Lan Su Chinese Garden, in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown, just marked its 25th anniversary in September 2025.
This guide was updated in June 2026. Summer hours have also got shorter for 2026: the garden now closes at 5.30pm instead of 6.30pm. Adult admission has risen to $18, up from the $16 charged as recently as last year’s anniversary celebrations. You can book through GetYourGuide to secure your ticket before you travel.
Lan Su Chinese Garden quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 239 NW Everett Street, Portland, Oregon 97209 |
| Hours (spring/summer, Mar–Oct) | 10am–5:30pm; last entry 5pm |
| Hours (fall/winter, Oct–Mar) | 10am–4:30pm; last entry 4pm |
| Adult admission (19–61) | $18 |
| Seniors & students (62+ / 18+ with ID) | $17 |
| Youth (6–18) | $15 |
| Children 5 and under | Free |
| Nearest transit | Old Town/Chinatown MAX stop (Blue/Red lines) |
| Typical visit | 1–1.5 hours |
Why book Lan Su Chinese Garden tickets?
- 🏛️ An authentic Ming Dynasty garden: built by 65 artisans from Portland’s sister city, Suzhou.
- 🎟️ Just marked 25 years: the garden celebrated its anniversary in September 2025.
- 🌿 Over 100 species of Chinese plants: including the Pacific Northwest’s largest lotus collection.
- 📜 500 tons of imported rock: Lake Tai’s scholar’s rocks were shipped from China to build the garden.
- 💰 Free for under-6s: the youngest visitors don’t pay a thing.
Lan Su Chinese Garden opening hours
Lan Su opens at 10am every day. From March to October, it closes at 5.30pm, with last entry at 5pm. From October to March, it closes earlier, at 4.30pm, with last entry at 4pm. These summer hours are shorter than in previous years, when the garden stayed open until 6.30pm. The garden closes only for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
5 great Portland experiences to book
- 🌊 See the best beaches and views on a full day Oregon coast tour.
- 🏞️ Get a work out on a half day hiking tour to Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge.
- 🚢 Enjoy a dinner cruise on the Willamette River.
- 👻 Hear ghost stories on an underground tour of the haunted Shanghai tunnels – with beer tastings.
- 🍽️ Taste 6 local and global dishes on a downtown food tour.
Lan Su Chinese Garden ticket prices
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (19–61) | $18 |
| Seniors & students (62+ / 18+ with ID) | $17 |
| Youth (6–18) | $15 |
| Children 5 and under | Free |
| Members | Free |
These are the official admission prices in US dollars. Adult admission has risen to $18, up from the $16 charged as recently as the garden’s 25th-anniversary celebrations in September 2025. Booking in advance through GetYourGuide is a straightforward way to buy your ticket before you travel. Children 5 and under always enter free, and one caregiver of any visitor with a mobility issue is admitted free too. EBT and WIC cardholders can claim $5 admission for up to four people, though this discount must be redeemed in person.
Getting to Lan Su Chinese Garden
By MAX: The Old Town/Chinatown stop on the Blue and Red lines is right by the garden.
By bus: Routes 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 33, 40 and 77 all stop nearby.
By bike: A BIKETOWN bike-share station sits right outside the garden’s east wall.
By train: The garden is a quarter-mile from Amtrak’s Union Station.
Why book the Portland Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour?
- 🚍 Pink Trolley Sightseeing: Experience the city in style aboard a vintage-style trolley that follows a comprehensive 13-stop loop through Portland’s most famous districts.
- 🌹 Washington Park & Rose Garden: Enjoy easy access to the International Rose Test Garden and the Japanese Garden, two of the city’s most beautiful and iconic outdoor spaces.
- 🎤 Live Local Narration: Learn about Portland’s “Keep It Weird” culture, its unique history, and its world-class food scene from expert guides providing live commentary.
- 📚 Iconic Downtown Stops: Hop off to explore legendary locations like Powell’s City of Books, the Pearl District, and the historic Old Town area at your own pace.
- ⏱️ Choose Your Pace: Select between a 1-day or 2-day pass, giving you the flexibility to spend as much time as you like at each attraction without the stress of driving or parking.
Lan Su Chinese Garden parking
Free, first-come, first-served parking is available at the Lan Su Annex, just off NW Third Avenue. On-street metered parking costs $2 an hour, free on Sunday mornings before 1pm and on public holidays. A handful of private parking garages, including one a four-minute walk away, are also nearby.
How long to spend at Lan Su Chinese Garden
Most visitors spend an hour to ninety minutes exploring the garden’s one city block. Add extra time if you’re stopping at the Yun Shui Teahouse, since admission is required to access it.
Lan Su Chinese Garden accessibility
Lan Su has a wheelchair-accessible route through almost every part of the garden, with benches and fully accessible restrooms throughout. The garden doesn’t provide wheelchairs to borrow, so bring your own if you need one. The only exception is the second floor of the Yun Shui Teahouse, which is reachable only by stairs.
What to see at Lan Su Chinese Garden
Lake Zither: At the garden’s centre, this koi-filled lake is framed by covered walkways, bridges and the Moon Locking Pavilion, designed for views of the moon’s reflection on clear nights.
Tower of Cosmic Reflections: This two-storey building houses the Yun Shui Teahouse, where traditional Chinese and Taiwanese teas are served overlooking the lake.
Knowing the Fish Pavilion: Named after a philosophical exchange about how we can know what another creature feels, this small pavilion looks out over koi in the water below.
Scholar’s Courtyard: A quiet space for reflection, this courtyard’s stone mosaics of plum blossoms symbolise hope and endurance through winter.
Lake Tai scholar’s rocks: Around 500 tons of these distinctively eroded limestone rocks were shipped from China’s Lake Tai to anchor the garden’s design.
Lan Su Chinese Garden practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book ahead for your preferred time | Admission can be reserved up to four weeks in advance, and sales are final. |
| Visit for the free guided tour | Garden tours are sometimes offered around 2pm; check with the ticket office on arrival. |
| Bring your own wheelchair if needed | The garden has an accessible route throughout, but doesn’t provide wheelchairs to borrow. |
| Skip the tripod | Tripods, drones and posed portrait photography aren’t allowed during public hours. |
| Check the season before you go | Summer and winter hours differ, and summer closing time is now earlier than in past years. |
Lan Su Chinese Garden FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How old is the garden? | It opened in September 2000 and marked its 25th anniversary in September 2025. |
| How much does admission cost? | $18 for adults, with reduced rates for seniors, students and youth, and free entry for children 5 and under. |
| Is the garden wheelchair accessible? | Yes, almost entirely, though the second floor of the teahouse is reached only by stairs. |
| Can I bring my dog? | No, only service animals are permitted inside the garden. |
| How long should I plan to stay? | Most visitors spend an hour to ninety minutes exploring the garden. |
Things to do near Lan Su Chinese Garden
Old Town Chinatown: The historic neighbourhood surrounding the garden has its own ornamental gateway and a mix of shops and restaurants.
Union Station: A quarter-mile walk away, this 1896 railway station is one of Portland’s grandest buildings.
Saturday Market: Held under the Burnside Bridge on weekends, this is one of the largest continuously operating outdoor markets in the country.
Voodoo Doughnut: A short walk away, this is one of Portland’s best-known doughnut shops, often with a queue out the door.
Portland Japanese Garden: A short drive across town in Washington Park, this is widely considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan.
What to visit tomorrow near Lan Su Chinese Garden
Dedicated Chinese gardens of this scale are rare in the Pacific Northwest, so this list broadens to other notable gardens within a couple of hours’ drive.
The Oregon Garden, Silverton: About an hour’s drive away, this 80-acre botanical garden has more than 20 themed garden spaces.
Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, Woodland: About 40 minutes’ drive away, this historic garden bursts into bloom each spring with hundreds of lilac varieties.
Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, Salem: About 45 minutes’ drive away, these working iris fields put on a spectacular bloom each May.
Deepwood Museum & Gardens, Salem: About 45 minutes’ drive away, this Queen Anne-style estate has a formal English-style garden surrounding a historic home.
More Oregon travel
Other Oregon travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to Pittock Mansion in Portland.
- Guides to the highlights of Portland’s Washington Park: Oregon Zoo, Hoyt Arboretum, the Portland Japanese Garden, World Forestry Center and International Rose Test Garden.
- Portland Art Museum guide: What to expect after the multi-million dollar renovation.
- What to expect at the Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint.
- A practical guide to visiting Vista House along the Columbia River Gorge.
