A growing network of sister-city gardens is bringing landscapes and cultures from around the world to Jinan, transforming public parks into spaces for international cultural exchange and everyday encounters with global traditions.

To date, Jinan has developed 14 sister-city gardens across nine districts and counties (functional areas), each inspired by one of the city's overseas partners. Together, they offer residents a chance to experience unique landscapes, architecture, and cultural traditions without leaving the city.

Each garden reflects the identity of its sister city. The newly opened Novi Sad garden recreates scenery inspired by the Serbian city's Danube River. In Pingyin county, the Kazanlak garden showcases Bulgaria's rose culture, while the Siem Reap garden in the Jinan Innovation Zone incorporates architectural elements inspired by Cambodia's Angkor civilization. The Suwon garden in Lixia district features designs modeled after South Korea's UNESCO-listed Hwaseong Fortress, and the Vantaa garden includes benches imported from Finland to preserve its authentic Nordic character.

The initiative builds on Jinan's long-standing international partnerships. Since establishing its first sister-city relationship in 1983, the city has formed partnerships with 95 cities in 51 countries, including 29 sister cities and 66 friendship cooperation cities across Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania.

The exchange is a two-way process. In addition to introducing international landscapes to Jinan, the city has established "Jinan Gardens" in Marmaris, Türkiye, and Rennes, France, showcasing traditional Chinese pavilions and spring culture. Jinan and Rennes also became the first pair of sister cities between China and France to build reciprocal sister-city gardens.

More than beautifully landscaped parks, the gardens have become symbols of Jinan's international engagement, bringing global cultures into everyday public spaces while strengthening people-to-people exchanges between sister cities.

An aerial view of the Novi Sad sister-city garden in Jinan, featuring landscapes inspired by Serbia's Danube River. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Architectural details inspired by South Korea's Suwon create a distinctive cultural landscape in Jinan's Suwon sister-city garden. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Jinan Garden in Rennes, France, features a pavilion that showcases architectural elements inspired by Jinan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]