Chinese Sunken Garden Gate
historic place
The Chinese Sunken Garden Gate is a historic place in San Antonio, Bexar County. Built around 1942, this gate was designed by artist Dionicio Rodriguez, in collaboration with Maximo Cortes. Rodriguez was known for his unique faux bois style, crafting cement to intricately resemble wood, which is evident in the gate's distinctive pagoda-like structure. Inscriptions on the gate include "Entrance Chinese Tea Garden" and Chinese calligraphy. This gate serves as an entrance to the Japanese Tea Garden, a site developed from an old limestone quarry in the early 20th century. The quarry provided limestone for many San Antonio buildings. The Chinese Sunken Garden Gate is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It remains a significant example of Rodriguez's unique artistic contributions to San Antonio's historical landscape.