For photos and descriptions of the trees
in this collection click here.
Chinese Pavillion Entrance
The Yee-sun Wu Chinese Garden Pavilion was completed in 1996 for the display of Chinese penjing. Named in honor of Dr. Yee-sun Wu of Hong Kong, the pavilion's purpose is to preserve China's seminal role in developing the art form called penjing by the Chinese and bonsai by the Japanese.

Photo: Joe Mullan






The Chinese Collection at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum resides in the Yee-sun Wu Chinese Garden Pavilion.  This pavilion is named in honor of Dr. Yee-sun Wu (1905-1995) who was a Hong Kong collector of penjing. 
Penjing, the antecedent art form of bonsai, can be dated back to the Tsin Dynasty in China (265-420 A.D.)  There are many schools of penjing and Dr. Wu was a proponent of the Lingnan School and maintained a collection of over 300 trees. 

In 1983, Janet Lanman, a NBF Board Member, approached Dr. Wu with the suggestion that penjing should be included in the Museum’s collection. 

Dr. Wu agreed and he graciously offered trees to the Museum and funding for a Pavilion to house them.
Moon Gate of the Chinese Pavilion
Photo: Joe Mullan
In 1988, U.S. National Arboretum Director, Dr. H. Marc Cathey accepted the gift and referred to the Museum for the first time as: “The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.” 
In 1996 the pavilion was dedicated and a sign over the entrance in Chinese calligraphy states:  “Dr. Yee-sun Wu – A place where plants are trained and cultivated under the hand of a man of letters.”


Chinese Pavilion Window
Photo: Joe Mullan
Chinese Courtyard Garden of the Yee-sun Wu
Chinese Pavilion
Photo: Joe Mullan
There are now 36 trees in the Chinese collection and work is underway to add new trees in coming years.
Chinese Collection Gallery

Click on the thumbnails to view the gallery.
  • <i>Celtis sinensis</i> | Chinese Hackberry <br>Donor: Shu-ying Lui | In Training Since 1946
  • <i>Sageretia thea</i> | Paupers Tea <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1961
  • <i>Sageretia thea</i> | Paupers Tea <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1951
  • <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> | Chinese Elm <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1956
  • <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> | Chinese Elm <br>Donor: Shu-ying Lui | In Training Since 1961
  • <i>Pinus thunbergii</i> | Japanese Black Pine <br>Donor: Stanley Chinn | Training Date Unknown
  • <i>Ficus microcarpa</i> | Chinese Banyan <br>Donor: Shu-ying Lui | In Training Since 1906
  • <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> | Chinese Elm <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1951
  • <i>Carmona retusa</i> | Fukien Tea <br>Donor: Shu-ying Lui | In Training Since 1956
  • <i>Carmona retusa</i> | Fukien Tea <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1961
  • <i>Psuedolarix amabilis</i> | Golden Larch <br>Donor: Shu-ying Lui | In Training Since 1971
  • <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> | Chinese Elm <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1961
  • <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> | Chinese Elm <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1956
  • <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> | Chinese Elm <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1948
  • <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> | Chinese Elm <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1906
  • <i>Pinus thunbergii</i> var. Corticosa | Japanese Cork Bark Black Pine <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1936
  • <i>Podocarpus macrophyllus</i> | Buddhist Pine <br>Donor: Yee-sun Wu | In Training Since 1956
  • <i>Acer buergerianum</i> | Trident Maple <br>Donor: Stanley Chinn | Training Date Unknown
  • <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> | Chinese Elm <br>Donor: Stanley Chinn | Training Date Unknown
  • <i>Acer buergerianum</i> | Trident Maple <br>Donor: National Bonsai Foundation | In Training Since 2001
  • <i>Acer buergerianum</i> | Trident Maple <br>Donor: Stanley Chinn | Training Date Unknown
  • <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> | Chinese Elm <br>Donor: Stanley Chinn | Training Date Unknown
  • <i>Acer buergerianum</i> | Trident Maple <br>Donor: Stanley Chinn | Training Date Unknown
  • <i>Acer buergerianum</i> | Trident Maple <br>Donor: Stanley Chinn | Training Date Unknown
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© 2006, National Bonsai Foundation
Supporting the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum - contact2007@bonsai-nbf.org