Written by Lila Wright; edited by Ben Everett.
Details and anecdotes thoughtfully provided by Lihuang Wung, a Senior Planner for the City of Tacoma, volunteer for the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation (CRPF), and the Project manager for the Tacoma Reconciliation Park from 2009 – 2017
The Fuzhou Ting, a beautiful highlight of the Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park, is a landmark structure representing the park’s significance as a place of commemoration and reconciliation. “亭”, pronounced “ting,” is the Chinese word for “pavilion,” and “福州,” pronounced “Fuzhou,” is the name of one of Tacoma’s thirteen sister cities, the capital of Fuzhou Province in China. The choice to leave “Fuzhou Ting” as the English name for the structure was made after a series of discussions with the local community. Although there were English alternatives, such as pavilion, pagoda, or gazebo, in the end, the crew decided to honor the gift from Fuzhou by transliterating it as it is pronounced in Chinese (Wung). Although the Chinese Reconciliation Park and the Fuzhou Ting receive visitors daily, few know the Fuzhou Ting’s story.
During a visit to Tacoma in 2001, the Mayor’s Delegation from the City of Fuzhou received a briefing from the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation. Subsequently, in 2006, Fuzhou decided to donate a “ting” to Tacoma as an act of friendship in recognition of their sister city relationship and as a recognition of the City of Tacoma and Tacoma-Pierce County community activists’ Chinese reconciliation efforts since the early 1990s (Wung). Tacoma’s Planning and Development Services Department (PDS) was responsible for the Chinese Reconciliation Park, collaborating with senior urban planner Lihuang Wung, who also regularly volunteered with CRPF and the Tacoma-Fuzhou Sister City Citizens Committee, to communicate with Fuzhou and translate the construction documents they sent over for review. By 2009, Wung had become the Chinese Reconciliation Park Project Manager. By 2010, permitting and design details were approved, and construction preparations began. The Ting’s construction materials arrived in Tacoma from Fuzhou by the summer, along with three Fuzhou artisans and an interpreter who arrived in August. There they stayed for the first six weeks (43 days) of construction, enjoying a farewell reception put on by CRPF before returning home.
Collaboration between American construction workers and volunteers with the guests from Fuzhou was a crucial aspect of building the Fuzhou Ting, and is analogous to the project’s broader mission. The Fuzhou team included a lead civil engineer, a construction manager, a senior artisan, and an interpreter, each holding important roles during the construction process. One of the biggest challenges the American workers faced when building the Ting was learning how to use materials that were foreign to them; the senior artisan from Fuzhou aided in this process by providing training and demonstrations, educating the American workers on proper and professional handling of these foreign materials (Wung). Another challenge was communication, due to the language barrier, use of different measurement systems, and divergent construction methods/regulations. Although the interpreter was there to provide Mandarin-English translations for the workers, both crews still worked hard to overcome these challenges, finding that it was “truly a unique experience in cultural exchange, learning from each other, and mutual respect and understanding” (Wung).
CRPF President Theresa Pan Hosley and board member Larry Hosley with the artisans from Fuzhou.
Source: Lihuang Wung, City of Tacoma, 2010
Construction of the Fuzhou Ting.
Source: Lihuang Wung, City of Tacoma, 2010
The Fuzhou Ting was fully constructed by the spring of 2011, and an opening ceremony was held on September 22. The opening ceremony was a touching experience for all involved. It included traditional Chinese music, a lion dance from the Mak Fai Washington Kung Fu Club of Seattle, a blessing from Buddhist Master Hsin-Tien Shi, and remarks from Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, Fuzhou Vice-Mayor Chen Qi, and CRPF President Theresa Pan-Hosley. The Master of Ceremonies was Dr. Gregory Youtz, a professor at PLU, vice-president of CRPF, and chair of the Tacoma-Fuzhou Sister City Committee. Throughout the ceremony, two teachers from the local Lincoln High School stood in the back, one holding a Chinese flag and one holding an American flag, representing the ongoing relationship between the two sister cities of Tacoma and Fuzhou, as well as the need for continued collaboration between American and international communities.
In his final status report to the City of Tacoma in September of 2011, Wung writes, “Tacoma scores one more time. The completion and opening of the Fuzhou Ting marks a historic moment for the community-wide Chinese reconciliation efforts, a milestone of the development of the Chinese Reconciliation Park, and a unique sister-city exchange project beautifully executed.” The Fuzhou Ting is the first and only authentic Chinese structure known in South Puget Sound. It provides a place of rest for park visitors, giving them an opportunity to appreciate traditional Chinese architecture and contemplate the real meaning of Chinese reconciliation and community harmony (Wung).
Revealing the “Fuzhou Ting” plaque at the opening ceremony
Source: Lihuang Wung, City of Tacoma, 2011
Teachers from Lincoln High School, holding a Chinese and American flag
Source: Lihuang Wung, City of Tacoma, 2011
Despite its cultural significance, beauty, and intricate structure, the Fuzhou Ting has faced acts of vandalism. In May of 2011, while it was still under construction, the site inspector (Frank Wells) noticed that some of the lattice work had been damaged, most likely the night before. The crew filed a police report and looked into installation of security cameras to monitor the park. Since its construction was completed in 2011, there have been additional damages to the structure by vandals, specifically to the two stone lions that sit at the front of the structure. The pair of lions, one male and one female, are “guardian gods” seen in many traditional Chinese structures. Besides providing decorative purposes, the lions also protect the house and ward off evil spirits (Wung). In the case of the Fuzhou Ting’s lions, there is also a cub under the female lion’s paw, exhibiting the lions’ familial connection.
Each of the Fuzhou Ting’s lions were carefully carved out of a single piece of granite, with the ball in the mouth carved and shaped from within. Between 2011 and 2014, the female lion’s tongue was broken off and the male’s was chiseled down with its upper teeth chipped. In 2015, Fuzhou once again sent a group of technicians, two of which were part of the original team, to do repairs on both the ting and the damaged lions, but the Ting faced another act of vandalism in April of 2016. This time, the damages were more devastating and irreversible without the proper materials and capacity to do full repairs. Once again, the stone lions faced the brunt of the damage: both lions’ tongues were broken, their upper teeth chiseled, upper lips were notched, and the balls were stolen from their mouths.
Left: Construction crew positioning the stone lions.
Source: Lihuang Wung, City of Tacoma, 2010
Current damages are being addressed; CRPF President Theresa Pan Hosley reached out to Debbie Bingham from the City of Tacoma, who reports that it will be repaired sometime in June and will be paid for by Fuzhou contacts. The lack of respect for this traditional Chinese structure as seen in the continued acts of vandalism is incredibly disappointing and representative of the divide between the local Asian-American community and the broader city of Tacoma, despite efforts of reconciliation and education by organizations like CRPF and community members.
The Fuzhou Ting stands as a powerful monument to Tacoma’s ongoing efforts to reconcile with its history of Chinese expulsion, embodying both a symbolic and tangible commitment to healing historical wounds and fostering greater cross-community understanding. More than a landmark, the Ting is a place of reflection, connection, and cultural celebration—honoring the past while pointing toward a more inclusive future. It also represents the deepening bond between Tacoma and its Sister City, Fuzhou, reflecting a spirit of international friendship and collaboration. Though the structure is complete, the broader work of reconciliation continues. The previous vandalism of the Fuzhou Ting is a stark reminder that racial bias and cultural misunderstanding persist, underscoring the importance of sustained dialogue, education, and community engagement. Furthermore, the Chinese Reconciliation Park itself remains unfinished and must still evolve to fully realize its intended memorial, educational, and recreational purposes. In both of these regards, the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation remains committed to working closely with the City of Tacoma and the local community to fulfill this vision, and continuously bastion Tacoma’s multicultural past, present, and future.
This article was researched and written by CRPF intern Lila Wright, a student at the University of Puget Sound (Class of 2027). It was edited by Ben Everett, CRPF’s administrator. All information came from the cited sources and from direct interviews with Lihuang Wung.
Sources
https://www.rolludaarchitects.com/fuzhou-ting
https://crpftacoma.org/reconciliation-the-tacoma-model/