Yu Garden

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Spot Introduction

Yu Garden, built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, is a classical garden with over 400 years of history. It is renowned for its exquisite layout, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural connotations. The garden is a masterpiece of Jiangnan garden art, featuring pavilions, terraces, rockeries, ponds, corridors, and bridges that complement each other.

Constructed by Pan Yunduan, the administrator of Sichuan in the Ming Dynasty, as a tribute to his parents, the garden took 18 years to complete. The name “Yu” signifies “peace” and “tranquility,” implying “to delight and please the elderly parents.” Covering an area of over 30 mu, the garden is meticulously laid out, with water as the main feature and rocks as a complement, fully embodying the Jiangnan garden style of “a mountain forest in a small space.”

Most of the existing buildings in the garden were rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty, including over 40 ancient structures such as Sansui Hall, Yangshan Hall, and Deyue Tower. Among them, the Yulinglong rockery, standing about 3.3 meters high, is known as one of the three famous rocks in Jiangnan, characterized by its “wrinkled, slender, transparent, and leaky” appearance. The Jiuqu Bridge, with a total length of 104 meters and featuring nine bends and eighteen turns, symbolizes “a winding path leading to a secluded spot.”

Yu Garden is not only a treasure of garden art but also an important witness to Shanghai’s urban development. During the Taiping Rebellion in 1860, it served as the location of the Shanghai Taotai Yamen (a government office). It was opened to the public in 1926, listed as a key cultural relic under national protection in 1961, and rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction in 1982. Today, Yu Garden, along with the City God Temple and Yu Garden Mall, forms the most distinctive cultural tourism area in Shanghai.

Must-see Attractions

  1. Huxin Pavilion

    • Center of the garden
    • Classical architecture
    • Suggested visiting time: 30 minutes

  2. Yulinglong

    • Unique rocks and artificial hill
    • Essence of the garden
    • Suggested visiting time: 45 minutes

  3. Da Jia Shan (Large Artificial Hill)

    • Huangshi artificial hill
    • Scenic viewpoint
    • Suggested visiting time: 40 minutes

  4. Jiuqu Bridge

    • Garden landscape
    • Traditional architecture
    • Suggested visiting time: 30 minutes

Visiting Suggestions

  1. Best Touring Route

    • Main gate → Huxin Pavilion
    • Yulinglong → Da Jia Shan
    • Clockwise tour

  2. Visit Scheduling

    • Best in the morning
    • Avoid holidays
    • Visit on weekdays

  3. Practical Tips

    • Wear comfortable shoes
    • Bring a camera
    • Avoid peak hours

Transportation Guide

  • Metro: Line 10, Yuyuan Station
  • Bus: Routes 11, 26, 64
  • Walking: From Nanjing East Road
  • Self-drive: Parking available
  1. Nanxiang Xiaolong Bao (Steamed Soup Dumplings)
  2. Lvbolang Restaurant
  3. Lao Fandian (Old Restaurant)
  4. Yuyuan Snacks

Special Reminders

  1. Avoid peak hours
  2. Wear comfortable shoes
  3. Bring a camera
  4. Avoid crowds
  5. Protect historic sites
  6. Check the weather
  7. Book tickets early
  8. Carry small change