Building for
the Next Century, Honouring the Last
Honouring our sister-city roots while building a new landmark for the future. Discover the symbolic anchors of Chinatown—the architectural sentinels that guard our history and beckon our progress.
The 1987
Friendship Gate
The story of the original Harbin Friendship Gate is a tale of cultural twinning and community advocacy. Officially inaugurated in May 1987, this masterwork of traditional "PaiFang" architecture was gifted by the City of Harbin to commemorate its sister-city bond with Edmonton. Modelled after the iconic Gate of Heavenly Peace in Beijing, it was more than an entrance; it was a physical manifestation of the Chinese Benevolent Association’s (CBA) vision for a "Chinatown South."
For 30 years, it stood on 102nd Avenue, east of 97th Street, serving as the district’s most recognizable landmark. It was constructed using authentic materials and technical expertise provided by specialists who travelled from Harbin to ensure every dragon finial and ceremonial drum was placed with spiritual and architectural precision. It was here that generations of Edmontonians took family photos, marking the start of a cultural journey that defined the Quarters for three decades.
The "Storage Era"
and the Farewell Vigil
In January 2017, the trajectory of the Harbin Gate was altered by the relentless march of infrastructure progress. To accommodate the Valley Line Southeast LRT, the gate was surgically dismantled. On January 21, 2017, the community gathered for a sombre candlelight vigil—a "historic testimony" to ensure that the City of Edmonton would never forget its promise to re-erect the monument.
As documented in the poignant reflections of community members like William Wang, the gate entered a decade-long "Storage Era." Dismembered and stored in a municipal yard near Coliseum Station, the gate became a "disjointed promise," a collection of parts waiting for a new home. This period of "Heritage in Limbo" served as a catalyst for the CTC and its partners to push for the "Energizing a Prosperous Future" strategy, ensuring that the return of the gate would be the centrepiece of district renewal.
The New
Harbin Gate
As we move toward the 2027 completion, the new Harbin Gate represents a maturation of our architectural identity. Re-located to 97 Street between Jasper Avenue and 101A Avenue, the gate returns to the literal 1890s birthplace of Edmonton’s original Chinatown. This $8.7 million project is not a mere replica; it is a "Two-Sided" portal that speaks to our dual history.
The South Face (The Sister-City Bond): Designed by heritage architects in Harbin and Beijing, this side bows to our ancestral roots, featuring traditional motifs and the refined craftsmanship of our twinning partner.
The North Face (The Local Evolution): This side serves as a canvas for Edmonton’s evolving story. Through a 2025 "Call for Art," local artists are designing panels that reflect the unique Indochinese-Canadian experience, ensuring the gate belongs to the people who walk beneath it every day.
The Refurbished Souls: We are breathing new life into the "Old Spirits." The original 1987 "Gateway to Chinatown" plaque, the ceremonial bell, and the stone guardian lions have been meticulously cleaned and refurbished for reintegration, serving as the spiritual continuity between 1987 and 2027.
Harbin Gate Media Hub
Tracking the narrative of our $8.7M architectural return across digital, TV, and radio.
Connecting to media archives...
The Harbin Gate Journey
From the 1890s birthplace of Chinatown to a new $8.7M landmark for 2027.
Final Project Completion
Handover of the completed gate and plazas. The structure serves as a defining boundary, connecting the Quarters to the Commercial Core.
Phase 6: HandoverSteel Structure Erection
A temporary full closure of a portion of 97 Street will occur to facilitate the raising of the primary red columns. Ornate roof tiles and restored lions are installed during this window.
Phase 4: Structural AssemblyConstruction Mobilization
Site set-up began on 97 Street between Jasper Avenue and 101A Avenue. Fencing and trailers are now in position on both sides of the corridor.
- One northbound lane partially closed for fencing.
- One southbound lane partially closed for trailers.
- Sidewalk access remains open on both sides.
- Public Call for Art has closed; review is underway.
$8.7M Budget Finalized
City Council approved a $2.7M adjustment following detailed design costing to ensure high-durability, climate-resilient materials.
Phase 2: Project FundingConstruction Manager Hired
EllisDon was awarded the contract to assist in the detailed design process and manage on-site procurement and trades.
Foundation Footings Installed
Underground structural work and plaza landscaping were pre-installed as part of the Jasper Avenue New Vision streetscape project.
Phase 1: FoundationsDesign Gift from Harbin
Design work for a replacement structure commenced. The City of Harbin gifted a new conceptual design, later refined by DIALOG and Beijing-based architects.
The Farewell Vigil
The original 1987 gate was dismantled for the Valley Line LRT. The community gathered to remind the City of its promise to restore the monument.
Legacy DismantlingFriendship Gate Inauguration
The original PaiFang opened on 102nd Avenue, commemorating twinning with Harbin. It was modeled after the Gate of Heavenly Peace.
Symbol of TwinningChinatown Historical Origins
The original Edmonton Chinatown emerged around 97 Street and Jasper Avenue—the same historic site where the new gate is being built today.
The BirthplaceThe Gate of
Happy Arrival
The Gate of Happy Arrival, located at 107A Avenue, serves as the northern anchor of our "Gateway Trail." By bookending the district with the new Harbin Gate to the south, we create a cohesive cultural corridor along 97th Street.
The Gate of Happy Arrival marks the entrance to the high-energy "Commercial Core," where the "Breath of the Wok" is most vibrant. In our strategy, this northern portal acts as the counterpart to the southern sanctuary, defining the 97th Street "Soul Food" corridor as a protected, celebrated, and safe space for all Edmontonians. Together, these gates function as the brackets of our community—holding our history in place while allowing our future to flourish between them.