Who We Are
Explore Lan Su Chinese Garden’s Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission
Inspire, engage, educate
The mission of Lan Su Chinese Garden is to cultivate an oasis of tranquil beauty and harmony to inspire, engage, and educate our global community in the appreciation of a richly authentic Chinese culture.
Vision
Value, celebrate, grow
Lan Su envisions a world where people of all backgrounds are valued; all cultures are celebrated; and community members have a deeper, more immersive world view.
Values
- Cultural Understanding
- Community
- Leadership & Stewardship
- Wonder
We are #MoreThanAGarden
Lan Su is based on a centuries-old tradition of Chinese scholar gardens… But we’ve become so much more!
Much more than just a beautiful botanical garden, Lan Su is a creative wonder — a powerfully inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, history, architecture, design, and nature in perfect harmony.
Offering more than 500 cultural and botanical programs each year, Lan Su is a window into authentic Chinese culture and a platform for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.
Join
Get the most out of your Lan Su experience while also supporting a treasured center of culture and learning.
Volunteer
Share your time and talents to help thousands of Lan Su visitors deepen their appreciation of Chinese culture.
Donate
Help Lan Su uphold our dedication to inspiring, engaging, and educating our global community in a richly authentic Chinese culture.
Where did our Name come from?
Lan Su Yuan (蘭蘇園)
The garden’s name represents our sister city relationship with Suzhou, China, combining sounds from both Portland and Suzhou.
- “Lan” (蘭 ) is the Chinese word for “Orchid.”
- “Su” (蘇) is the word for “Arise” or “Awaken.”
- One of the many meanings of “yuan” (園) is “garden.”
So, the garden’s name can also be interpreted poetically as “Garden of Awakening Orchids” (蘭蘇園).
Financial Info
Lan Su Chinese Garden is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our Federal Tax ID number (EIN) is 93-1296840.
Tax Forms: LSCG 2024 Form 990; LSCG 2023 Form 990; LSCG 2022 Form 990