Garden of the Chinese Pavilion

The Garden of the Chinese Pavilion is a compact, carefully composed green space within the Royal Domain of Laeken, on the northern edge of Brussels. It surrounds the Chinese Pavilion and faces the Japanese Tower across an avenue, together forming one of the city's most distinctive far-eastern-inspired landscapes.

How to get there?

The garden lies in Laeken, a district north of central Brussels immediately adjoining the royal residence. It pairs naturally with a wider walk through the Royal Domain, and the area is well connected to the city centre by public transport. Although part of the estate remains tied to the royal family, the pavilion, tower and garden are opened to visitors during scheduled periods.

What will you see?

The centrepiece is the Chinese Pavilion itself, opened in 1910, only months after the death of King Leopold II, on whose orders it had been built. He had originally intended it as a luxury restaurant, but the building ultimately became part of the Museums of the Far East. Its rooms are decorated in a chinoiserie style echoing Louis XIV and Louis XVI interiors, filled with Chinese motifs, porcelain and silverware.

The garden wrapped around the pavilion was planted with flowering beds and wooded groves featuring species brought from China, Japan and other parts of Asia and the Middle East, reinforcing the site's exotic character. A particular highlight is its topiary work — precisely shaped, geometric hedges and shrubs typical of ornamental palace gardens of this kind.

Just across the path stands the Japanese Tower, a five-storey pagoda nearly 50 metres tall. It was commissioned by the same king and built between 1900 and 1904 to house and display his collection of Chinese and Japanese art to the public. Both structures — the pavilion with its garden and the tower — reflect Leopold II's fascination with East Asian art and architecture, a defining feature of this corner of the Royal Domain.

Heritage status

Both the Chinese Pavilion and the neighbouring Japanese Tower have been recognised as part of the heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region and placed under conservation protection, confirming their historical and architectural significance for the city as a whole.

When to visit?

The garden is at its best in spring and summer, when the plantings are in full bloom and the topiary compositions are most striking. It is worth checking current opening times before visiting, since access to the Royal Domain can be limited depending on the royal family's calendar of events and ongoing conservation work on the pavilion and tower.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Garden of the Chinese Pavilion? It is a garden within the Royal Domain of Laeken, surrounding the Chinese Pavilion commissioned by King Leopold II and opened in 1910, planted with Asian species and shaped by topiary art.

What can be seen inside the Chinese Pavilion? Interiors in a chinoiserie style inspired by Louis XIV and Louis XVI design, decorated with Chinese motifs, porcelain and silverware; the building forms part of the Museums of the Far East.

How is the garden connected to the Japanese Tower? The garden and pavilion face the Japanese Tower across the path — both were commissioned by Leopold II around the turn of the 20th century to showcase East Asian art.

Is the site protected as heritage? Yes, both the Chinese Pavilion and the Japanese Tower have been placed under conservation protection due to their historical and architectural value.