Yu Garden & Bazaar - Classic Chinese Garden in Shanghai

Yu Garden, also known as Yuyuan Garden (豫园), is the most celebrated classical Chinese Garden in Shanghai downtown area. It also enjoys the reputation of "the crown of beauty in Southeast China", offering charming and pleasant views. Visiting Yu Garden is just like visiting the exquisite Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou which listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Besides the exquisite scenery, Yu Garden is rich in culture. It is also one of the Four National Cultural Markets, along with Panjiayuan Garden (潘家园) and Liulichang Street (琉璃厂大街) in Beijing, as well as the Confucius Temple in Nanjing. The former chairman of China Jiang Zemin (江泽民) wrote “Famous Garden above the Sea” for Yu Garden. Also, heads of many countries have visited Yu Garden to appreciate the natural beauty, architectures, traditional culture.

Yu Garden, covering an area of 20,000 square meters, is a virtual maze of gardens, pavilions, lake, rockeries, bridges, dragon walls, gardens and traditional buildings, etc. Once you enter into the garden, surprises are hidden every corner you move with different views.

Yu Garden is divided into six main scenic parts: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Hall, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. Each part has its own features and unique sights. And each area is separated from others by “dragon walls” with undulating gray tiled ridges, each terminating in a dragon’s head.

Sansui Hall Area

Sansui Hall Area includes Sansui Hall (三穗堂, "Three Tassels Hall"), Grand Rockeries, Yangshan Hall, Iron Lion, Cuixiu Hall. The highlights here are the fine window and wood-beam carvings of rice, millet, wheat, fruit and other emblems of a plentiful harvest. This place was used for a meeting place for local officials and for proclaiming imperial announcements. You won’t miss Grand Rockery which consists of 2,000 tons of rare yellow stones fused together. Also, Yangshan Hall is the place for viewing the Grand Rockery.

Wanhua Chamber Area includes Wanhua Chamber (万花楼, "Chamber of the Ten Thousand Flowers"), Yule Pavilion, Double Lane Corridor and Gingko Tree of 400 years old staking out the front courtyard. After exploring the Grand Rockery, visitors stepping into the Wanhua Chamber courtyard through the winding corridor are greeted by a refreshing shift in scenery - a poetic composition of flowing water, weathered rocks, and lush foliage. A striking feature of Wanhua Chamber is the four decorative windows, each adorned with delicate clay reliefs of plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.

Dianchun Hall Area

Dianchun Hall Area, located in the northeast of Yu Garden, includes Dianchun Hall (点春堂, "Heralding Spring Hall"), Treasury Hall which is the most famous historical building in the garden, Kuailou Pavilion, and the Hall of Harmony. Surrounded by rockeries, ponds, and winding corridors, the hall offers serene views of the garden’s "spring" scenery. To the southeast of Dianchun Hall stands an exquisite rockery crafted from Taihu limestone. Crowning this artificial mountain is the distinctive two-story Kuailou Pavilion.

Huijing Hall Area

Huijing Hall Area includes Huijing Hall (会景楼, Huì Jǐng Lóu), Jade Water Corridor, Three-Turn Bridge, and Nine Lion Study. Nestled at the very center of Yu Garden, Huijing Hall stands as a picturesque jewel surrounded by water on three sides. Connecting Huijing Tower to Hanbi Tower, Jade Water Corridor stretches an impressive 100 meters, making it the longest water corridor in any Jiangnan-style classical garden. This elegant walkway allows visitors to meander alongside tranquil waters, fully immersed in the garden’s harmonious beauty.

Yuhua Hall Area includes Yuhua Hall (玉华堂, "Jade Magnificence Hall"), Yu Linglong (Exquisite Jade Rock, 玉玲珑), Hanbi Tower, Tingtao Pavillion, and Huanlong Bridge. Yuhua Hall served as the private study of the garden's owner. The hall is furnished in an elegant Ming Dynasty style, featuring rare rosewood furniture. In front of the hall stand three striking rock formations, the most prominent of which is the famed Yu Linglong, regarded as the foremost of "the Three Great Celebrated Rocks of Jiangnan", alongside Suzhou's "Ruiyun Peak" (瑞云峰) from the Lingering Garden and Hangzhou's "Zhouyun Peak" (皱云峰).

Inner Garden Area

Inner Garden Area is the quietest part of Yu Garden. After visiting Yuhua Hall, you’ll enter into Inner Garden (内园, Nèi Yuán) which was constructed in 1709 and made of a part of Yu Yuan only in 1956. It includes the Hall of Serenity, the Towers for Watching Waves, and the Acting and Singing Stage, etc.

Out of Yu Garden is the Huxinting Pavilion and Nine-turning Bridge. Nine-turning Pavilion is 18 meters long and 2 meters wide, totally composed of granites and jade stones. Huxinting Pavilion is sitting in the middle of the lake and travelers can enjoy a cup of tea in the tea house.

Yuyuan Bazaar

Yuyuan Bazaar is located next to Yu Garden, with beautiful Chinese architecture and design coupled with hundreds of shops selling pieces of jewelry, silk, antiques, arts, crafts, souvenirs, and local snacks.

It offers a good opportunity to see real Chinese life. The famous restaurant is the Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant selling Xiaolongbao (small steamed buns). You can taste some local snacks here and buy some souvenirs for your families and friends. The market is also fun to explore at night with all the eaves of the building lit up and travelers can get some amazing night photos.

City God Temple of Shanghai (Chenghuang Miao)

City God Temple (城隍庙) is a Taoist temple located in Yuyuan Tourist Mart, connecting to the Yu Garden. It was first built during the Yongle (永乐皇帝) era of the Ming Dynasty, with a history of 600 years old. If you have free time, you can have a look at what immortals are being worshipped at the temple. No admission fee is charged.

The following travel route covers all the essences of Yu Garden & Bazaar tour. You can follow it and stroll around the area. Travelers can follow a clockwise path from the south gate and visit the six main scenic parts and final exit from south gate. It takes about 2 hours for exploration.

Visiting Route: South Gate of Yu Garden – Sansui Hall – Wanhua Chamber – Dianchun Hall – Huijing Hall – Yuhua Hall – Inner Garden – South Gate of Yu Garden – Nine-turning Bridge – Huxinting Pavilion – Yuyuan Bazaar

Yu Garden is located at the northeast of the old city in South Shanghai. It is close to Shanghai City God Temple, Yuyuan Bazaar and with close distance to Shanghai the Bund and other famous attractions in Shanghai.

Distance from other main Shanghai attractions:

• About 1.3km from the Bund
• About 1.6km from the Nanjing Road
• About 2.8km from Oriental Pearl TV Tower
• About 2.8km from Jinmao Tower
• About 7km from Shanghai Museum East

• By Metro: Take Subway Line 10 or Line 14 and get off at Yuyuan Station. It is just one stop from Nanjing Road (Line 10) and Lujiazui (Line 14) to Yu Garden. And Line 10 can also take you from Yu Garden to Xintiandi and Hongqiao Railway Station. Check more about Shanghai Metro >>.
• By Bus: Take bus No. 11, 26, 64, 66, 736, 920, 926, 930 and get off at Xinbeimen Station. Then walk along Anren Street to reach Yu Garden. Also, Shanghai sightseeing bus line 1 can reach Yu Garden.
• By Private Transfer with China Discovery: Our all-inclusive packages feature private transfers with professional driver and English-speaking guide, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in a seamless and enriching Yu Garden experience. Please feel free to contact us!

In Spring (Mar. to May), travelers can enjoy various kinds of flowers blooming in the garden, pine sprouting wistfully from rockeries, glittering pools churning with carps, etc. In Summer (Sept. to Nov.), travelers can appreciate water lilies near Hutingxin Pavilion and Nine-turning Bridge. In Autumn (Jun. to Aug.), the garden is filled with cultural charm and artistic flavor, so travelers can enjoy Yu Garden Autumn Folk Custom Temple Fair. In Winter (Dec. to Feb.), a lot of traditional festivals take place here, like Yu Garden New Year Folk Custom Lantern Party, Spring Folk Custom Temple Fair.

Each season has its charm, but in spring and autumn, the weather is the most pleasant. If you are interested, please contact us for more detailed seasonal advice and festival information.

Yu Garden was built in the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644), enduring over four hundred and fifty years. Pan Yunduan (潘允端), the owner of the garden, was the chief minister of Sichuan. In order to let his father enjoy his old age, Pan Yunduan began to gather stones, dig pools, build pavilions, on his own land in 1559. After more than twenty years of construction, Yu Garden has been built.

"Yu" has the meaning of "peace" and "safe". Yu Garden covering an area of over 70 acres in the Ming dynasty, was carefully designed by Zhang Nanyang (张南阳), a famous gardener in Ming Dynasty, and personally participated in the construction. The whole garden was magnificent in scale and beautiful in the scenery.

Pan Yunduan and his family lived a very leisure and happy life in this garden. Later, the garden was inherited by Zhang Zhaolin (张肇林), the husband of Pan Yunduan’s granddaughter, and then passed to different owners.

Now Yu Garden occupies 2 hectares, with different pavilions, lofty artificial mountains, and green trees. It is beautiful and exquisite. It reflects the garden style of Jiangnan garden architecture in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is praised as "the crown of the garden in southeast China", and the great fame attracts many leaders and celebrities at home and abroad to visit Yu Garden.

Suzhou Gardens represent the highest achievements of Jiangnan-Style Traditional Gardens. Their brilliant gardening skills and varieties of garden types have made the UNESCO list the Classical Gardens of Suzhou as World Cultural Heritage Sites. Yu Garden and Suzhou Classical Gardens both exemplify the refined aesthetics of Jiangnan-style Chinese gardens, sharing core principles like asymmetrical layouts and harmonious integration of architecture with nature.

Yu Garden is "a garden in the metropolis", combining history, shopping, and snack streets, while Suzhou Gardens epitomize scholars’ utopia, designed for meditation, poetry, and reclusive living. So if you are keen on Gardening Art, you are suggested to visit Suzhou for seeing more gardens. If you just want to take a glimpse of Chinese garden culture, Yu Garden will also meet your purpose.

Learn more about Classical Gardens of Suzhou >>.

Spend 2 to 3 days exploring Shanghai’s unique blend of Western and Eastern influences!

Usually, tourists spend 2 days sightseeing the most famous landmarks, including the Bund, skyscrapers like Shanghai Tower, historical Wukang Road, informative Shanghai Museum, etc. With one extra day, you can visit Zhujiajiao Water Town or enjoy family fun in Disneyland Park in the suburb.

☛ 2 Days Classic Shanghai City Tour
☛ 3 Days Shanghai Past and Present Contrast Tour
☛ 3 Days Shanghai Highlights & Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour

For a change of scenery, consider these easy getaways:

Suzhou (30 min by high-speed train) - Famous for its classical gardens and charming water towns.

Hangzhou (1 hour by high-speed train) - Renowned for the poetic West Lake and Longjing tea plantations.

Yellow Mountain (3 hours by high-speed train) - Breathtaking peaks and UNESCO-listed landscapes.

☛ 5 Days Shanghai Hangzhou Suzhou Highlights Tour
☛ 6 Splendid East China Tour by Bullet Train
☛ 5 Days Shanghai Huangshan Tour by High Speed Train
☛ 9 Days East China & Mt. Huang Tour by High Speed Train

Start Your China Adventure from Shanghai

As a major international hub, Shanghai is the ideal gateway for exploring China—many travelers begin or end their journeys here. If you're a first-timer, we recommend extending your trip to iconic destinations like Beijing (Great Wall & Forbidden City), Xi’an (Terracotta Warriors), Zhangjiajie (Avatar-inspired peaks), and Guilin (karst landscapes & idyllic river views).

☛ 8 Days Best of China Tour (Beijing/Xian/Shanghai)
☛ 10 Days Classic China Tour (Shanghai/Guilin/Xian/Beijing)
☛ 13 Days China Landscape Tour including Zhangjiajie and Guilin(Beijing/Xian/Zhangjiajie/Guilin/Shanghai)
☛ 17 Days China Paradise Tour with Tibet Discovery & Yangtze Cruise

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