Dr Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden in Vancouver
A Guide (Part 2)
(Click here to jump back to Part 1 of my Guide to the classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver)
The Dr Sun Yat Sen Garden is a window back in time to see a Ming scholar’s retreat from busy official life. 4 elements: plants, buildings, rocks and water all combine in an ever-shifting 3-D landscape painting.
The Central Courtyard and Yun Wei Ting 
Moving back from the Maple Hall to the Central Courtyard: This is where you want to be when they're feeding the goldfish. The fish can be hard to see in the cloudy water, but at feeding time you'll see dozens of varieties of different colours and shapes. I was surprised by how large some were. I had the foolish idea that all goldfish were tiny creatures swimming in glass bowls. Goldfish bring good fortune and riches in Chinese tradition.
 Notice that the faux 'mountain' on the right acts as a shield and prevents you from seeing the entire garden at once. There are always more secrets hiding around the corner. This mountain was carefully built of eroded limestone. And you can also see glimpses of the buildings outside the Chinese Garden. Vancouver has grown a lot since the garden was first built. However the peace and tranquility inside is still perfect. The pavilion at the top is called Yun Wei Ting. Every classical garden must have a ting to "represent man in his natural setting". And to make the scholar's retreat seem more like the natural landscape outside the city.
The Double Corridor and Jade Water Pavilion
 Next you’ll walk along the Winding Double Corridor at the left. This acts as a border and link to the public park on the other side of the water. The curves in the path slow you down so you appreciate all the different views along the way. I like to walk back and forth on either side a few times.
Make sure to look through the lattice 'leak' windows. There are 36 in the garden each with its own pattern. They make the garden seem larger and give you a new perspective onto other areas. Then the Jade Water Pavilion, sitting like a bridge over the water. With gentle breezes swishing by, this is the coolest spot in the summer. 
Notice the "lady" balustrades around the edges. These are designed so that a woman sits prettily and becomes part of the picture.
Try sitting and leaning comfortably along the railing. You'll find it compels your posture in an unusual (for us modern folks) way that looks rather attractive in photos.
(I say this is designed for women, because the original concept came about in a time when women were classed as delicate creatures needing constant attention. And also when most women in China had their feet bound. Standing for long periods would have been difficult. Interestingly, the 1911 Revolution credited to Sun Yat Sen, the Garden's namesake, is when the first effective ban on foot-binding was instated.) 
On the pavilion, the circular frame facing east is the Heaven Gate and the square shape facing west is the Earth Gate, another yin and yang example.
Constructed of gingko wood, the lattice-work is carefully joined together, no nails, screws or glue, just precise planning and a delicate touch.
The intricate designs in the woodwork are of plums, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums. Next you will pass through the South Corridor and see new perspectives of the Yun Wei Ting. And peek out onto the street - the leak windows at the back of the Chinese Garden makes Vancouver’s ordinary city street into an interesting visual space.
The Scholar’s Study 
And walk into the Scholar's Study and courtyard. This would have been the private domain of the scholar. The walkway on the east side leads to a tiny pavilion where artists would perform music or recite poetry. The arrangement of the plants and rocks, the hall and furnishings would be evidence of the scholar's own personal taste.
Now it’s a quiet spot to wander, like the rest of the Chinese Garden. Vancouver musicians occasionally still perform here. The windows along the northern wall show the 'three friends of winter' the evergreen pine, the bamboo and the winter-flowering plum framed in the lattice-trimmed windows. These also make the space seem larger... 
The scholar would have studied scrolls, written poetry, composed music and painted artworks in the contemplative atmosphere of his study. Here he would also carry out his laborious official tasks.
Then walk through the “Hall of a Hundred Rivers” to see the changing exhibition of art and antiques, and to grab a free cup of tea. Be careful, it’s always very hot!
At this point, I always want to walk around the Garden again and see the spots that I missed, and my favourite spots again.
Bonus History Lesson The Chinese Garden in Vancouver is dedicated to Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the "Father of Modern China". Credited as a major unifying and driving force behind the 1911 revolution which overthrew Chinese imperial rule, he became the first provisional president of the Republic of China. Sun Yat Sen devoted his life to improving the economic development and political rule in China. He was born a peasant in Guandong province in 1866, educated in Western thought in Hawaii, lived as a professional revolutionary and died a hero in 1925. His legacy is the political philosophy of the Three Principles of the People; the principles of nationalism, of democracy and the people's livelihood. Accomplishments worth remembering and very important the Chinese community in Vancouver.
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