'16 Portland Chinese Garden

The pamphlet says: "Imagine it's 16th century China, and you're standing in the entry courtyard of the private home and garden of a wealthy Chinese family. The garden around you is their spiritual utopia, a peaceful and soothing place designed to help them escape the problems of everyday life while also inspiring them through interplay of architecture, plants, poets rocks and water surrounding them." This magnificent experience, which I visited with my friend Pat on an overcast rainy Portland day, resides on a square block in the middle of downtown. The noise and activity of the city disappears as you immerse yourself in this cultural wonderland.