Next time you’re downtown, why not go back in time to China’s Tang Dynasty?
The Edmonton Chinese Garden, located inside Louise McKinney Park, has a new addition, a nine-dragon wall with a pagoda style roof. It’s the highlight of the $2 million second stage of the garden. A grand opening will be held Sept. 23, but the wall has already been installed and is on public view.
Wing Choy, president of the Edmonton Chinese Garden Society, said that dragon walls can be found around the world. But the one that’s downtown is special.
“It’s the biggest in North America. We like to brag about that,” says Choy.
The wall was made in China, and came to Canada in pieces — 13 shipping containers were needed. The roof was sent in three additional shipping containers. It joins the zodiac bridge, gateway and a monument that honours the first Chinese settlers who came to Alberta.
Designed by Frances Ng, and based on the style of the Tang Dynasty, the garden first opened in 2007, but the Edmonton Chinese Garden Society has been working through the years to raise funds to make additions to the area.
And the Nine Dragon Wall is special celebration of Chinese folklore.
“Nine is the number of longevity, and the dragon is the symbol of the emperor,” says Choy. “Nine dragons is the symbol of supreme power.”
Each of the nine dragons has its own special power; in Chinese folklore dragons can bring cataclysmic events like floods and droughts. They are kinda like the Avengers, except they’re giant, flying lizards. And that’s awesome.
