Yu Garden

#chinatravel

🏯 Yu Garden (Yuyuan Garden) | 豫园

📍 Location: Huangpu District, Shanghai, China — near the City God Temple and Yuyuan Bazaar.
⏰ Best Time to Visit: March–May & September–November — mild weather and beautiful seasonal blooms.

---

🌟 Why Visit

✔ Classic Chinese Garden Design – Built in the Ming Dynasty (1559), it’s one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Jiangnan-style gardens.
✔ Architectural Elegance – Pavilions, rockeries, koi ponds, carved bridges, and intricate lattice windows.
✔ Historical Significance – Over 450 years old, with layers of cultural history tied to Shanghai’s development.
✔ Scenic Photography Spots 📸 – Lotus-filled ponds, dragon walls, and delicate stone carvings.
✔ Nearby Food & Souvenirs – Right outside is the Yuyuan Old Street and Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant, famous for soup dumplings.

---

📌 Highlights Inside Yu Garden

Exquisite Jade Rock – A 3.3m limestone rock with unique holes and wrinkles, treasured by Ming scholars.

Nine-Turn Bridge (Jiuqu Bridge) – Zigzag bridge leading to the famous Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse.

Sansui Hall – Once the main reception hall for important guests.

Inner Garden – A more peaceful section with bamboo groves and hidden paths.

---

📝 Tips

Tickets: ~40 RMB (varies by season).

Best Timing: Go early morning to avoid tourist crowds.

Nearby Attractions: City God Temple, Bund, Nanjing Road.

Cultural Etiquette: Walk slowly, take time to appreciate the garden’s “borrowed scenery” and symbolic rock placements.

---

Yu Garden is like stepping into ancient Jiangnan poetry, right in the heart of modern Shanghai 🌸.