Yu Garden (Yuyuan)

Yu Garden (Yuyuan)

Yu Garden (Yuyuan)
4.5
8:45 AM - 4:15 PM
Monday
8:45 AM - 4:15 PM
Tuesday
8:45 AM - 4:15 PM
Wednesday
8:45 AM - 4:15 PM
Thursday
8:45 AM - 4:15 PM
Friday
8:45 AM - 4:15 PM
Saturday
8:45 AM - 4:15 PM
Sunday
8:45 AM - 4:15 PM
About
A classical garden complete with period style buildings. The Garden was created by Pan Yunduan a Government Officer for his family finishing in 1577.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Admission tickets
from
AU$19.46
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Xiaodongmen
How to get there
  • Yuyuan Garden • 6 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
  • Dodolady
    Singapore414 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit
    Went there quite early in the day. Not too crowded even though it was a Sunday. Spent abt 30-45mins exploring the place. Is pretty. Lots of shops and eateries once you exited the Garden. Could spend 2-3hrs exploring the area ard.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 11 March 2024
  • AJ Alden
    Jakarta, Indonesia71 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tranquil garden wanna be
    Love the place even I was there when it's raining and cold, but the garden still looked beautiful and mesmerizing, with lots of bonsai trees, beautiful flowers in spring, lots of interesting relics which is so interesting, what caught my eyes was the private traditional bank in Qing Dinasty... The ticket price is quite cheap 40 RMB for adults, and 20 RMB for students and seniors. Only when tour groups coming, it was not so funny anymore, because they didn't limit the visitors in the garden, and the garden got some small alleys that only 1 man or 2 small man could pass those, it was so uncomfortable. The staffs are very friendly and english speaking. Just make sure bring your passport to buy your ticket.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 17 April 2024
  • David F
    20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice green line for 40 yuan
    Super beautiful garden. The 40 yuan entrance fee per person is well worth it. Very picturesque with information in German and English. There are beautiful historical buildings right next to it. The "Old Street" is also next door. Totally worthwhile.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 12 May 2024
  • Ashutosh
    194 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see
    Very scenic and pleasant. Takes about and hour to see the whole thing and well connected in the heart of old Shanghai. Must visit while in Shanghai. There is a huge market surrounding this place and is a very popular tourist site.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 16 May 2024
  • reiya1999
    2,581 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Be careful of opening hours.
    This is a Jiangnan-style garden that was built over 18 years, starting from 1559. There are 40 points of interest within the grounds, and you can enjoy the classical Chinese atmosphere. The admission fee is about 900 yen. I visited in the evening. While I was strolling around Yuyuan Shopping Center, time flew by and it closed. The last admission is at 16:00. I couldn't go inside, but there were a lot of tourists around the Nine Turns Bridge, and it was quite lively. I recommend taking plenty of time here.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 20 June 2024
  • BBoyadjieva
    Sofia, Bulgaria154 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the most beautiful places to see in Shanghai
    Incredibly beautiful historical place! The market and the streets around the garden are also worth walking, exploring and shopping. We were lucky enough to have tea in the gallery of one of the tea rooms there overlooking the Yu Garden!
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 June 2024
  • Samantha Louise T
    Quezon City, Philippines53 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the Visit
    July is a hot time to visit but I'm still glad I went despite the heat. The garden's landscaping and buildings were so beautiful and well maintained. Definitely visit the Yu Garden if you have time or make time for it. Don't rush through the garden and take your time to appreciate the scenery.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 6 July 2024
  • sarah a
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exploring the Wonders of Shanghai Summer
    I just got back from an amazing trip to Shanghai, and I have a gem of a place to recommend to you: the Zhuyuan Garden. It's seriously one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. What I loved most about Zhuyuan Garden was how it felt like a secret escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. I mean, Shanghai is incredible, but sometimes you just need a moment of quiet, you know? This garden offers that in spades. It's a place where you can truly connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of Chinese culture and history. I spent hours just wandering around, taking in the sights, and snapping photos that I know will be some of my favorites from the whole trip. There's a tranquility there that's hard to find in our busy lives, and it was such a treat to experience it. So, if you're planning a trip to Shanghai (which you totally should, by the way), make sure you carve out some time to visit Zhuyuan Garden. It's not just a tourist spot; it's a place that will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired. Trust me, you won't regret it!
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 5 August 2024
  • Chiara S
    13 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visit to the mandarin garden
    Beautiful garden!!!! Reading the guides we bought tickets earlier but if you want you can also buy the loco. It can also be visited independently, the garden has an Audio Guide. Leaving the visit to the garden we walked through the narrow streets and arrived at the old town! Very nice, full of souvenir shops and street food!
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 August 2024
  • Wai83
    London, United Kingdom309 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great way to spend a few hours
    Great place to go but very touristy. Worth a visit but as we went during peak summer travel time when the rest of China is also on holiday it was very hot humid and crowded. Think they could manage the amount of people going through better so everyone can enjoy it more but also understand we went during peak. Lots of little restaurants, eateries around. We went to a canteen place to eat where you pick what you want ans pay for it - don’t do that as didn’t realise food was cold until we ate into it. You can access the Yu Gardens via the City Sightseeing bus. Booked tickets online and would recommend people to do the same as makes entry easier - you just need to scan QR code to get in.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 19 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles10,636 reviews
Excellent
5,018
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3,896
Average
1,408
Poor
248
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66

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Kaija
Shanghai, China117 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Solo
As an expat living in Shanghai, I’ve had the chance to visit Yu Garden several times. The garden itself is tucked away behind walls, and you can enter for a small fee. I booked my tickets through their WeChat mini program, so I’m unsure how ticket purchasing works through other methods.

My first visit was in August during a heatwave, and it was pretty crowded. The garden features some beautiful sections, but it’s important to note that this is not a Western-style garden with expansive greenery. Instead, the charm of Yu Garden lies in its traditional Chinese architecture and serene ponds. If you're expecting sprawling lawns, you may be disappointed, but the intricate details of the buildings and rock formations offer plenty to admire.

The well-known Mid-Lake Pavilion, often seen in photos, is actually outside the walled garden and can be visited without a ticket. Surrounding the garden is the bustling Yu Garden shopping district, filled with food stalls, clothing shops, and souvenir stands. Keep in mind that prices in this area tend to be significantly higher than in other parts of the city, as it’s very much geared toward tourists looking for convenience.

My second visit was during the Mid-Autumn Festival in September, and while it was packed with people, the crowd management was surprisingly good. The highlight of this visit was seeing the stunning lights illuminating the traditional buildings, which made the experience worthwhile despite the crowds.

Overall, Yu Garden is an exciting place to visit for its architecture, history, and cultural atmosphere, especially if you go during special festivals. Just be prepared for lots of people and tourist prices in the surrounding area!
Written 13 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SIL_BE3
Madrid, Spain139 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
A small town on canals with traditional architecture where you can visit the palace with natural architecture in porous rock and with beautiful plant species and a Taoist temple to the city's gods. It is a good place to shop, there is a wide variety of traditional things at good prices and there is the oldest tea house in the city, don't miss it. They make you a delicious tea. On traditional sweets. Highly recommended
Google
Written 23 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

fire-tower
3,482 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Family
We visited Yu Garden (or Yuyuan Garden) on a Sunday afternoon in December. The garden dates back to the Ming Dynasty and was initially owned by a government officer Pan Yunduan. The garden was constructed for his parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. The land area for this garden is huge, and there are many ponds, halls and pavilions, and there are noticeably a few large rockeries.

The Exquisite Jade Rock, one of the three most famous rockeries in south China, measures more than 3m in height and supposedly has 72 holes. What is interesting about this rock is that if you burn a joss stick just below the rock, the smoke will magically float out from all of the holes. Similarly, when you pour water into the rock from top, the water will flow out from each hole creating a spectacular sight to see. The rockeries were also interesting, and many of the surfaces had been become smooth from the constant number of visitors. We had to hurry along given the large area to cover it closes at 4.30pm during our visit. Unfortunately as we had visited on a Sunday, the garden was indeed crowded and some of the paths are narrow and we compete with the crowd to move along these paths, and also made more difficult with the presence of professional photographers engaged by ladies wearing traditional costumes taking photographs.

Definitely worth a visit but try to do this in a weekday.
Written 27 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chow E
Singapore, Singapore248 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
Yu Garden was an extremely well known tourist attraction with some ancient buildings, mini stone forest, small walkway with their own small fountain. You can easily finish walking this place in around 1 hour or less. There are no food / drink being sold here, so if you are hungry please go to the area outside Yu Garden where there are many shops selling traditional wares. Overall, this place is extremely crowded and it would be better to walk around if there were not so many people.
Written 21 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sydneyberlin
Sydney, Australia383 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Probably the most boring “tourist site” we visited on our entire China trip! The place looks like a rather unkept and rundown version of your average Chinese garden, is full to the brim with people and the “exhibits” are boring as hell. It’s also much smaller than we would have expected and the admission was rather expensive (for China, I must specify). They’ve also surrounded the entire park with an awful touristy shopping centre full of annoying hagglers and people trying to sell you their cheap plastic stuff, which cannot be avoided from neither the entrance or either of the exits. Felt like a big tourist trap and nothing more, there’s definitely plenty more exciting things to do in this amazing city.
Written 26 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fedor V
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
Impressive place with Chinese atmosphere, very delicious food and plenty of places for Shopping souvenirs.

Pros:
+ mesmerizing architecture and evening lighting;
+ convenient location in the heart of the city;
+ very many cafes with delicious national dishes (Nanxiang steamed bun restaurant - one love);
+ very many gift shops for all tastes.

Cons:
- menus in the cafe are practically not adapted for tourists not from China;
- some shops do not have fixed price tags - try to profit from tourists, although they go to bid almost immediately.

Comment:
A place in Shanghai I recommend everyone visit. It's best to arrive before dusk and stay until dusk to appreciate the transformation of the place with the beautiful evening light.
Automatically translated
Written 6 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Athamese
San Francisco, CA32 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
I appreciated the architecture of the rooms and buildings, and the beautiful setting of the gardens. The entry price is quite cheap, but beware that there are stores within the gardens where the salespeople can be a bit pushy. A firm "no thank you" was all I needed, but it did put a small tarnish on the experience.
I highly recommend paying the cheap entry fee to visit the City God Temple nearby; it's very impressive (but remember it's an active worship site, so don't be one of those ugly tourists who takes photos of the shrines, statues, and worshippers; how would you feel if some jeans-clad tourist who didn't speak your language barged into your church/mosque/synagogue/temple and started snapping photos of the clergy and you in the middle of services?).
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alisya
63 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
We walked for a long time in this garden. The pass costs 40 yuan. We thought it was a scam for tourists, but no, the park is really big and it’s very nice to walk there.
We visited on a weekday, before 12 noon, there were a lot of people.
Google
Written 8 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PSN
Singapore, Singapore92 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
Beautiful place to visit with lots of greenery, flowers. A great place for taking Beautiful photos. Students under 17 free entry, show passport or student identification as proof. For adults, please bring passport in order to buy entrance tickets. They are very strict on security hence passport is a sure way to buy tickets successfully. Be prepared to get your bags checked by security personnel too.
Yu Garden surroundings, have many shops selling local delicacies, souvenirs and eateries.
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jiles Pavel
Italy4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
Exploring Yu Garden in Shanghai was a mesmerizing journey into Chinese garden artistry and history. The classical garden’s design, with its intricate architecture, tranquil ponds, and lush greenery, transported me to a different era. Strolling through the zigzag bridges, rockeries, and pavilions offered a peaceful escape from the urban hustle and bustle. The teahouses and traditional shops surrounding the garden added to the charm, allowing me to savor local delicacies and shop for souvenirs. The attention to preserving the garden’s heritage was commendable, and the guided tours provided valuable insights. Yu Garden is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts, photographers, and anyone seeking a serene yet culturally rich experience in Shanghai.
Written 22 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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