The Southern Hemisphere’s only authentic Chinese Garden has a rich history to explore.

Click photo to enlarge

Year of the Tiger

www.Dunedinchinesegarden.com

2010 is the Year of the Tiger. Join in the celebrations at the Dunedin Chinese Garden for two weeks of fun and entertainment.

Click photo to enlarge Dunedin City Council Botanic Garden team leader Alan Matchett and Chinese Garden visitor services officer Summer Zhang

DESPITE misconceptions, Dunedin’s Chinese Garden is a ‘‘uniquely sited’’ asset intended for the enjoyment of everyone, Dunedin City Council Botanic Garden team leader Alan Matchett says.

‘‘There is this misconception that the Chinese Garden was intended for overseas visitors, but that is not the case, the garden is for everyone,’’ Mr Matchett said.

‘‘The idea came about during the city’s 150th anniversary, in 1998, as a way to recognise the contribution of the Chinese who came to Otago, and Dunedin, during the 1860s looking for gold.’’

Click photo to enlarge Colourful welcome . . . Official visitors to the opening of the Dunedin Chinese garden are greeted by a lion dance yesterday. PH

Oriental spectacle at opening

By SARAH HARVEY

THE Dunedin Chinese garden was officially opened with much fanfare yesterday as Prime Minister Helen Clark and a delegation from Shanghai joined hundreds of others at the $6.5 million facility.

The garden was opened to the public in July, but the Chinese Gardens Trust had been waiting for a 90-day period, from the completion of construction, to pass, for any problems to be ironed out.

Click photo to enlarge PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

OPERATORS are happy with visitor numbers to Dunedin’s Chinese Garden, with about 75,000 people having been through the doors in its first nine months of operation.

The busiest month was January with 13,000 visitors, which included 4000 for Chinese New Year, Dunedin City Council community life general manager Graeme Hall said. .

‘‘It’s been great.’’

In the council’s annual plan the target attendance was set at 50,000, which was surpassed in January. About 11,000 season tickets had also been sold.

Click photo to enlarge

The success continues for one of Dunedin’s newest scenic sites.  The Dunedin Chinese Gardens Trust won the Supreme Award at the TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards, presented in the Glenroy Auditorium on Monday night.

Trust secretary-treasurer Malcolm Wong, who said he was humbled by the award, was quick to praise the efforts of the volunteers who contributed to the success of the garden.

‘‘It has been 11 years of blood, sweat and tears and, without the help of the volunteers, the gardens would not have come to fruition.’’