous Co-president), as Bill Zajicek moved into the Immediate Past President position (previous Co-president). The Board also welcomed 3 new enthusiastic and talented Directors: Ben Brown, Elisabeth Sundberg, and Karen Yuan. Other members of the Board include Christina Le (Vice President), Sue Klevan (Treasurer), Linda Mealey-Lohmann (Secretary), Romi Slowiak and Dona Vu (Executives-at-Large), Chen Zhou (Ambassador-at-Large), and board members Christina Deng Morrison, Donglin Liang, and Jeremy Tok. We honored Mary Warpeha who is leaving the Board after 26 years of dedicated service and moving to the Honorary Advisory Council. We also thank 3 Directors who moved off the Board to the Volunteer Committee for their service: Yue Pearl Cheng, Ger Thao, and Tou Chao Vang.
Liu Ming Yuan has become a meaningful public space for friendship, cultural learning, community connection, and appreciation of nature. To continue this work, we thank our committed board members who care about the Garden’s mission and contribute time, skills, relationships, community connections, and leadership.
The 2025-2026 MN China Friendship Garden Society Board of Directors have had a productive term.
We thank the outgoing 2025-2026 Board of Directors for their hard work and great accomplishments this past term, including the new aluminum/magnesium bi-metal roof on the Xiang Jiang Pavilion, the greatly expanded the peony collection along with another 300 plants, and three very successful cultural events, including the First Annual Peony Festival, the 4th Annual Dumpling Feast, and the 5th Annual Mid-Autumn Festival, all offered free to the public. Read the 2025 Annual Report here.
2025-2026 MCFGS Officers
Our Second Annual Peony Festival on May 16, 2026, was a huge success!
Congratulations to the Performers, Vendors, & Exhibitors
The theme was Healing Nature reflected in performances such as Lion Dance good fortune, Qeej spirit sailing, harmonies of a wind quintet, and the sensitive breath of the Shakuhachi, which brought us all into a better place. The day ended with a group sing! Vendors introduced the audience to the healing properties of acupuncture and Chinese and Hmong herbs.
2025 MCFGS Year End Annual Appeal
Thank you to all our generous donors. We raised over $33,000 to support new features in 2026!!
Our March 19, 2026, Annual Dumpling Feast was a huge success!
Watch for the 2027 date and join us!
Starry Wu & Jin Zhang, newest Committee Members
Continuing Appeal
Support the China Garden Society and help our garden grow with a donation. Consider making a $1,000 donation for a memorial tree to honor a loved one. Consider a donation of $2,000 or more to become a “Bridge Builder” to get your name on the permanent donor feature and support the construction of Phase II. Consider a smaller donation for plants to help finish the Xiang Jiang Pavilion garden.
Construction Update
New Roof Completed on the Xiang Jiang Pavilion October 2025
St. Paul Parks & Rec secured funding and managed the construction of the Pavilion roof from May to October to replace the former clay tile roof with a new metal tile roof that should hold up in our Minnesota winters much better. Come see the new roof!
Phase II Hmong Cultural Plaza
Construction and landscaping of the Phase II Hmong Cultural Plaza was completed in 2024, except for three Hmong art sculptures -the Silver Necklace and 2 Qeej musical instrument sculptures. Help fund the creation of these art sculptures (Budget $550,000).
Go to the Hmong Elements page to learn more about the Phase II Hmong Cultural Plaza.
Phase II Elements
Go to the Future Plans page to view proposed Phase II 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 the St. Paul Government Website for all presentations, and meeting notes & recordings.
The China Garden
is a Place for:
The Importance of China Gardens in Minnesota:
