Since the normalization of the relations between China and Japan, many Chinese cities have established friendly relationship with some Japanese cities. In the 10th year since Harbin and Niigata became sister cities, both sides built together this Japanese style friendship garden in the Sun Island Park which is located on the northern bank of the Songhua River. Covering an area of 3.7 hectares, the garden was built with a total investment of 4.2 million yuan. Japan invested 3.3 million yen and took the responsibility of the fundamental design. China was responsible for the construction work. It took 14 months to complete the garden.
Opened in September 1989, the garden receives 150,000 domestic and foreign guests every year. The top leaders of the Party and the PRC such as Li Peng and Qiao Shi visited the garden on inspection. Friendship Garden has become an important window of Harbin. The park is built on the basis of the natural scenery and blends beautifully with its surroundings. The Sino-Japanese Friendship Memorial Hall is of traditional Japanese architectural style. Tourists can find distinctive Japanese flavor in the trees and large expanse of lawns. Facing the wonderful scenery, tourists would feel like being in Japan.