Gate of Harmonious Interest

The Gate of Harmonious Interest (Chinese: 同濟門; pinyin: Tóngjì mén) is a gate and cultural landmark located in Chinatown, Victoria, British Columbia. It spans Fisgard Street, west of Government Street. Erected in 1981,^[1] it was part of the revitalization efforts of Chinatown by the City of Victoria and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. The gate is 11.6 metres (38 feet) tall, and is adorned with intricate red and gold decorations that represent themes of unity and harmony.

Gate of Harmonious Interest
同濟門
The gate in 2018
General information
Type	Gate
Location	Chinatown, Fisgard Street, Victoria, Canada
Coordinates	48.429379°N 123.367334°W / 48.429379; -123.367334
Opened	Nov. 15, 1981
Cost	$130,000
Height	11.6 m (38 ft)
Design and construction
Architect	Mickey Lam

Two inscriptions on the gate, "To work together with one heart" and "To help each other achieve harmony," commemorate the collaborative effort between Chinese and non-Chinese communities in its construction and restoration. Flanking the gate are two hand-carved stone lions, donated by Victoria's sister city of Suzhou.

The Gate of Harmonious Interest houses two time capsules within its outer red pillars, scheduled to be opened in 2081 and 2096. Additionally, it features a plaque commemorating the 61 Chinese Canadians who died during World War II.^[2]

The idea for the gate originated from the City of Victoria's Ad Hoc Committee^[3] in August 1979, as a symbol of "the spirit of cooperation and participation between our Chinese citizens and the rest of the community."^{[4][better source needed]} Designed by Mickey Lam,^[5] then the city's urban design planner, the construction of the gate cost $130,000, with contributions from the B.C. provincial government, Victoria's Chinese Canadian community, and other sources.