It is always fun to have a birthday. Well, at least until a certain age. However, the bigger anniversary you have, the more interesting presents you may get. St.Petersburg got a lot of wonderful presents for its recent 300 years anniversary. One of them is this Garden of Friendship. It was created by Chinese landscape designers in just 2 months as a miniature of the famous Shanghai Garden of Happiness – Yùyuán.
There is a hall for tea ceremonies guarded by 2 lion-frogs, a Nine dragon wall to make your wish and a small waterfall with a stone bridge – all surrounded by pines symbolizing man and willows symbolizing woman. All plants and materials were brought from China.
I like this piece of tranquility and meditation in the middle of the busy city center. It is nice to have a short break there, although the tea ceremony you have to organize yourself. A nice bonus in April-May is the sakura in blossom.
