US historic library's Chinese Garden celebrates expansion with grand opening

After a five-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens finally opened to great fanfare on Friday with the unveiling of its newly expanded and completed traditional Chinese garden Liu Fang Yuan, the Garden of Flowing Fragrance.

"We are delighted to be able to welcome visitors to explore these exquisite new features that further demonstrate the beauty and depth of Chinese cultural and landscape gardening traditions," said Karen R. Lawrence, president of the Huntington in a statement.

"The debut of these new sections of the Chinese Garden coincides with the conclusion of the Huntington's yearlong Centennial Celebration, and symbolically opens a new chapter in the institution's history," Lawrence added.

Stephen, a college professor in Los Angeles who attended the opening, told Xinhua that the garden is "Like a living cultural ambassadorship for Chinese culture. The harmony of the garden as a whole, the sense of balance within it, it's peace and tranquility - all come together in unique and beautiful ways in its traditional Chinese landscapes."

Inspired by the centuries-old Chinese tradition of private scholars' gardens, the Chinese Garden made its debut in 2008.

Expanded from its initial 1.4 hectares to 6 hectares, the Chinese Garden now is one of the largest Chinese-style classical gardens in the world.

The total cost of this final phase of construction was approximately $24.6 million. This brings the combined total cost of the garden to about $54.6 million, all of which was raised from individual, corporate, and foundation gifts, according to the Huntington.