Tucked among the tranquil pathways of one of America’s largest Chinese gardens, an innovative collection of traditional healing plants awaits discovery by visitors next spring. The Huntington Library will host a Chinese Medicinal Garden Open House on May 14, 2025, offering the public rare access to centuries of botanical wisdom.
Known as Cǎi Yào Pǔ, the Chinese Medicinal Garden is a permanent feature of The Huntington’s 15-acre Liu Fang Yuan (Garden of Flowing Fragrance), showcasing over 50 medicinal plants with cultural and botanical significance. The garden officially opened in May 2024 and serves as an educational resource that contributes to public awareness of traditional Chinese healing practices.
Curator Philip Bloom emphasized that the garden is a space for learning about the relationships between plants and people, reflecting historical Chinese practices where medicinal gardens were primary sites for understanding plant-based healing.
The open house provides an opportunity for attendees to explore the intersection of ancient healing traditions and modern botanical science. Visitors can learn about the cultural and scientific significance of plants that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries through curated educational programming and garden tours with bilingual plant labels.
The garden features comprehensive bilingual educational signage and was developed through collaboration between The Huntington and scholars at UCLA’s Center for Chinese Studies and botanical researchers. It represents a confluence of heritage preservation, integrative health education, and ethnobotany.
This educational initiative comes at a time of growing public interest in holistic and alternative healthcare practices. The event promotes cross-cultural understanding and health literacy by examining ancient herbal treatments in the context of modern botanical science, positioning Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area as a hub for multicultural wellness education.
While located in nearby San Marino, The Huntington Library maintains deep institutional and community ties to Pasadena, including partnerships with Caltech, Pasadena City College, and local cultural nonprofits. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens was incorporated in 1919 and operates as a nonprofit educational institution.
The Chinese Garden, Liu Fang Yuan, spans 15 acres and is one of the largest classical-style Chinese gardens outside China. It integrates architecture, art, and horticulture reflecting traditional Chinese landscape design.
The event is expected to attract health-conscious individuals interested in alternative medicine, cultural heritage enthusiasts, academic and botanical audiences, and local civic and arts supporters.
The Chinese Medicinal Garden Open House will take place on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at The Huntington’s Chinese Garden, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California. (626) 405-2100. huntington.org.
