We are very grateful for their generous grant, an essential aid for the preservation of the garden.
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A short interview in WDR television local news is available here (at the third button on the timeline and in German, of course).
A special treasure within the Botanical Garden is the Chinese Garden Qian Yuan, a classical southern Chinese scholar's garden donated to the Ruhr University in 1990 by our partner university, the Tongji University of Shanghai.
When this fragile construction turned out to have suffered severe damage from our harsh climate within a few years, the Chinese Garden Society was founded in 2000 to prevent the imminent razing of the building and to collect donations for its renovation. After the Garden was reopened in October 2001 the Society remained in existence and now pursues two important goals:
Our special tours through the construction site are over for this year. Of course in 2026 we will resume our full regular programme of guided tours through the rejuvenated Chinese Garden. Details will be announced here in the spring.
Our Society now has a well maintained presence on Instagram. The account chinesischergarten_bochum has over 800 subscribers and new photographs are constantly being posted. When you can't visit the Chinese Garden in person, this is a good alternative way to experience its flair and inhale its atmosphere.
Many large and small donations, especially the Ruhr University's support and the grant from Stadtwerke Bochum, enabled us to restore the Chinese Garden's pristine countenance, mending the ravages of time. Many thanks to all of our donors.
Our finances are back to zero and so we hope for your continued support, via the gofundme Link below or payments to our bank account (see the right-hand column or this one below).
In the recent polling for sponsorship by Stadtwerke Bochum our project qualified for a full grant, a very big help. Our heartfelt thanks to all who gave us their hearts!
In the German-Chinese book Qian Yuan – Chinesische Gartenkunst in Bochum, the architect Prof. Zhang Zhenshan lets us partake of his thoughts while designing the Chinese Garden all the way through to its completion. Numerous drawings, explanations and fascinating details are complemented by stirring photographs. With great charm the book imparts well-founded insights into the art and philosophy of Chinese gardens.
The Society has purchased the remainder of this edition and the book is for sale at the reduced price of only 10 euros, either at the Campus Shop (Unishop) in HZO (the lecture hall building Hörsaalzentrum Ost, which faces on the forum near the main auditorium Audimax) or from the secretariat of the Botanical Garden. Mail orders can only be filled by the Botanical Garden for an additional 5 euros for postage.
Our society, as old as this century, can only continue its work if we can attract new members. If you are as enchanted by the Chinese Garden as we are, please join the society and help us to preserve this place of rest and harmony and keep it in the public view.
You can download the double-sided German membership application with a data privacy declaration below. After filling it out and signing it, please send it to: Der Chinesische Garten e.V. , c/o Botanischer Garten der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany.
(1.7 MB)
We are a recognized charity which furthers art and culture. Donations for these purposes can be deducted from taxable income for the German income tax. The bank receipt or a bank statement are acceptable proof for donations up to € 300 and for larger donations we will send you a receipt on the prescribed official form.
Donations can be made by bank transfer to the German bank account shown above (click on the picture to enlarge it).
Eberhard Koch, Wolfgang Stuppy and others. Special thanks to Dennis Yenmez (photographer for the City of Bochum) for letting us use his photographs of the reopening ceremony.
Copyright © cgev 2025
Last update: Oct 04, 2025
