The Huntington Chinese Garden - Garden of Flowing Fragrance — Attraction in San Marino

The Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library is a stunning oasis that transports visitors into a world of tranquility and natural beauty. Nestled within the expansive grounds of the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, this garden offers a captivating experience for anyone seeking a peaceful retreat.

As you step into the Chinese Garden, you are immediately greeted by the artistry and craftsmanship that went into creating this serene space. Every element has been thoughtfully designed to evoke the essence of traditional Chinese gardens. The architecture, landscaping, and overall layout reflect the principles of balance, harmony, and connection with nature.

One of the highlights of the Chinese Garden is the breathtaking lake, adorned with graceful lotus flowers and surrounded by picturesque pavilions and bridges. Walking along the meandering paths, you'll discover hidden alcoves, intricate rockwork, and carefully placed plants that create a sense of discovery and serenity.

The attention to detail in the Chinese Garden is truly remarkable. From the delicate pavilions with their intricate wooden carvings to the meticulously landscaped courtyards, every corner offers a new perspective to admire. The garden's design seamlessly combines water, rocks, plants, and architecture to create a harmonious whole that is both visually stunning and spiritually rejuvenating.

Visitors can also explore the Liu Fang Yuan Studio, a space that celebrates Chinese art and culture. Here, you can learn about calligraphy, painting, and other traditional art forms through interactive exhibits and demonstrations. The studio provides an educational and enriching experience, deepening one's understanding of Chinese artistic traditions.

While the Chinese Garden is undeniably beautiful, there are a few aspects that could be improved. One of the main concerns is the limited seating available throughout the garden. As it can be quite expansive, some visitors may find it tiring to explore the entire area without sufficient places to rest and soak in the atmosphere.

Another area that could benefit from improvement is the signage and information provided. While there are some informative plaques and signs, they can be sparse in certain areas, leaving visitors craving more context and background information about the garden's history, symbolism, and design philosophy.

Overall, the Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library is a remarkable gem that offers a serene and immersive experience. Whether you are a nature enthusiast, an art lover, or simply seeking a peaceful escape, this garden is a must-visit. Its enchanting beauty, meticulous design, and cultural significance make it a worthwhile destination for anyone exploring the grounds of the Huntington Library. With a few enhancements to seating and signage, this garden could easily earn a full...

This place is one of the MOST amazing places I've ever been to. The Gardens, general architecture and friendliness from the staff were the best. I highly recommend getting one of the guided tours with one of their guides on the website as it's very easy to get lost. And you may be thinking: "I don't think it's that easy..I can handle this on my own!" Well, that's what I thought too. I did end up getting lost at a lot of points. If you do end up getting lost, follow the maps they give you or before you get lost, follow places that have clear sign markings. If you want a guided tour, you'll need to reserve tickets online instead of at the ticket office. Tickets are available for purchase in person at the ticket office. Updated pricing can be found on their website. They accept Credit/Debit and NFC contactless payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay). Navigating with Google Maps will take you directly to the parking lot where parking is free. For oversized bags security does check the bag just in case at the front. I do recommend entering through the West Entrance. You get to start at where everything is conveniently located near the path, and then you make a round trip. If you do take another entrance, you may see everything but not in certain order. To be entirely honest, I did mainly just check out their gardens. They also have a Jade Court Cafe in the Chinese Garden which I did see when I was exploring the Chinese Garden. Overall, this is great experience and I highly recommend you go.

P.S. Beware of sore feet! They do conveniently place benches...

We visited the Huntington Chinese Garden of Flowing Fragrance on a picture perfect February day in 2020. Due to time restraints we were only able to visit two of the gardens. This review is for the Chinese Garden only. We followed the adequate signage to the garden entrance that was guarded by two stone lions. The path was wide and easy to navigate. We wandered through the garden from one amazing discovery to another. There were wonderful water features, stone sculptures, waterfalls, pagoda like buildings, and wonderfully arranged plants and trees. We were lucky to have several colorful Cherry Trees in full bloom with their pink and white tinged flowers The sky was streaked with bright silver-gray clouds that framed and enhanced the features of garden. The weather was perfect with temperatures hovering in the mid-seventies. We spent over two hours wandering and enjoying the experience. There are nice benches strategically placed throughout the garden which we took advantage of. We left the garden reluctantly, but were relaxed and refreshed and vowed to return again. Although we knew very little of the design and nature of formal Chinese Gardens we truly appreciated the experience. Highly...