Breath of China at new garden

Another world is coming to life, 20 minutes outside downtown Seattle.

Pagodas have risen next to South Seattle Community College in West Seattle, where one of the biggest Chinese gardens outside of China is in the works.

Seattle Chinese Garden is "breathtaking," said Consul General Gao Zhansheng of the People's Republic of China Consulate in San Francisco, who visited the garden Sunday, its first day open. "It will promote mutual understanding and history."

There is a lone courtyard, fitted with white walls and dark brown and gray tiered eaves. Poems line the gate, with Chinese characters symbolizing the partnership between Seattle and its sister city of Chongqing, China. As many as 300 people visited Sunday, mesmerized.

"You feel like Seattle is way in the distance, as if you're on some mountain somewhere," said Ross Lambert, 27, of West Seattle.

It is the beginning of a dream realized. The plot was chosen in 1988 but was mired in lease negotiations and fundraising. Only a half-acre is finished; it cost $3.2 million. The whole project may take five more years, costing a total of $30 million. At that point, more than 5 acres will be filled with courtyards, stone gardens, ponds, even a banquet area and a 70-foot tower, overlooking the city.

"Seattle is also very well known to China for Boeing, Microsoft, and for being the headquarters of Starbucks," said Gao, who was impressed with the garden's progress, after visiting more than a year ago.

The state of Washington, added Gao, is also the second-largest exporter to China, just behind California.

Half of the courtyard's funding came from Seattle donors, and the rest from Chinese donors. Only the concrete walls and wood are locally bought, while most of the garden's materials — the tiles, the latticework and even the stones — were shipped directly from China, in a dozen or so shipping containers.

"It will be a Seattle landmark," said Stella Chien, an 80-year-old donor from Beijing and Taiwan. "There is a pretty big Chinese community here, and we need something to represent our culture. We need something to pass on to the next generation."

Plenty of kids ran around the park Sunday, including Andy Yip's youngsters. The president of the Hong Kong Association of Washington hosted a fundraising banquet Saturday night for the garden. He also bought a personalized brick for the garden fundraising efforts.

"When they grow up, I want them to visit and see a piece of their history and part of their heritage," said Yip, 30.

Danelyn Serrano, of Renton, brought her 6-year-old son, Joseph. They plan on seeing the world someday, and the garden was their first taste of China.

May 13 will mark the official opening with lion dances and fireworks. Sister city Chongqing is also working on a Seattle-styled garden that will be a part of its horticultural fair this fall.

"It is the year of the rabbit, which symbolizes peace, sincerity and friendship," Gao said. "I hope in the new year, the friendship is strengthened between the people of our two countries, especially the people from Chongqing and Seattle."

Marian Liu: 206-464-3825 or mliu@seattletimes.com