New Bellagio Conservatory Chinese New Year Display
Posted on 14 January 2008
Beginning January 14, Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens will celebrate the 2008 Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rat, with a unique display filled with hidden meaning. The Conservatory’s design will be guided by the ancient practice of Feng Shui – the art of using surroundings to attract harmony, balance and positive life energy.
The dramatic centerpiece of this exhibit will be found perched atop an oversized, flowering branch. Here, a botanical, 5-foot-tall rodent will watch guests with an inquisitive eye. The auspicious rat’s lush coat will be made of red Alternanthera, a low-growing herb, with a touch of pink Hypoestes, a tropical plant. His long curling tail and delicate whiskers will be made of metal.
Legend has it that Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came. The rat is revered for its place as first in the Asian zodiac and is a symbol of renewal. Those born in the Year of the Rat tend to be intelligent, charming and practical.
Just steps away from Bellagio’s delightful rodent ambassador, an 18-foot-tall Chinese God of Wealth and Fortune will be found amidst gleaming I-Ching coins, a traditional Chinese money symbol. Widely recognized as the strongest symbol of good fortune in China, the God of Wealth and Fortune will be flanked by two Ming Dynasty-styled dings, ancestral vessels that protect against bad luck.
Nearby, visitors will find a zigzag bridge leading to a beautiful, wing-tipped gazebo painted a deep red lacquer with shimmering gold trim and green-tiled roofs. The color red signifies happiness while the upturned roofline will ward off evil spirits and the sharp pattern of the bridge will protect against negative energy and bad spirits. A majestic mountain, seen as a pillar between heaven and earth, will serve as a dramatic backdrop.
The teachings of Feng Shui also will be used to purposely position the flow of water into Bellagio’s Conservatory, and not away, ensuring the flow of positive energy. From a tranquil Koi pond to a shimmering waterfall, water will denote the larger world we live in while carp will signify good luck and everlasting good fortune.
Visitors are invited to celebrate Chinese New Year in Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens through March 15th.
1 Response to New Bellagio Conservatory Chinese New Year Display
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I am always amazed at the amount of work and detail they put into making the Conservatory such a beautiful place to visit.
I will definitely have to visit and see this new display.