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Yu Garden, the true emblem of Shanghai—finally figured out how to explore it!

Yu Garden, as a symbol of Shanghai

Yu Garden is truly a garden, but it’s more than just a “garden”!

📝 Today, I’m going to outline a travel guide for those visiting for the first time.

The Yu Garden scenic area consists of Yu Garden Mall, Yu Garden, and the City God Temple.

✔️ 1. Yu Garden Mall is free to enter all day. It’s filled with shops, many of which are century-old establishments with a rich history. The lights start turning on around 6:00 PM, and during the Lantern Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, the lantern displays here are absolutely stunning!

✔️ 2. The City God Temple has an entrance fee of 10 RMB and is indeed a “temple”❗️ It is said to have been originally built during the Three Kingdoms period and was renovated during the Ming Dynasty to become the City God Temple. The main purpose of visiting here is, of course, to pray for blessings!

✔️ 3. Yu Garden, also known as Yu Garden, is truly a “garden”❗️ It is a typical Jiangnan-style garden, built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era. It was meticulously constructed over 20 years by Pan Yunduan, a Sichuan government official, to provide his father with a peaceful retirement. The pavilions, rockeries, jade sculptures, dragon walls, and corridor designs offer a new view at every turn, creating a sense of sudden enlightenment!

🎒 For first-time visitors to Shanghai, here’s the travel guide for Yu Garden:

▶️🚇 Get off at Yuyuan Road Station on Metro Line 14, and don’t forget to check out the highly photogenic, cyberpunk-themed Yuyuan Metro Station—perfect for taking pictures.

▶️ Exit at Gate 7, pass through the gatehouse, and walk to the intersection of Fuyou Road and Anren Street to reach the entrance of Yu Garden. Note that the last admission is at 4:00 PM, and it takes about 1-2 hours to tour the garden.

▶️ Afterward, if you wish to pray, you can visit the City God Temple and have a bowl of vegetarian noodles.

▶️ The highlight is a tour of Yu Garden Mall, where the century-old shops are worth savoring:

  • Lǜbō Láng (绿波廊): Established during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, this state guesthouse is famous for its exquisite dim sum and local cuisine.
  • Dà Hú Chūn (大壶春): Founded in 1932, this place is known for its popular pan-fried buns.
  • Nánxiáng Steamed Bun Restaurant (南翔馒头店): Founded during the Guangxu era, this restaurant is elegantly situated next to the Nine Zigzag Bridge and offers not only soup dumplings but other delightful dishes as well.
  • Shèn Dàchéng (沈大成): The originator of Shanghai’s green rice balls, located near the City God Temple, is famous for its pork floss green rice balls and fresh meat mooncakes.
  • Tóng Hánchūn Táng (童涵春堂): Established during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, this 238-year-old pharmacy is both ancient and trendy. It also offers herbal teas and handmade sachets. With the Dragon Boat Festival around the corner, handmade sachet workshops have begun! It’s said that in summer, many people come here for sour plum soup.

Yu Garden Mall, a gathering place for century-old shops, is perfect for a leisurely stroll and savoring.

🥾 For a deeper experience, consider joining a half-day Yu Garden City Walk.

📈 Route: Yu Garden Old Street → Dà Hú Chūn → Shanghai Pear Syrup Candy → Yongqing Wigs → Zhang Xiaoquan → Tóng Hánchūn Táng

As night falls around 6:00 PM, the lights at Yu Garden Mall begin to illuminate, making it an ideal spot for photos, check-ins, and exploring.