A rendering of the US garden at the 15th China (Wenzhou) International Garden Expo. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]
The 15th China (Wenzhou) International Garden Expo, to be held from April to July 2026, will feature 34 exhibition gardens from across China and abroad. Among the highlights is the US Garden, which features a minimalist symbolic design.
Jointly designed by Wenzhou-Kean University, Zhejiang University of Technology Engineering Design Group, and Wenzhou Design Group, the US garden takes on the challenge of representing a vast and culturally diverse nation within a compact 1,726-square-meter space. Rather than relying on visual complexity, the design team chose to "simplify the form and enrich the meaning", embedding cultural metaphors that invite visitors to look beyond the surface.
Drawing inspiration from early American settlement patterns, the garden centers on a north–south barn — the site's only building — flanked by two symmetrical gardens arranged in a grid of four-meter planting squares. The layout echoes classical planning principles seen in Washington, DC, as well as the Jeffersonian land-division grid, symbolizing openness, order, and the expansive character of the American landscape.
The planting scheme reflects American agricultural heritage. Corn, beans, and squash — the iconic combination of indigenous crops — are planted beside the barn, illustrating ecological interdependence and continuity in farming traditions. Local Wenzhou plant species are also incorporated, creating a dialogue between regional and international horticultural practices.
Inside the barn, visitors will find small exhibitions, workshops, and interactive programs on agriculture, ecology, and gardening. Hands-on experiences such as seed-saving and seasonal harvest activities further bring the space to life.
Designed to continue serving the community after the expo, the US garden aims to become a lasting site of cultivation, learning, and cross-cultural exchange.
