"Completed in 1986 and set in the city’s historic Chinatown neighborhood, this urban park is a genuine replica of a classical Ming Dynasty Chinese scholar’s garden—a first outside of China, and a welcome respite from the surrounding area’s occasionally challenging vibe. Built by a team of 53 Chinese master craftsmen, everything in the garden with the exception of local plants was shipped from China, from the roof tiles of the graceful pagodas to the limestone rocks quarried from Lake Tai. For the full experience, you’ll want to do a guided tour that traces the arc of the city’s Chinese community, a critical part of Vancouver’s past and present. But even if you don’t have time for a long visit, stop by, pull up a bench and watch the koi swim slowly around the pond. (Recently, the koi made news of their own, when a river otter somehow managed to find its way to the park—and began systematically chowing down on the colorful exotic fish.)" - Guy Saddy
