Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden

Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden Culture / Heritage / Gardens / Education / Attractions Open daily 10am-5pm except Christmas Day. We welcome your comments and discussion on our page.

As one of only three authentic Scholar's Gardens found outside of mainland China, the Dunedin Chinese Garden is set in the heart of Dunedin City centre. The Ming-Qing dynasty design, offers a unique insight into the Scholar's home and workplace, featuring a small lake, mountain, many hidden courtyards, pavilions, and buildings. Opened in 2008, the Garden is a rapidly developing into what is known

locally as 'an Oasis in the city', in which its surrounding walls shelter it from the hustle and bustle of the city, offering a tranquil setting in which visitors can enjoy not only the culture, but also the space to sit and quietly contemplate over a pot of authentic Chinese Tea. The small tea/ gift shop offers a range of traditional style Chinese buns and dumplings, five different types of Chinese Tea, coffee, soft drinks and ice cream. As well as a range of souvenirs including decorative screens, embroideries, coin cases, costumes, tea sets, fans and childrens toys. A small library is becoming established in the Tower Room featuring books based on Chinese culture and gardens. And visitors are able to try on a range of authentic Chines costumes, or play games such as Chinese Checkers, Wei qi, Chess or even the Marble game. Children love coming to feed the goldfish, or to adopt and release their own into the pond and often revisit to see if they can spot the fish they released! The Garden organise children's activities during school holidays, including workshops, storytimes, and treasure hunts, for which they can participate in free, as long as they are accompanied by an adult (to whom admission prices do apply). Three of the major Chinese festivals are celebrated in the Garden - including the Dragon Boat Festival, the Moon Festival and the Chinese New Year. Please be polite and respectful with your comments and views. Any comments or posts which contain profanities are automatically blocked from our page and we may remove comments which are disrespectful, abusive or considered spam. This page is not to be used for electioneering – any election campaign related posts will be removed

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🌟 Looking for your next school holiday experience?🐞 Join us for Bug Sanctuary @ Lan Yuan and create your own sustainable...
11/04/2026

🌟 Looking for your next school holiday experience?

🐞 Join us for Bug Sanctuary @ Lan Yuan and create your own sustainable bug home inspired by the plants and principles of a traditional Chinese garden.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A hands‑on, family‑friendly activity with all materials provided while stocks late (free with Garden entry).

📅 Wednesday 15 April | 10am–12pm
📍 Lan Yuan Courtyard
🎟️ Standard entry fees apply

🍂 Experience the rare beauty of an autumn garden evening at Lan Yuan As Friday night dusk settles over the garden, do so...
07/04/2026

🍂 Experience the rare beauty of an autumn garden evening at Lan Yuan

As Friday night dusk settles over the garden, do something a little different. Join us for a relaxed and inspiring evening surrounded by nature, culture, and calm.

🌿 Explore & Create
🎨 Capture the garden’s autumn colours using watercolour pencils
✍️ Practice calligraphy in the Tower Room with water writing sheets
🐎 Search the garden for hidden Chinese zodiac animals tucked among the foliage

🍵 Free Drop‑in Workshop – Tea House
Learn about Chinese cultural traditions and create a handmade keepsake to take home. Perfect for beginners and experienced crafters alike.

🎶 Live Music from 5pm
Enjoy the elegant sounds of the guzheng, performed by friend of the garden Xinmeng Li.
Sit back, relax with a complimentary cup of tea, and feel free to bring along a picnic dinner to enjoy while you’re here.

📍 4pm – 7pm | Friday 10 April
📍 Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden
🎟️ Standard entry fees apply

🌧️ Keep an eye on our page for any updates in case of adverse weather.
Bring a friend, slow down, and soak up a truly special autumn evening.

What a fantastic night! Thanks to everyone who came along to celebrate the Year of the Horse with us.The Otago Daily Tim...
23/02/2026

What a fantastic night!

Thanks to everyone who came along to celebrate the Year of the Horse with us.

The Otago Daily Times has some great coverage from the evening - check out the link below.

Be sure to visit Toitū Otago Settlers Museum and experience A Shared Light 共生同辉 with their amazing free display of Chinese lanterns on now until 3 March.

It was a positive start to the Chinese New Year at Lan Yuan on Saturday night, as thousands of people attended to mark the Year of the Horse. ...

Chinese New Year - Ersha Island 二沙岛 Ersha Island 二沙岛, a dynamic alternative folk pop sibling duo, features Danielle and ...
17/02/2026

Chinese New Year - Ersha Island 二沙岛

Ersha Island 二沙岛, a dynamic alternative folk pop sibling duo, features Danielle and Tee Hao-Aickin. They started their musical journey on Ersha Island (二沙岛), located in GuangZhou 广州, China.

In a genre-blurring blend of sounds, Ersha Island 二沙岛 invites listeners on an emotive voyage through their personal experiences, painting a vivid sonic landscape of the challenges and beauty of straddling two worlds. Ersha Island 二沙岛 is the place and name that encompasses all that; the beginning of it all.

See them live headlining Chinese New Year this Saturday.

7pm – 10pm, Saturday 21 February 2026 | Celebrate the Year of the Horse with us!

7pm | Garden open with gold coin entry, food trucks
7pm | Dragon parade from Princes Street to the Garden
7.15pm | Dragon Dance
7.30pm | Lion Dance, cultural performances, and celebrations
9:20pm | Ersha Island
10pm | Grand Finale Fireworks

📷 Danielle | Straun Caughey
Tee | Gemma Louden

Visit and explore the only authentic scholar’s garden in the southern hemisphere. To celebrate Dunedin Chinese Cultural ...
14/02/2026

Visit and explore the only authentic scholar’s garden in the southern hemisphere.
To celebrate Dunedin Chinese Cultural Festival, you can buy an Annual Pass and receive FREE entry to the Garden for 12 months where you can enjoy:
☀️the summer sun
🍂the stunning autumn colours
❄️the winter reflections and
🪴the flourishing growth in spring.

Adult annual pass special price $24 or $17.20 concession.
Sale ends Tuesday 3 March, new passes only.

Available from the ticket office at Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden.

Join us at Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden as we farewell the Year of the Snake and welcome the Year of the Horse. Enjoy...
01/02/2026

Join us at Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden as we farewell the Year of the Snake and welcome the Year of the Horse.

Enjoy the late summer evening with a walk around Lan Yuan while listening to live traditional Chinese music. Experience the pond illuminated with a giant dragon lantern, and add a red ribbon to the wishing tree to make your Chinese New Year wish come true.

The night will end with fireworks display at 10pm.
Bring the family along and enjoy an evening of celebration, culture, and fun at Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Garden!

7pm – 10pm, Saturday 21 February 2026
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with us!

7pm: Garden open with gold coin entry, food trucks
7pm: Dragon parade from Princes Street to the Garden
7.15pm: Dragon Dance
7.30pm: Lion Dance, cultural performances, and celebrations
9:20pm: Headliner act | Ersha Island
10pm: Grand Finale Fireworks

Today’s your final chance to grab our Annual Pass Spring Special – 20% off! Unlimited visits for a whole year for just $...
05/10/2025

Today’s your final chance to grab our Annual Pass Spring Special – 20% off!

Unlimited visits for a whole year for just $24 adult or $17.20 student/concession.

Enjoy every season at Lan Yuan:
☀️ Summer sunshine
🍂 Autumn colours
❄️ Winter reflections
🌱 Spring blooms

Offer ends today – available at the ticket office!

This Christmas, consider a gift that keeps on giving!Purchase an annual pass and receive 20% off the usual price!Now only $18.

Journey to Lan Yuan: Episodes 11 – 13 Chinese Subtitled ScreeningEnjoy special screenings of Journey to Lan Yuan, specia...
30/09/2025

Journey to Lan Yuan: Episodes 11 – 13
Chinese Subtitled Screening

Enjoy special screenings of Journey to Lan Yuan, specially presented with Chinese subtitles for our Chinese community.

Episode 11: Japanese Invasion
World War Two brought an immediate threat to the home villages in Guangdong. Stories are passed down of the cruelty of the occupying forces. In a twist of fate, refugee families are allowed wait the war out in New Zealand. The result is the birth of the modern Chinese community.

Episode 12: The Wong and Chin Families
How did families operate between Otago and Guangdong? This episode looks at the fortunes of two dynastic Otago Chinese families.

Episode 13: Founding Lan Yuan
Cemeteries and tombstones are a rare remnant of the Otago Chinese miners. But what else is left of their presence in the hinterland? And how did Dunedin's sister-city relationship with Shanghai assist with the founding of Lan Yuan?

1pm, Saturday 4 October
Lan Yuan Tower Room
Standard garden entry fees apply

Address

33 Queens Gardens
Dunedin
9016

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+6434773248

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