US library creates legacy with Chinese Garden expansion

"Many people in the Chinese-American community want to see their culture reflected in a powerfully relevant way - in a way that shows the rich connections between the history of China and the future of America," added Folsom.

Speaking proudly of the years of hard work that have gone into creating the Chinese Garden, interim president Hindle told Xinhua, "My own view is that the Garden of Flowing Fragrances is the jewel in the crown of the Huntington Gardens. It represents a significant opportunity for us as an institution to engage in a conversation about the significance of Chinese art and Chinese culture."

Karen Lawrence, the newly-minted, incoming president of the Huntington, heralded the Chinese Garden as an "unparalleled public platform for cultural exploration and understanding - a place where grandparents can show their grandkids something about their heritage and traditions ... and place for people of many cultural backgrounds to experience genuine Chinese culture."

The Huntington will also be expanding its educational programming through its Center for East Asian Studies, the only center of its kind in the United States. They will offer lectures, performances, artistic activities, and classes on music, literature, botany, architecture, and other cultural themes.

Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Zhang Ping shared that his family originated in Suzhou and that he takes great pride in that cultural heritage.

"Seeing the pagodas, stone corridors, winding footpaths, lakeside rocks, rippling pond, and changing views from window to window arouses my nostalgic sentiments and the childhood memories of my numerous visits to Suzhou Gardens," he reminisced.

Zhang closed by sharing some food for thought, suggesting, "The philosophy and ideas behind the Chinese Garden still remain relevant today to the current international circumstances. While we strive for harmony between man and nature, we should not forget harmony between different countries and different cultures is of vital importance to the peace and stability of the world."