Dongzhi: Tangyuan vs. Jiaozi at Lan Su Chinese Garden

I could hardly believe it when I read about this upcoming festival—Dongzhi: Tangyuan vs. Jiaozi—that combines dumplings and glutinous rice balls with the gorgeous Lan Su Chinese Garden. Dongzhi is the winter solstice or “Chinese Thanksgiving Day” and this celebration sounds like something great in the city of Portland.

Have you been to the Lan Su Chinese Garden? It’s a beautiful place that feels larger inside than it does looking at it from the outside. The grounds are relaxing to stroll around in, and I love their teahouse—which is getting a refresh and currently operating in pop-up format. This section of NW Portland has its challenges, but the Lan Su Garden is a place of respite from the external goings-on. I highly recommend visiting if you haven’t already.

Dongzhi Background

Now on to Dongzhi. The official date of the winter solstice is December 22, but the Garden is experiencing Dongzhi throughout the month of December. More about the festival’s history from the folks at Lan Su:

“An important traditional festival in China, Dongzhi dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). Festival activities include worshiping heaven, the earth, and ancestors, counting nines, eating traditional winter solstice foods, and wishing for a great harvest and good fortune in the coming year. In modern times, Dongzhi Festival is a time for a family reunion and reunion dinner.”

The traditional foods eaten at this time are dumplings in the north of China and tangyuan in the south. Apparently eating ear-shaped dumplings are said to help you avoid frostbite on your ears. Tangyuan are sweet glutinous rice balls with the addition of sesame, red bean paste, and sweets, and are colored pink or white (other colors like green and orange are also found). They are eaten in a sweet soup. According to Lan Su, “Yuan means reunion and perfect in Chinese, therefore Tangyuan symbolizes family reunion and prosperity.”

Photo credit: Choo Yut Shing on Flickr

Dongzhi at Lan Su

At Lan Su Chinese Garden, they are hosting a kind of competition between these two solstice treats. “Are you Team Tangyuan or Team Jiaozi?” they ask. Head to the Garden and taste them both, then vote. They need your voice. You even have a chance to win a $25 restaurant voucher. You can also do a Polaroid selfie with tangyuan and jiaozi plushies! The fun happens on two weekends in December: the 9th and 10th, and 16th and 17th, from 1pm to 3pm each Saturday and Sunday.

But on Friday and Saturday, December 22 and 23, the programming expands in service of the actual winter solstice. Tangyuan vs. Jiaozi is from 2pm to 6pm on both days. Then from 4pm to 6pm, Light-Up Lan Su happens, where the garden is turned into “a dazzling wonderland of lights and community spirit.” Lanterns on the water will no doubt be a beautiful sight. There will be live music, too: Nanfang Chinese Music Club playing traditional music on instruments like the yang qin and erhu on Saturday, and Bi Hai on the Guzheng on Sunday, 4pm to 6:45pm on both days.

It doesn’t look like there is a separate ticket for this series of events, so access comes with Garden admission. Ticket prices range from free to $14 (more details on ticket prices can be found on the Lan Su website).

I hope you get to enjoy what looks like a wonderful Dongzhi festival!

Dongzhi: Tangyuan vs. Jiaozi
Saturday and Sunday, December 9, 10, 16, and 17; Friday and Saturday, December 22 and 23
Lan Su Chinese Garden, 239 Northwest Everett Street, Portland
lansugarden.org—Event Page | Instagram | Facebook