Lan Su Chinese Garden

Koi Tales & Feeding Time
2026-08-08 11:30 - 11:45, 2026-08-11 11:30 - 11:45, 2026-08-15 11:30 - 11:45, 2026-08-18 11:30 - 11:45, 2026-08-22 11:30 - 11:45, 2026-08-25 11:30 - 11:45, 2026-08-29 11:30 - 11:45, 2026-09-01 11:30 - 11:45 (America/Los_Angeles) and 5 more dates | Lan Su Chinese Garden, 239 NW Everett Street, Portland, OR, 97209, United States
Tuesdays & Saturdays, June 16 through Sept. 30 | 11:30–11:45 AM

Gather by the Lake Zither with Lan Su gardeners for a brief koi feeding and Q&A experience. Learn about the garden’s colorful fish resident, their care, and the stories and symbolism they carry in Chinese garden culture.

Meet Our Finned Friends!

We have 30+ koi and countless goldfish living in Lake Zither. Learn about their cultural significance, care requirements, and more in our Fish Guide!

Download Fish Guide

Parking & Directions

Free Lan Su Parking

There is free first come, first served parking in our sister lot next to the garden at 424 NW Third Avenue. Additional metered parking and garages are available on surrounding streets.

Lotus Talk Series: Cultivation
2026-08-08 13:00 - 14:00
1:00-2:00 PM | Saturdays, July 11 & August 8

Join a Lan Su gardener to learn how to grow resplendent lotus in the Pacific Northwest. Although our region lacks the humid summers of subtropical China, magnificent lotus can still thrive in existing ponds or ceramic pots with the right care. This talk will share must-know tips and practical advice from seasoned lotus growers.

Parking & Directions

Free Lan Su Parking

There is free first come, first served parking in our sister lot next to the garden at 424 NW Third Avenue. Additional metered parking and garages are available on surrounding streets.

Chinese Conversation Corner
2026-08-09 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-16 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-23 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-30 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-09-06 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-09-13 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-09-20 14:00 - 16:00
Brush up your Chinese conversational skills with the help of native speakers from Oregon Chinese Coalition.

2–4 PM | Sundays, May 3 – September 27, 2026

Practice your Mandarin skills with volunteers from the Oregon Chinese Coalition! Learn useful phrases and words in Mandarin and brush up your Chinese conversational skills with the help of native speakers.

Get Admission

About Oregon Chinese Coalition

The Oregon Chinese Coalition is a local Chinese organization dedicated to building a connected and united Chinese community that embraces diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, political beliefs, and religious and cultural traditions.

Learn more about OCC

Or follow them on social media: Instagram | Facebook

Parking & Directions

Free Lan Su Parking

There is free first come, first served parking in our sister lot next to the garden at 424 NW Third Avenue. Additional metered parking and garages are available on surrounding streets.

Chinese Song Sing Along
2026-08-09 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-16 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-23 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-30 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-09-06 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-09-13 15:00 - 16:00
Sing, play, and explore Chinese music with Alan in an enjoyable and accessible session on Sundays.

3:00 – 4:00 AM | Sundays, May 10 – September 27, 2026

Join Alan for an enjoyable and accessible Chinese music experience! If you love music and are eager to try something new, you are warmly invited to learn a Chinese song, a verse, or even just a single line with Alan. You are also welcome to bring your own instrument and play. Music and singing are wonderful ways to explore culture and connect with others.

This event is open to all—no language background is required.

Get Admission

Meet the Instructor:

Alan Liang is an accomplished musician skilled in vocal performance, guitar, keyboard, and drums. He is a member of the Huayun Arts Alliance and the founder of the OCC Northwest Music Club. Alan has long been an active supporter of Chinese music and performing arts in the Portland community. He has participated in numerous Lunar New Year celebrations and cultural festivals, making ongoing contributions to the promotion of Chinese music and culture.

Parking & Directions

Free Lan Su Parking

There is free first come, first served parking in our sister lot next to the garden at 424 NW Third Avenue. Additional metered parking and garages are available on surrounding streets.

Steep & Paint: Lotus with Zebith Thalden
2026-08-14 14:00 - 17:00
Instructor | Tickets | Series Schedule | Parking

Enjoy a blossom-filled afternoon at the beautiful Lan Su Chinese Garden with the return of Steep & Paint. With all materials provided and admission included, all you need to bring is yourself!

We’re bringing this series back by popular demand and newly reimagined in partnership with the Oregon Botanical Artists (OBA). This immersive afternoon experience invites you to slow down, look closely, and connect with plants through tea, conversation, and hands-on art-making. Our August 14 Lotus session with Zebith Thalden will use colored pencils as the medium.

Each session weaves together horticulture, tea culture, and botanical art in a relaxed, welcoming setting:

Learn the plant up close: A Lan Su gardener leads a close-up botanical show-and-tell, sharing seasonal plant facts, cultural stories, and growing insights.

Taste the season: Enjoy a sampling of seasonal teas from Yun Shui Teahouse.

Create botanical art: An OBA artist guides a full botanical art class inspired by the featured plant.

Whether you’re returning to Steep & Paint or joining for the first time, this refreshed program offers an even richer way to experience Lan Su. Bring a friend with you and let’s Steep & Paint together!

Meet the Instructor: Zebith Thalden

“Spice Bush or Western Sweetshrub (Calycanthus occidentalis)” by Zebith Thalden

Zebith Thalden is a US-based studio artist, author, and instructor. Her artwork has been featured in galleries, cultural centers, and art museums, including the CICA Museum in Gimpo-si, South Korea; the Academy of Science in Canberra, Australia; American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington DC; and the Annmarie Sculpture Garden in Dowell, Maryland. She has been in residence at Zion National Park and PLAYA: Center for the Intersection of Art and Science. She has also been a featured speaker at Portland State College of the Arts: School of Art + Design, Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, and Southern Utah University. Her book The Insect Artist: How to Observe, Draw, and Paint Butterflies, Bees, and More was released by Timber Press on March 12, 2024. She received an MFA from Goddard College and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Meet Our Partner: Oregon Botanical Artists (OBA)

Oregon Botanical Artists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting contemporary botanical art while honoring its long-standing traditions. Founded in 2012, the organization supports a diverse community of artists who celebrate the beauty and diversity of plant life through detailed and scientifically informed artwork. Oregon Botanical Artists is affiliated with the American Society of Botanical Artists as an Artists Circle.

Instructor | Tickets | Series Schedule | Parking

Steep & Paint Need to Know

Each class session is independent — participants are welcome to register for any individual class without attending others.

Registration fee includes full-day admission to Lan Su Chinese Garden.

Get Tickets

Lan Su Members & Guests: $56.95

General: $66.95

Note: A $0.95 service fee is reflected in each paid ticket

Full Series Schedule

Set a new monthly Friday tradition, or treat someone special to an amazing afternoon of creativity!

Parking & Directions

Free Lan Su Parking

There is free first come, first served parking in our sister lot next to the garden at 424 NW Third Avenue. Additional metered parking and garages are available on surrounding streets.

Steep & Paint: Bamboo with Robin Phillips Occhipinti
2026-08-28 14:00 - 17:00
Instructor | Tickets | Series Schedule | Parking

Enjoy a blossom-filled afternoon at the beautiful Lan Su Chinese Garden with the return of Steep & Paint. With all materials provided and admission included, all you need to bring is yourself!

We’re bringing this series back by popular demand and newly reimagined in partnership with the Oregon Botanical Artists (OBA). This immersive afternoon experience invites you to slow down, look closely, and connect with plants through tea, conversation, and hands-on art-making. Our August 28 Bamboo session with Robin Phillips Occhipinti will use graphite and colored pencil as the medium.

Each session weaves together horticulture, tea culture, and botanical art in a relaxed, welcoming setting:

Learn the plant up close: A Lan Su gardener leads a close-up botanical show-and-tell, sharing seasonal plant facts, cultural stories, and growing insights.

Taste the season: Enjoy a sampling of seasonal teas from Yun Shui Teahouse.

Create botanical art: An OBA artist guides a full botanical art class inspired by the featured plant.

Whether you’re returning to Steep & Paint or joining for the first time, this refreshed program offers an even richer way to experience Lan Su. Bring a friend with you and let’s Steep & Paint together!

Meet the Instructor: Robin Phillips Occhipinti

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Northwest Forest Floor, 14″ x 11″, watercolor and colored pencil by Robin Phillips Occhipinti

As an avid gardener, Robin delights in studying and nurturing plants. She is also fascinated by the cycles and rhythms of life, and find endless inspiration even in the tiniest elements of nature. It is her passion to promote the significance of the natural world, healing, and conservation through art.

Robin Phillips Occhipinti is a multidisciplinary artist and designer who has a love for many creative mediums, and sharing the joy of art with others. Active in local arts organizations including Oregon Botanical Artists and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators NW, she has exhibited her art locally and nationally for many years, and also teaches workshops. Robin holds a BFA degree, a Certificate in Natural Science Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and is currently completing a Certificate in Botanical Illustration through the New York Botanical Garden.

Meet Our Partner: Oregon Botanical Artists (OBA)

Oregon Botanical Artists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting contemporary botanical art while honoring its long-standing traditions. Founded in 2012, the organization supports a diverse community of artists who celebrate the beauty and diversity of plant life through detailed and scientifically informed artwork. Oregon Botanical Artists is affiliated with the American Society of Botanical Artists as an Artists Circle.

Instructor | Tickets | Series Schedule | Parking

Steep & Paint Need to Know

Each class session is independent — participants are welcome to register for any individual class without attending others.

Registration fee includes full-day admission to Lan Su Chinese Garden.

Get Tickets

Lan Su Members & Guests: $56.95

General: $66.95

Note: A $0.95 service fee is reflected in each paid ticket

Full Series Schedule

Set a new monthly Friday tradition, or treat someone special to an amazing afternoon of creativity!

Parking & Directions

Free Lan Su Parking

There is free first come, first served parking in our sister lot next to the garden at 424 NW Third Avenue. Additional metered parking and garages are available on surrounding streets.

Taste of Home, Where the Heart Belongs — Chinese Homestyle Cooking Demonstration
2026-09-12 11:00 - 12:30
Explore the flavors of home with culinary expert Anna in a Chinese cooking demonstration featuring simple, authentic dishes.

11 AM – 12:30 PM | Every 2nd Saturday, May 23 – December 12, 2026

Food in Chinese culture is more than nourishment—it is culture, history, and a vital medium for social connection, care, and love. It plays an essential role in both festive celebrations and everyday life. We warmly invite you to join this Chinese cooking demonstration led by culinary expert Anna. She will demonstrate how to use locally sourced ingredients to create simple, authentic homestyle dishes that capture the true flavors of home.

Get Admission

Featured at the event: The Asian Food Pantry (AFP) Cookbook — a culturally inspired collection of recipes using ingredients commonly distributed through the pantry over the past six years. Cookbooks will be available for purchase, with all proceeds supporting the Asian Food Pantry and its work serving low-income Asian seniors in our community.

Meet the Demonstrator:

Anna Xu is a passionate baker and home cook, known for her expertise in traditional Shanghainese cuisine as well as Western pastries. She is the author of The Taste of Home, Where The Heart Belongs 家的味道，心的归属, a bi-lingual cookbook that celebrates the emotional connections we build through food and a fundraising initiative that supports the pantry’s mission. Anna also leads the Asian Food Pantry program at the Community for Positive Aging (Hollywood Senior Center), where she supports low-income Asian seniors by providing culturally familiar foods and fostering community connection. A longtime volunteer at Lan Su Chinese Garden, Anna is deeply committed to promoting and preserving Chinese culture through her work and community engagement.

Parking & Directions

Free Lan Su Parking

There is free first come, first served parking in our sister lot next to the garden at 424 NW Third Avenue. Additional metered parking and garages are available on surrounding streets.
