The New Harbin Gate
View from Jasper Avenue looking north
As we execute the "Energizing a Prosperous Future" strategy, we are building more than a replacement; we are constructing a $8.7 million monument to resilience. Situated on 97 Street between Jasper Avenue and 101A Avenue, the new gate returns to the literal 1890s birthplace of Edmonton's original Chinatown.
Integrating Traditional Principles into Modern Planning
The Two-Sided Narrative: To honour our dual identity, the South Face features a design gifted by Harbin, while the North Face showcases "interpretations of Chinatown and Edmonton’s evolving history." This ensures the gate looks forward to our future while bowing to our past.
Refurbished Souls: The "Old Spirits" live on within the new structure. We are meticulously refinishing and reintegrating the original 1987 "Gateway to Chinatown" Plaque, the Ceremonial Bell, and the Stone Guardian Lions.
Design Refinements: Per the December 2025 update, the new structure utilizes two refurbished lions and features lowered column plinths to create a more intimate, human-scaled experience for pedestrians entering the South Sanctuary.
Material Resilience: To ensure this gate stands for another century, we have replaced traditional, fragile materials with polyurethane-coated steel and high-density polystyrene decorative elements that withstand Edmonton’s subarctic climate while maintaining the authentic look of clay ceramic tiles.
View from 101A Avenue looking south
