Sister City & Sister Park History
History of Saint Paul & Changsha Sister-City Relationship
The idea of creating a Saint Paul – Changsha sister-city relationship began in 1985 when Dr. P. Richard Bohr and Saint Paul Mayor Geoge welcomed a delegation from China and the idea was born. After three years of research and collaborative communications, Saint Paul Mayor George Latimer and Advisor Weiming Lu traveled to Changsha to sign the Sister-City Agreement in 1988. To read more about the founding of this relationship, read
In 2008 Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman traveled to Changsha with MCFGS Advisor Bill Pesek to sign a Friendship Declaration commemorating the 20th Anniversary.
In 2018 the sister cities exchanged gifts. Changsha gifted to Saint Paul the Xiang Jiang Pavilion, installed at the China Friendship Garden. Saint Paul and MCFGS gifted to Changsha a set of 5 iconic Peanuts character statues, including Hmong Lucy (designed by MN artist Kao Lee Thao) and Snoopy Doghouse with Minnesota state symbols painted in Chinese brush style (designed by MN artist Shen Yudong), installed at the Yanghu Wetlands Park Museum.
History of Phalen Regional Park & Yanghu Wetlands Park Sister-Park Relationship
Phalen Regional Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Yanghu Wetlands Park in Changsha, Hunan Province, China are Sister-Parks. This relationship was established in 2015 when Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman led a delegation of Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society members/advisors and representatives from St. Paul Parks & Recreation Department to Changsha for an official Sister-Park signing ceremony.
2015 Sister Park AGMT Sgning
