2nd equal winner of A Distant Longing: Dunedin Chinese Garden Student Essay Competition
In the southern hemisphere far away from China, Dunedin, New Zealand, the city known as "the most Scottish" outside Scotland, stands a small but authentic Chinese garden, Lan Yuan.
One of the important reasons to build Lan Yuan is to memory the story of Chinese in Otago. Take the location of Lan Yuan for example, it is sited adjacent to a planned goldfields heritage trail that documents the contribution and experiences of early Chinese gold miners. The garden is also a tribute and memento to remind people of Chinese in Otago who have made great contribution to early agriculture production, market gardening, horticulture and handicrafts in New Zealand.
Secondly, the establishment of Chinese gardens in Dunedin intends to commemorate the Chinese settlers’ contribution to the history, culture and continued prosperity of the city Dunedin. There is a Chinese-style archway at the entrance, the flying horns and the carved beams, and the Chinese name “Lan Yuan” of the garden, all of them reveal the quaint Chinese taste. Thanks to lasting expectation and persistence of Chinese in Otago, this authentic Chinese garden completely reflects the typical Chinese gardening techniques and design.
As we know, Lan Yuan was built collaboratively by the Chinese from Shanghai and Dunedin, which has cost great manpower, materials and financial resources. It is worth mentioning that Chinese Gardens Committee, made up by diligent and insistent Chinese in Otago, has been continuously dedicated to raise fund among Dunedin’s Chinese community, invite Shanghai experts as advisors involved to guide the development and character of Lan Yuan, also coordinate construction process from several parts.
In the meantime, great emphasis has been placed upon Lan Yuan as a gift expressing the appreciation to Dunedin for its acceptance and support towards Chinese immigrants, also on the other side, highlighting the blocky hardship dilemma faced by early Chinese people. Lan Yuan symbolizes the hard work of Chinese in Otago, overcoming difficulties and striving to survive, also the harmony between different ethnicity in Dunedin.
When it comes to the role Lan Yuan plays today, it has turned into an authentic Chinese profile in New Zealand. Being a Chinese style garden, Lan Yuan connects Chinese in Otago with native Chinese in mainland China and the land of their ancestors emotionally and practically. Obviously, Lan Yuan itself condenses the deep friendship of the people from Shanghai and Dunedin, since the completion of Lan Yuan must also be attributed to the strong support and help of Shanghai. Under the matchmaking of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Administration of Cultural Heritage and Shanghai Construction Decoration Company take responsible for the basic design and construction of the garden, also the prefabrication of garden structures and provision of materials like Taihu stone, pebbles, tenon wood components. Simultaneously, the foundation works such as building ponds and other logistics supports are handled by Dunedin.
In the name of Lan Yuan that witnesses the 24-year history of the sister-city relationships between Shanghai and Dunedin, “Lan” resembles two meanings: it comes from the Chinese name “Xin Xilan” of “New Zealand” and also represents the city flower of Shanghai, white magnolia “Bai Yulan”. Furthermore, in March 2010, Lan Yuan signed a cooperation agreement with Shanghai Yu Yuan, both of which have been the carriers of Chinese civilization and become sister-garden relationships to share experience of management and facilitate maintenance programs for Chinese gardens. Hitherto the intercourse between two cities has continued and gradually become one of the successful examples of friendly exchanges with foreign countries, which has also created a model of equal friendship and cooperation between metropolis and small cities.
Corresponding to the Chinese characteristics of Lan Yuan, Chinese are increasingly prominent in New Zealand society, more visible in the fields of business, law, medical, and politics. In addition, as one of the most important economic powers in the world, China has a far-reaching impact on New Zealand, including a large number of Chinese immigrants settling in New Zealand nowadays, which leaves Lan Yuan a solid cultural design and foundation. Hence Lan Yuan has been highly considered as a mark of China's friendly relations with New Zealand. It is believed that this unique Dunedin Chinese Garden will promote the development of tourism, achieve economic and cultural win-win between the two countries. Apart from enhancing mutual friendship, promoting common development and carrying out long-term cooperation, Lan Yuan will also help advance world peace and make different cultures more splendid and more inclusive.