For the past three years, the Chinese Gardens at the Botanical Garden have been getting a big face-lift.
On Thursday, the largest Chinese gardens outside of Asia were ready to show off their new shine for their official opening Friday.
Its seven pavilions were restored to their old splendor, just like they were when they opened back in 1991.
The intricate roof tiles were carefully refinished by specialized workers from Shanghai. Montreal craftsmen assisted in the job.
Their collaborative work showcases the friendship between the two sister cities, a constant theme throughout the garden.
“It was very emotional to have these two cultures -Chinese and Canadian Montrealers- come together and rebuild this magnificent garden cause it’s one of most popular gardens, the Botanical Gardens,” Charles-Mathieu Brunelle, Space For Life’s Director, told Global News.
The city of Shanghai gave a token of that friendship to Montreal to celebrate its 375th birthday: a miniature landscape.
The installation features rocks that traveled across the ocean and the continent — all the way from China.