PORTLAND, OR -- Oregon’s only authentic Chinese Garden unveiled a new name for its teahouse on Wednesday, celebrating culture, nature, poetry and, of course, tea. The naming ceremony featured a traditional performance by the International Lion Dance team. 

Lan Su Chinese Garden sits on a full city block in downtown Portland's Chinatown. Its teahouse closed in October for renovations. VP of Operations Dan Barbato says it’s now fully restored with a renovated windows, a remodeled kitchen and a new seasonal menu, "Most importantly, there’s an incredible selection of more than 20 different teas from mainland China, Taiwan and right here in the Pacific Northwest." 

Until last fall, the teahouse was operated by the Tao of Tea tea company. When the teahouse reopened in February, it came under the management of the garden. It took time to select a new name, with help from the community. "In Chinese culture, names are very significant and a lot of intentionality is put into the selection of a name," says Executive Director Elizabeth Nye. "Yun Shui" was chosen through an online vote; it means "cloud and water" in Chinese, in part, referencing the reflection seen in the pond just outside the teahouse doors. Nye adds, "The actual building that this teahouse is in is named 'The Tower of Cosmic Reflections.' Now the teahouse business is 'Cloud and Water,' so there’s a very nice partnership between those two names."

Lan Su opened in 2000 and is one of only a handful of Chinese gardens in North America. Nye says it's a special place, "We have the only functioning teahouse of all of the Chinese Gardens in the United States. So, it gives an opportunity for people, not just in Portland and Oregon, but really the country, to come together and experience a true Chinese experience." She adds, "This garden was built entirely in China, brought over here and reconstructed with the help of 65 artisans that traveled to put it back together. It is truly unique in North America."