今日上海
汉堡花园在上海绽放，庆祝两市结为友好城市40周年 - 2026年04月16日
Hamburg Garden blooms in Shanghai to mark 40 years of sister-city ties
Carola Veit, president of the Hamburg Parliament, makes a speech at the opening ceremony of the Hamburg Garden in Xintiandi on Thursday.The Hamburg Garden officially opened on April 16 for the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Show, marking the 40th anniversary of the sister-city bond between Shanghai and the German city.
Carola Veit, president of the Hamburg Parliament, led a delegation to the garden's opening ceremony at Taiping Lake in Xintiandi. She described the garden as a physical witness to four decades of friendship.
"The port partnership is really vivid and it is important for both our cities," Veit said. She called Hamburg the "gate to the world" for Shanghai in Europe.
Trade between the two hubs reached new heights in 2025. The Port of Hamburg handled 8.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last year, a 7.3 percent increase, driven largely by a 6.5 percent rise in traffic with China.
Nationally, China reclaimed its position as Germany's top trading partner in 2025, with total trade turnover reaching 251.8 billion euros (US$272 billion), according to the German Federal Statistical Office.
Veit emphasized that the relationship extends beyond the economy. She noted that both cities are getting "greener" through shared ideas on the environment and medical progress.
"A garden often carries a worldview. In the 18th century, Chinese gardens were described as ideal and dreamlike places. We are very happy that today we can offer this small garden as a gift in return."
The layout features alpine rhododendrons and irises. Two waterways represent the Elbe and Huangpu rivers.The garden design reflects the different cultures. Veit explained that German gardens often follow a functional layout, while Chinese gardens pursue harmony between humans and nature.
The layout features alpine rhododendrons and irises, which Veit said represent hope, trust, and a beautiful new beginning. Two waterways represent the Elbe and Huangpu rivers.
She quoted philosopher Khalil Gibran for the garden: "Spring flowers are the winter dreams told at the breakfast table of the angels."
Youth cooperation was a major theme of the event. Students from the German School Shanghai presented environmental projects, showing how they turn old clothes into new fashion to reduce waste.
Leyla Alagöz, a 10th-grade student who has lived in Shanghai for one year, called the garden a beautiful space.
"It shows that we've got great connections between the two cities," Alagöz said. "We should be able to share everything together to make a great environment."
Yilin Schamburek, a fellow 10th-grade student who has lived in Shanghai for six years, praised the city's green spaces. She suggested the two cities create combined schools so children can learn both languages.
"I love how Shanghai combines the city with nature," Schamburek said. "It gives me many opportunities and I want to stay here after graduation."
Students of German School Shanghai share how they turn old clothes into new fashion to reduce waste.Source: City News Service
