Shanghai Yu Garden | A Journey Back to the Tang Dynasty in a Classical Jiangnan Garden 🏯

yu_garden.jpg

Leisurely stroll through the garden and you’ll frequently encounter foreign visitors exploring the area. The views are different by day and night: during the day, the garden is vibrant and full of life under the bright sunshine, while at night, it transforms into a grand and magnificent spectacle, illuminated by countless lights.

Yu Garden (豫园) is renowned as a “city forest” and is a classical Jiangnan garden with over 400 years of history, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. It is the only well-preserved Jiangnan Su-style garden in downtown Shanghai. The name “Yu” symbolizes “peace” and “tranquility,” thus the garden was named Yu Garden.

Within the garden, you’ll find an array of pavilions, rocky outcrops, and lush greenery. Historical landmarks still preserved today include the “Cangshu Building” (藏书楼), the birthplace of “Haipai Calligraphy”; “Dianchun Hall” (点春堂), the command center of the Shanghai Small Sword Society Uprising; and the Jade Rock (玉玲珑), one of the three famous stones in Jiangnan.

✨ Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Last entry at 4:00 PM, garden closes at 4:30 PM). Closed on Mondays (except for national holidays).

There are two ways to purchase Yu Garden tickets: 🌼 1. Online Ticket Purchase
You can follow the mini-program “Shanghai Yu Garden” (上海豫园) - select “Individual Ticket Purchase” - choose the date and number of visitors, enter the corresponding ID number, and pay online in advance or on the same day (foreigners can enter their passport number to purchase). If unused, you can request a full refund anytime on the platform!

🌼 2. Onsite Ticket Purchase
You must bring a valid ID to the ticket office and show it to purchase tickets. Students with valid IDs can enjoy a discount. One ID can only be used once per day! Don’t forget to collect a souvenir ticket (foreigners can purchase with their passport).

✨ Ticket Prices (for reference):
(1) Adult Ticket: Peak season: ¥40 per person; Off-season: ¥30 per person
(2) Student Ticket: ¥20 per person (remember to bring your student ID)
(3) Senior Ticket: Peak season: ¥20 per person; Off-season: ¥15 per person (for seniors aged 60 and above with valid ID)

Entrance:

  • North Gate: 168 Fuyou Road, Huangpu District (for individuals and groups)
  • South Gate: 279 Yu Garden Old Street, Huangpu District (for individuals only)

The garden is about a 700-meter walk from Exit 1 of Yuyuan Station on Metro Line 10. You can also reach it by bus routes 980, 930, 736, 24, 11, and the City Sightseeing Tour Line 1. The scenic area entrance is at either the North or South Gate; the West Gate is exit-only, and the East Gate is closed.

A leisurely tour of the garden takes about an hour. After exiting through the West Gate, a 5-minute walk down the alley on the right will bring you to the “City God Temple” (城隍庙), a food street that’s perfect for a relaxed outing with family.

📍 Address: Yu Garden Tourist Area, Shanghai (上海豫园旅游景区)