MCI Director attends opening of Yangzhou Scholars鈥� Garden
Manchester China Institute Director Professor Lei Chen attended the opening of Yangzhou Scholars鈥� Garden at RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford. The garden celebrates Chinese heritage, international friendship and the legacy of Dr Lee Kai Hung, whose philanthropy helped establish MCI.
Set within the wider Chinese Streamside Garden, the new garden celebrates friendship, generosity and international collaboration. Its creation brings together the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the Lee Kai Hung Foundation, the China Flower Association (CFA), the Yangzhou Classical Garden Construction Company and other partners, alongside the support of Greater Manchester鈥檚 Chinese community.
Inspired by the historic gardens of Yangzhou, the landscape combines traditional Chinese craftsmanship with horticultural expertise. Four pavilions dedicated to music, chess, calligraphy and painting surround a courtyard and pool, offering visitors an opportunity to encounter Chinese cultural traditions through architecture, planting and garden design. The garden opened to the public on Saturday 26 September.
The project has particular significance for MCI through their shared connection to the late Dr Lee Kai Hung. His philanthropy helped establish the Institute, while his vision and generosity were central to the development of the Chinese Streamside Garden. Both reflect his commitment to building trust and understanding between British and Chinese people through education, culture and personal connections.
Professor Chen鈥檚 attendance connects MCI鈥檚 academic mission with this wider cultural endeavour. The garden complements the Institute鈥檚 work in research, public engagement and inclusion by making Chinese heritage accessible to communities across Greater Manchester. It also offers a setting for shared learning and cultural exchange, bringing the questions explored within the University into the everyday experiences of a wider public.