AMERICAN PEACE GARDEN

XINZHENG, ZHENGHOU, HENAN, CHINA

The design for The American Peace Garden celebrates the bond between Fort Hays, Kansas and its sister city of Xinzheng, Henan, China while highlighting iconic cultural elements of American landscapes as vignettes. Drawing inspiration from the landscape, the garden presents a direct parallel between the Midwest region that surrounds FHSU and the open fields and agriculture that surround SIAS. This gesture consolidates a cultural bridge between the two regions and universities — ‘East meets West’ as an act of peace.

Joining numerous themed gardens and exhibits adorning its grounds, the forthcoming American Peace Garden is a gift from Fort Hays State University to SIAS University in its sister city of Xinzheng, located in China’s Henan province. Over its 20 years, SIAS University has sought to combine Chinese and Western educational philosophies through attention to innovative curriculum and diverse campus activities and spaces. We hope this new garden further enhances their campus as an engaging place to explore.