Zurich Attractions: The Chinese Garden

One of these is the Chinese Garden of Zurich, located in the Seefeld quarter of the city. It was originally a gift from the city’s partner town in China, called Kunming, and was dedicated to the Three Friends in Winter as a way to say thank you for Zurich’s help in establishing technical and scientific advancements in the development of their drinking water supply and drainage. It is one of the only non-Swiss sites in the city, and makes for a welcome tour once you step outside of your Zurich hotel. Whether you choose to explore the gardens themselves or the various architectural wonders, you will be sure to find yourself amazed alongside thousands of other tourists who come to Zurich hotels every year to experience the wonders of the city and the Chinese Garden.

The garden encompasses a section of terrain that is rectangular in nature, surrounded by a low wall with a central pond that has an island in the middle of it. The wall itself separates the mundane world from the idealistic and artistic world inside the garden, not to mention keeping out any unwanted guests. The wall has windows of barred bamboo and lotus flower tiles, with the tiles and bricks bearing sculptural figures such as the Chinese Dragon of Clouds, while the corners of the walls and their tops show the second of the nine dragon sons, Chiwen. The portal of the garden is one of the main reasons so many visitors flock from their Zurich hotels, emblazoned as it is with Chinese calligraphy on golden plates, translating to the words “China Garden”. Once inside, there is a bridge that connects the island of the pavilion with the inner garden, which is reminiscent of the Island of the Mortals. The water palace is the heart of the garden itself, with the paintings on the walls, doors and windows deliberately kept simple so that visitors can concentrate on the inner qualities of beauty the building holds, not to mention the terraces as they open against the water surface, showing the all-important element of the garden: water. If there is one thing to get you out of your Zurich hotel room it is definitely the Chinese Garden.

Overall, the garden is an expression of the Three Friends in Winter, which is a theme of Chinese culture: the three plants that braved the winter seasons together. Pine, bamboo, and winter cherry come together in the descriptions and paintings, offering Swiss residents and travellers the opportunity to step into the Chinese culture and lifestyle without ever leaving Zurich, which is a testament to the beauty of this cultural landmark.

By: Lek Boonlert

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Lek Boonlert is an editor and content reviewer at DirectRooms and is responsible for all Zurich Hotels content. Visit Zurich Hotel for more info.