Yu Garden, located in the heart of Shanghai near the Bund, is a classical Chinese garden that dates back to the Ming Dynasty (16th century). It is renowned for its traditional architecture, intricate design, and serene atmosphere amidst the bustling city. The garden features beautiful pavilions, ponds, rock formations, and lush greenery, making it a popular tourist attraction. ### Common Positive Reviews: 1. **Beautiful Scenery**: Visitors often praise the garden's picturesque landscapes, which offer a peaceful retreat from the urban environment. 2. **Historical Significance**: Many appreciate the garden's rich history and cultural importance, as it reflects traditional Chinese garden design. 3. **Architecture**: The intricate details of the pavilions, bridges, and rock formations are frequently highlighted as stunning and photogenic. 4. **Tea House**: The Huxinting Teahouse, located within the garden, is a favorite spot for visitors to relax and enjoy traditional Chinese tea. 5. **Nearby Attractions**: The garden is close to the bustling Yuyuan Bazaar, where visitors can shop for souvenirs and enjoy local street food. ### Common Criticisms: 1. **Crowds**: The garden can get very crowded, especially during peak tourist seasons, which may detract from the tranquil experience. 2. **Entrance Fee**: Some visitors feel that the entrance fee is a bit high, though many find it worth the price for the experience. 3. **Maintenance**: Occasionally, visitors mention that certain areas of the garden could be better maintained. ### Tips for Visiting: - **Best Time to Visit**: Early mornings or weekdays are ideal to avoid large crowds. - **Guided Tours**: Consider hiring a guide or using an audio guide to learn more about the garden's history and significance. - **Combine with Other Attractions**: Plan to visit nearby attractions like the Bund, Nanjing Road, or the Shanghai Museum to make the most of your trip.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Weekend visit and we find ourselves trapped by the crowd. Picturesque garden in downtown Shanghai where rocks, plants, bridges and water are highlighted to mark the social class of the property owner of the time. In the different pavilions, you can enjoy the furniture, the floor lamps and some objects of the period. To take his time to admire the sculptures on the roofs and on the tops of the walls.