Chinese Garden at the Hortus Haren reopened

According to event organizer Arike Tomson, the Ming-style garden was originally hand-built over several months by a team of 40 Chinese artisans and was officially opened in 1995 by Queen Beatrix. The uniquely shaped stones, wooden structures, roof tiles, and all other decorative elements within the garden were sourced directly from China.

The open day offered visitors a rare opportunity to experience the harmony between nature, culture, and architecture. Guests could stroll through elegant pavilions and corridors, immerse themselves in the tranquil atmosphere of a classical garden, and enjoy a variety of traditional and contemporary Chinese cultural display with many chances to actively participate.

Along the main path of the botanical garden, teachers from GCI hosted hands-on workshops in Chinese painting, Hanfu dressing, origami, and tea ceremony. Surrounded by the nature, a teacher also performed enchanting melodies on the guzheng, infusing the entire scene with the poetic charm of China.

Brushstrokes of beauty: peonies, pandas, and peaceful minds

Unfurled xuan paper and the gentle fragrance of ink filled the air, as the refined elegance of gongbi (meticulous brushwork) painting met the expressive spirit of xieyi (freehand) style, sparking artistic collisions and cultural delight!

The fine lines of gongbi rendered every petal of the peony in exquisite detail, while bold ink washes in xieyi landscapes had Dutch visitors exclaiming “Mooi! Mooi!” (Dutch for “Beautiful! Beautiful!”). Many participants found themselves immersed in a creative flow, from sketching simple bamboo, petals, and pandas to attempting full peony compositions that required refined brush control. For many first-time painters, Chinese painting is not only an art form but also a powerful, meditative expression of emotion and state of mind.

A dedicated gallery space at the event showcased a series of masterfully crafted paintings by two teachers who had spent a month in focused preparation. From the delicate gaze of a Gongbi lady, to a majestic peacock poised among blossoms, to subtle depictions of nature on hand-painted folding fans, each piece whispered the secrets of Eastern aesthetics. At the end of the day, the many carefully folded up their creations and took them home, calling them “the most artistic cultural souvenirs.”

Folds of Joy: Origami Magic for All Ages

How many wonders can a single sheet of paper hold? The answer came to life in the origami workshop!

Participants folded tulips, an iconic symbol of the Netherlands, one moment, and “butterflies chasing for fragrance” landing gracefully on flowers the next. East and West blended in joyful harmony, to cheers and laughter from the crowd. Young learners from local Chinese schools transformed into little origami masters, enthusiastically folding while counting in Mandarin: “yī zhé, èr yā, sān fān… chénggōng!” (“First fold, secondly press, thirdly flip… success!”) Many participants exclaimed, “This is even more addictive than LEGO!”

The origami tables didn’t just attract children; people of all ages eagerly joined in. This hands-on cultural exchange through paper folding left each participant with a unique creation and a deeper appreciation for the ingenuity and wisdom embedded in Chinese culture, all shared through smiles and curious fingertips.

A Walk Through Time in Hanfu Elegance

Flowing sleeves and fluttering sashes, just like that, the Hanfu experience workshop transformed into a “classical fashion photoshoot”!

A steady stream of visitors came to try on Hanfu. From the high-waisted skirts of the Tang dynasty to round-collared robes of the Song, guests experienced the elegance of ancient Chinese attire across dynasties. Teachers from GCI acted as stylists, helped the visitors pin up their hair with a silver hairpin, added embroidered shawls, and in a moment, the wearer looked like someone who had stepped straight out of a Chinese painting. 

The beautiful garden setting became a natural backdrop, with visitors climbing the eaved pavilions, leaning against railings, and letting their robes flutter in the breeze like scenes from the drama A Dream of Splendor come to life. Lots of visitors remarked, “Once I put on Hanfu, I couldn’t help but walk more gracefully!”

The Quiet Art of Tea, Loud in Impact

As the fragrance of tea gently drifted through the air, a quiet encounter with the philosophy of slowness began to unfold. Five distinct tea ceremonies were presented, each highlighting a celebrated variety: Mingqian Longjing, Yixing black tea, Fuding Shoumei, Dong Ding oolong, and ripe Pu’er. Participants first inhaled the delicate aroma of the dry leaves, then watched as the infusion gradually took on a rich amber hue, and finally savored a sip, letting the lingering sweetness dance on the tongue, discovering that at the heart of Chinese tea art lies not just refined technique, but a state of “harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.”

Tea tasting proved to be far from a stereotype reserved only for the elderly. A child as young as three eagerly vied for his mom's cup, and even those who had wandered the garden all day, stomachs rumbling, couldn’t bear to miss the final chance to sit and savor the experience. Whether from Chaozhou or the Netherlands, everyone fell in love with the tea after just one taste.

Beyond tasting, the teacher from GCI, also the tea master, offered lively explanations of different Chinese tea categories, brewing traditions, and ceremonial etiquette. Meanwhile, the soft notes of the guzheng wafted in on the breeze, blending with the scent of tea. Guests sat peacefully, eyes closed, savoring each sip, realizing that here in a Chinese garden in the Netherlands, sipping authentic tea and listening to delicate zither melodies, they were enjoying a truly immersive cultural moment.

Strings of the Soul: Guzheng by the Water

“Zheng——” A clear harmonic overtone sliced through the quiet as fingers danced across the strings. The lively rhythm of “Yi Ethnic Dance” bounced between pavilions, its brisk strumming conjuring images of a girl twirling beside a bonfire in the hills of Yunnan. Just as listeners tapped their feet to the beat, the music shifted into “Fisherman’s Song at Dusk,” with gentle vibratos sending ripples across the soundscape. At that moment, the Dutch sunset seemed to merge with the twilight of the Jiangnan water towns, their hues shimmering together on the guzheng’s strings. The melody echoed in perfect harmony with the winding corridors and serene lake.

The performer moved gracefully between garden settings, playing in a pavilion, then beside the water’s edge, drawing visitors in at every turn. People swayed gently to the rhythm, completely absorbed in the music.

A special highlight was the interactive session: even those with zero experience could, under the guidance of GCI’s guzheng teacher, pluck a few strings and play a simple melody within minutes! The guzheng, it turned out, was not some lofty, distant art form, but a poetic instrument that anyone could touch.

From tradition to connection, cultural discovery at its finest

By 7 p.m., the Open Day came to a joyful close. This year’s event not only welcomed the stunning return of the Chinese Garden, but also gave Dutch guests and international friends a chance to experience the beauty of Chinese culture firsthand, whether through the subtle elegance of ink wash painting, the dignified grace of Hanfu, the reflective philosophy of tea, or the spiritual harmony of the guzheng. Each workshop embodied the spirit of “Appreciating the beauty of others, and sharing beauty together.”

What warmed our hearts most was seeing this event serve not just as a cultural bridge, but also as an open window, introducing many more people to the Groningen Confucius Institute. Here, we do more than teach Mandarin, but also weave connections through culture. Through immersive experiences, we make Chinese culture tangible and memorable; through creative approaches, we spark natural, meaningful cross-cultural dialogues. Each event is a carefully prepared cultural gift and we look forward to unwrapping the next surprise from the East with you.

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