The Yu Gardens were meant to be an example to be a Ming dynasty example of what a Chinese gentlemen's home look like. The current administration has unfortunately made a mockery of the whole place - Compared to even Chinese standards, the gardens are dirty, the pavilions either turned into trinket-stores or robbed of most their original furniture, and the... more

we visited the garden in may 2009....it was part of a city tour but when we saw the garden and what all it had to offer we promptly went back after the tour ended....apart from the historical and cultural significance of the garden it is a shopper's delight....the entire area is a whimsical shoppers paradise...we bought a whole lot of... more

The Yu Yuan Gardens is one of my favourite places in Shanghai. Weekdays are better as the crowds are smaller, and go in the morning before the heat of the day sets in. The leafy trees, intricate rock formations, pathways and pavilions all combine to make this is haven away from the hubbub of the Old Town outside. Try the... more

They charge 40 RMB to enter the garden. Lots of fish pond, rocks and lovely plants. We walked all the way from the Subway stop LaoXiMen and walked for about 20 mins to get there but it was worth it because of all the food they offered in the complex. We took a long queue at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant... more

I visited the garden last Dec 2007 , it was afternoon time, the garden is a very specail attraction in Shanghai, so many celebrities and politicians who visited China before had to visit the Yu Yuan garden,among those were Queen Elizabeth of England, George Bush ( the father ), Bill Clinton and so many others, the chinese theme is very... more

I went in the Spring during a holiday and there were hoards of people at all attractions. We visited the garden early in the morning so it was not too bad. The garden was lovely. Just walking through such an historical place was incredible. The combinations of materials (rock was predominate), the patterns on paths created with stone, the many... more

Yuyuan Garden was created solely for the Western tourist it seems. A shopper's delight (every traditionally eastern product from silk to jade to Shanghai's most famous dumpling restaurant can be found here) but there's also some interesting sights such as the architecture (which is not historic, I was told by a guide who latched onto me against my will), the... more

so many people on weekends...not a well organized attraction, but almost on very travel itinerary more

For oriental garden enthusiasts, this would be paradise. For a very hot summer day, there was quite a crowd, so I might have chosen a better time to visit. There are very few places within to get cover from sun/rain. During another time of year, this would be an ideal sightseeing opportunity for those who prefer a slow pace and... more