The Portland Classical Chinese Garden is a collaboration between Portland and the Chinese city of Suzhou, Portland's sister city in China. It was designed by Suzhou designers in the style of the Ming dynasty garden of a wealthy scholar. Over 60 Suzhou artisans and craftsmen constructed the walls, buildings, pavilions and walkways using materials and tools brought from China. A classical Chinese garden consists generally of five elements: plants, stone, water, architecture and poetry. Over 90% of the plants in this garden are indigenous to China. A garden such as this is meant to be a miniaturization of nature, a living form of Chinese painting.