An iconic Edmonton landmark is finally returning in a new location
An iconic Edmonton landmark dismantled nearly 10 years ago is making a comeback, with construction beginning this week on a new Harbin Gate.
The Harbin Gate serves as a symbol of the strong cultural and historical ties between the city and the Chinese community. The original gate officially opened in 1987 to commemorate the twinning of Edmonton with the City of Harbin in China’s Heilongjiang Province.
The gate’s creation was advocated for by the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA), which coordinated community funding to support contributions from the City and Province.
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For 30 years, it stood on 102 Avenue as a representation of the friendship and cultural exchange between the two cities before being taken down in 2017 to make way for the Valley Line LRT.
Design work on a replacement gate began in 2019.
The new Harbin Gate will be located at 97 Street and 101A Avenue, where Edmonton’s original Chinatown began.
City of Edmonton
The new gate is intended to “create a sense of connectedness in cultural experience, improve the vibrancy of the surrounding area and serve as a defining boundary for the city’s old and new Chinatowns in conjunction with the Gate of Happy Arrival at 107A Avenue,” according to the City of Edmonton.
The City worked with the City of Harbin and Edmonton’s Chinese community on the design of the new gate. The north side of the gate will incorporate interpretations of Chinatown and Edmonton’s evolving history, and the South face will be designed by the City of Harbin.
City of Edmonton
Elements from the original gate, including the plaque, bell and stone lions, will be refurbished and incorporated into the new design to reflect the history of the Chinese community and recognize the importance of the original structure to residents of the neighbourhood and the wider city.
The plaque identifies the gateway as a place of confluence for Chinese culture in Edmonton, while the lions traditionally mark the entrance to the neighbourhood.
Construction on the new gate began on Monday and is expected to be completed in 2027. The City has projected a budget of $8.7 million for the project.
You can find out more about the project on the City of Edmonton website.