Yu Garden (also called Yuyuan Garden or Yu Yuan Garden), a renowned classical garden in southern Yangtze, is located in the northeast of the Shanghai “Old City” with Fuyou Road in the north, Anren street in the east and City God Temple of Shanghai in the south.
Shanghai Yuyuan is a famous scenic spot and tourist attraction at home and abroad. What is Yu Garden famous for? Yu Garden has a typical landscape of Jiangnan gardens, with uneven pavilions, towering rocks and green trees, which reflects the artistic style of the southern Chinese gardens of the Ming and Qing dynasties – “quiet, beautiful, and exquisite”.
There are also a considerable number of ancient and famous trees, Ming and Qing furniture, celebrity calligraphy and paintings, clay sculptures and brick carvings, plaque couplets and other cultural relics in the garden, which embodies the rich essence of traditional Chinese culture and art. Many political leaders at home and abroad have visited Yu Garden, which is a rare traditional cultural card of Shanghai.
Fast Facts about the Yu Garden, Shanghai
- Chinese Name: 豫园
- Location: 168 Fuyou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai City
- Opening Hours: 9:00 – 16:30 (stop entry time 16:00), closed every Monday (except national holidays, subject to the announced time during the Spring Festival)
- Tickets: RMB 40 per adult during peak season (April 1 – June 30, September 1 – November 30); RMB30 per adult during off-season (July 1 – August 31, December 1 – March 31)
- Time Needed: about 1-3 hours
- Highlights:Yuyuan Garden is one of the five major gardens in the South of the Yangtze River, and is praised as “the most extraordinary and beautiful garden in southeast China”, is the only Ming style garden in Shanghai.
Yu Garden History
First built in the years of Jiajing and Wanli of the Ming dynasty, Yu Garden was originally a private garden, which covers about 20,000 square meters and has a history of more than 450 years. And the owner of the garden was Pan Yunduan, who once served as governor of Sichuan province.
In order to let his father Pan En enjoy his old age in peace, Pan Yunduan began to build a garden from 1559 (Ming Dynasty). And finally, after more than 20 years of painstaking efforts, the Yu Garden was built. “Yu”(豫) in Chinese means “peace and quiet”, so the reason why it is named “Yu Garden” is to please and bless his father.
Yu Garden was recognized as the “Top 1 Southeast Famous Garden”(东南名园冠) in the middle and late Ming Dynasty. However, during the Opium War, the garden was severely damaged. It was not until the 1990s that the Yu Garden was revitalized after large-scale repair and protection. In 1982, it was announced as one of the second key cultural relics under national protection.
Attractions & Top Things to Do in Shanghai Yu Garden
Hidden in downtown Shanghai, Yu Garden is a perfect blend of classical garden charm and modern urban bustling atmosphere. The Garden is now divided into six scenic spots: Inner Garden, Yuhua Hall, Huijing Tower, Dianchun Hall, Wanhua Chamber and Sansui Hall. Yu Garden has still preserved the birthplace of “Shanghai-style calligraphy and painting” – Depository of Books and Paintings.
Huijing Tower, Dianchun Hall, Wanhua Chamber
Huijing Tower is in the center of the Garden. Ascending it, you can have a panoramic view of the whole garden. Surrounded by green trees and lake water, the scenery is beautiful. Dianchun Hall was once the command center of the Small-Sword Society Uprising, with a strong historical atmosphere.
Wanhua Chamber is formerly known as the Flower God Pavilion, where there is a 400-year-old ginkgo tree. Every autumn, golden ginkgo leaves hang on the branches, creating a beautiful sight. There is leaking windows below, carved with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums.
Great Rockery
What is the most famous in Sansui Hall is the Great Rockery, which is 14 meters high. It is the masterpiece of Zhang Nanyang, a famous garden maker in the Ming Dynasty, and is also one of the landmark attractions of Yu Garden. What’s more, it is the highest rockery in the southern region of the Yangtze River.
“Exquisite Jade Rock”
The treasure of the Garden is a well-known stone called “Exquisite Jade Rock”(玉玲珑) which is the one of the three most famous stones in Jiangnan China. Exquisite Jade Rock, a typical Taihu lake stone, is about 3 meters high, 1.5 meters wide, 0.8 meters thick and weighs about 3 tons with 72 holes. And the holes on the rock are as many as beehives, which can present the wonder of “a hundred holes flowing out water or a hundred holes smoking at the same time”. If you want to take a good look of it, Yuhua Hall which is facing the Stone is the best place to choose.
Nine-zigzag Bridge
And if you have a chance to go to Yu Garden during your Shanghai travel, don’t forget to pay a visit to Nine-zigzag Bridge and Mid-lake Pavilion Tea House which is outside the South Gate. The winding bridge is like a giant dragon lying on a lotus pond. The antique buildings in the surrounding area reflect the water, and when the weather is good, you can easily take a stunning photo with the ancient style.
Practical Travel Tips
- Shopping: Visitors to Yu Garden can not only enjoy the natural beauty of Jiangnan gardens, but also do shopping outside the entrance. Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar has various kinds of things for visitors to choose, such as food, jewelry, handicrafts, souvenirs,and so on.
- Ticket Purchase Advice: Yu Garden provides online and onsite ticket purchase services: onsite – there are ticket windows at the north and south gates of Yu Garden, online – buy tickets in the “Shanghai Yu Garden” official applet. It is recommended to buy tickets online in advance to save entry time.
- Photo Skills: Wear Hanfu (Chinese ancient-style clothing) to better match the garden atmosphere; bring a wide-angle lens to capture panoramic views; use ancient buildings, flowers and trees as the background, shoot breathtaking ancient-style photos.
Shanghai Yuyuan Food
As a famous tourist attraction in Shanghai, Yu Garden gathers many delicious foods. Here are some recommendations:
- Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant(南翔馒头店): a century-old shop that you must try in Yuyuan The signature food “crab roe Xiaolongbao”: wrapper as thin as paper, full of stuffing. With a bite, delicious soup explodes in the mouth.
- Lubolang Restaurant(绿波廊): The representative restaurant of Shanghai cuisine, with exquisite dishes such as crab roe tofu, eyebrow puff pastry, and eight-treasure duck. Elegant environment, attentive service, suitable for tasting authentic Shanghai food.
- Chunfeng Songyue Vegetarian Restaurant(松月楼): A time-honored vegetarian restaurant in Shanghai, renowned for its exquisite vegetarian dishes. The signature food “vegetarian bun” has a soft wrapper, rich filling, and a fragrant bean aroma. There are also vegetarian ducks, Buddha’s delight, etc., with unique taste, which should not be missed by vegetarian lovers.
- Da Hu Chun (大壶春): a time-honored snack shop, a paradise for enthusiasts of pan-fried pork buns. The bottom is crispy and the filling is tender, the soup is not too much, and when bitten, it makes a “creaking” sound. The aroma of meat and scallions blends in the mouth, leaving an endless aftertaste.
- Master Shen (沈大成): Started in 1875. Traditional pastries and snacks with unique flavors. Recommended food: Double Brewed Dumpling, Tiaotou Cake, Salted Egg Yolk and Meat FlossGreen Rice Ball, soft and delicious.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the Yu Garden is in spring and autumn, when the climate is pleasant and the garden plants are lush. Especially from March to April, the flowers are in full bloom with beautiful scenery, which is suitable for taking photos.
Yu Garden at night is more lively. When night falls, the lights of Yuyuan Old Street are bright and dazzling, which contrast with the ancient buildings and create an amazing night scene. The light on time is from 17:30-22:00.
In particular, Yu Garden at Lantern Festival will hold a large-scale lantern show and various celebrations every year, attracting numerous people to start Shanghai night tours.
It should be noted that is from the mid-June to early July is the plum rain season, and from late August to early mid-September is the typhoon season in Shanghai. During these two periods, you need take an umbrella to avoid sudden weather changes on your Yu Garden tours.
Additionally, the Yu Garden has a large number of tourists on weekends and holidays. If you want to enjoy the scenery quietly, it is recommended to avoid peak times.
| Chinese New Year | Around January or February |
| Winter vacation | January-February |
| Labor Day | May1st -3rd |
| Summer vacation (for students) | July-August31st |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Around mid-September |
| National Day | October 1st-7th |
How to Get to the Yu Garden?
By Bus
Take Bus No. 11, 64, 66, 306, 736, 805, 911, 926, 929, 930, 932, 969, 980, Tour Line 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 to get to the Yu Garden.
By Subway
Take Subway Line 10, Line 14 and get off at Yuyuan Station (Exit 1), then walk toward south along Henan South Road and turn left at the crossing of Fuyou Road.
Tips: Shanghai Yu Garden does not have a dedicated parking lot. You can take public transportation or choose a social paid parking lot around the scenic spot as appropriate.
Attractions Nearby Yuyuan Garden
Yu Garden Bazaar
Just located just west of the Yu Garden, Shanghai Yuyuan Bazaar is a perfect destination if you’re interested in experiencing traditional Chinese culture, shopping for unique souvenirs, or enjoying local culinary delights.
City Gold Temple of Shanghai
Just located south of the Yu Garden, City Gold Temple is an important Taoist temple in Shanghai area, which has a history of nearly 600 years. It constitutes the unique tourist culture cards of Shanghai “Old City”. Here you can feel the charm of traditional culture, but also can taste a variety of special snacks.
The Bund
The Bund is one of the most representative scenic spots in Shanghai. Walking on the Bund, you can enjoy the Oriental Pearl Tower, exotic building clusters in the Bund of Shanghai, the spectacular night view of the Huangpu River, and feel the unique charm of the collision of Chinese and Western cultures.
