Golden Dragon Museum

The Yi Yuan (Garden of Joy) was a joint project between the Bendigo Chinese Association Inc., the City of Greater Bendigo, the Federal Government, the Victorian State Government and the City of Baoding (Hebei Province, China).

All foundations and bricklaying were done by local Bendigo tradesman, and on the 15th of August 1996, twenty one highly skilled artisans from Hebei Province arrived in Bendigo to complete the gardens. Working seven days per week from 8am to 6pm every day, their work was completed by the 4th of November. Bendigo now has a

Chinese Garden equal to any other Chinese Garden of the same size, anywhere in the world.

Based on the Imperial Palace in Beijing, the architecture and construction of the gardens is authentic in every way.

The gardens feature a Buddhist Temple, the Guan Yin Miao (Temple of The Goddess of Mercy). The temple was consecrated on the 30th of November 1996, according to Buddhist rituals and the customs and traditions of the Bendigo Chinese.

At the entrance to the gardens is a reflection wall. Inspired by the 'Nine Dragon Wall' in Beijing's Imperial Palace and designed by artist Zhou Xiaoping, this tiled mural was created utilising skills, resources and materials from Bendigo. This is the first Dragon Mural that has been made in Australia.

Also featured in the gardens are the Taoist Eight Immortals, which are one of the most popular subjects of representation in China. Their portraits are to be seen everywhere. In the Chinese Classical Gardens at the Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo, there are statues as well as a mural feature of them. Together they represent different conditions of life, poverty, wealth, aristocracy, plebeianism, age, youth, masculinity and femininity. The immortals encourage laughter and banish care and help to enliven the struggle for existence.