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
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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.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Tours & experiences
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Xiaodongmen
How to get there
  • Yuyuan Garden • 6 min walk
See what travelers are saying
  • Athamese
    San Francisco, California32 contributions
    beautiful setting
    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?).
    Visited December 2019
    Written January 7, 2020
  • Mark C
    Hillside, Australia45 contributions
    Beautiful and Relaxing
    A 400 year old walled off Garden in the middle of Shanghai. Yu Garden is quite, relaxing and beautiful. You'll definitely get some good Instagram worth shots. It costs less than $10 for entry and you slowly make your way around the Gardens following some rocky paths little rock holes and wooden pathways. There are some ponds with fish and throughout you'll find small rooms, each with a short description about what they were used for. It could take you easily an hour or more to explore, very much worth the entry fee. Within the centre there is an area to purchase goods, hand painted scroll or jade ornament etc. The sales people can be a little pushy (but that's very common in Shanghai) but will drop there starting prices with ease. Highly recommended
    Visited January 2020
    Traveled on business
    Written January 20, 2020
  • Darren M
    Perth, Australia154 contributions
    Beautiful
    We made our way to this place on a bus tour that stopped outside the markets that surround the garden. As foreigners trying to navigate which line to follow to the ticket booth was difficult, as the lines merge into one big crowd. Once at the booth, the ticket seller didn't understand English but there was someone nearby that could assist us. Once inside the gardens were amazing, with every turn taking you into a seemingly differently themed area. A great way to spend a couple of hours, although not particularly easy to get around with a pram, as it was for us.
    Visited August 2019
    Written June 29, 2020
  • Trisha J
    Whangarei, New Zealand44 contributions
    far too many tourists to make it pleasant
    Obviously a major attraction. for me though it was too busy and too many people. Lots of touristy shops and stalls around the garden. We arrived there and the garden was closed for maintenance, yet no one had mentioned it to us and there was no publicity about that until we arrived at the ticket office. Judging by the number of people milling around the shops, it was a ploy to keep people there so the shops would not be too affected. May go again if the gardens are actually open. disappointing as it took most of our day
    Visited October 2019
    Written January 18, 2020
  • Jennifer R
    28 contributions
    A lovely Cultural Place to visit but very very busy
    Our family enjoyed visiting this Garden. But be aware its not really a garden, garden. It doesn't have much open space and consists of a lot of narrow walkways, winding you around the things to see. It is beautiful, but repetitive. Also due to it being small and narrow in parts it seems very crowded - dont expect to get a photo without lots of people in the background. Worth a visit, as a cultural landmark though.
    Visited January 2020
    Written February 10, 2020
  • Surveyor47
    Havant, United Kingdom1,931 contributions
    A place to calm down and think
    Yes it is very much a tourist spot, but if you just slow down, walk round and clear your head it is a great place to be. Very calm and tranquil and steeped in history. As you walk round, look up as well as straight ahead, there is a lot to see in the rooflines. The architecture is astounding, looking at the craftsmanship transports you back to another time. The planted vegetation is a delight to walk through, and the rockeries may look haphazard, but there is a certain beauty to them. Dont be in a rush, relax, breathe and take in the whole ambience, agood way of getting over a hectic day.
    Visited January 2020
    Written January 17, 2020
  • Kristina P
    3 contributions
    Beautiful but overcrowded
    The garden itself was stunning, and the buildings scattered throughout provided a nice insight into little ways of life in Imperial China. The oldtown was gorgeous and is a perfect Instagram opportunity! However if you go, do NOT visit it on the weekend. I could only go on a Saturday afternoon and it was way too crowded. From my experience, if you like serene gardens and oldtowns, this one is not for you.
    Visited September 2019
    Written April 21, 2020
  • EtaTandela
    Jakarta, Indonesia325 contributions
    Very crowded
    Very crowded when i went on weekend, especially at the Yuyuan streets. Recommended to go at weekdays. At the time very difficult to find the entrance. To go to the entrance make sure to pass the zigzag bridge. At the end of the bridge there is the ticket locket. Inside the garden not that crowded like the outside because you have to pay for entrance. In my opinion, this garden's not too attractive. You can see the old building and furniture. But it's not taken good care of. I would recommend people's park and Jing'an Sculpture Park. See my review for details. It's more worth it if you visit this venue at night, lots of beautiful lights, but cant enter the garden at night. But more beautiful at night and they have like chinese opera singing show at night
    Visited November 2018
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 28, 2020
  • Chinese Soul 1984
    11 contributions
    The first place every visitor to Shanghai must go
    This is a tradicional Chinese garden and one of the best instances of the art of gardening in this country. The interaction of the main elements of Chinese gardens: buildings, rockeries, water and plants fill the garden of hidden maenings. The visitor must walk around its 6 main components, relaxing in each one of them to discover the real value of these landscapes in the Chinese mind.
    Visited August 2019
    Written February 20, 2020
  • Matthew Y
    31 contributions
    Touristy but worth the stop
    My only reservation is to alert all to the crowds and advise to not visit on Chinese New Year when the Chinese military make a presence of epic proportions when crowds are already huge. Watch your belongings and realize that with all the shops here you can easily spend days there and not see it all. Do see the Summer Palace which is part of the YuYuan complex. Truly ornate and beautiful.
    Visited January 2020
    Written January 19, 2020
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
10,570 reviews
Excellent
4,979
Very good
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Average
1,402
Poor
248
Terrible
64

Trisha J
Whangarei, New Zealand44 contributions
Oct 2019
Obviously a major attraction. for me though it was too busy and too many people. Lots of touristy shops and stalls around the garden. We arrived there and the garden was closed for maintenance, yet no one had mentioned it to us and there was no publicity about that until we arrived at the ticket office. Judging by the number of people milling around the shops, it was a ploy to keep people there so the shops would not be too affected. May go again if the gardens are actually open. disappointing as it took most of our day
Written January 18, 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.

Jennifer R
Wyoming NSW28 contributions
Jan 2020
Our family enjoyed visiting this Garden. But be aware its not really a garden, garden. It doesn't have much open space and consists of a lot of narrow walkways, winding you around the things to see. It is beautiful, but repetitive. Also due to it being small and narrow in parts it seems very crowded - dont expect to get a photo without lots of people in the background. Worth a visit, as a cultural landmark though.
Written February 11, 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.

Surveyor47
Havant, UK1,931 contributions
Jan 2020
Yes it is very much a tourist spot, but if you just slow down, walk round and clear your head it is a great place to be. Very calm and tranquil and steeped in history. As you walk round, look up as well as straight ahead, there is a lot to see in the rooflines.

The architecture is astounding, looking at the craftsmanship transports you back to another time.

The planted vegetation is a delight to walk through, and the rockeries may look haphazard, but there is a certain beauty to them.

Dont be in a rush, relax, breathe and take in the whole ambience, agood way of getting over a hectic day.
Written January 17, 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.

Kristina P
3 contributions
Sep 2019
The garden itself was stunning, and the buildings scattered throughout provided a nice insight into little ways of life in Imperial China. The oldtown was gorgeous and is a perfect Instagram opportunity! However if you go, do NOT visit it on the weekend. I could only go on a Saturday afternoon and it was way too crowded. From my experience, if you like serene gardens and oldtowns, this one is not for you.
Written April 21, 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.

EtaTandela
Jakarta, Indonesia325 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
Very crowded when i went on weekend, especially at the Yuyuan streets. Recommended to go at weekdays. At the time very difficult to find the entrance. To go to the entrance make sure to pass the zigzag bridge. At the end of the bridge there is the ticket locket. Inside the garden not that crowded like the outside because you have to pay for entrance. In my opinion, this garden's not too attractive. You can see the old building and furniture. But it's not taken good care of. I would recommend people's park and Jing'an Sculpture Park. See my review for details.

It's more worth it if you visit this venue at night, lots of beautiful lights, but cant enter the garden at night. But more beautiful at night and they have like chinese opera singing show at night
Written October 28, 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.

Chinese Soul 1984
11 contributions
Aug 2019
This is a tradicional Chinese garden and one of the best instances of the art of gardening in this country. The interaction of the main elements of Chinese gardens: buildings, rockeries, water and plants fill the garden of hidden maenings. The visitor must walk around its 6 main components, relaxing in each one of them to discover the real value of these landscapes in the Chinese mind.
Written February 20, 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.

Matthew Y
31 contributions
Jan 2020
My only reservation is to alert all to the crowds and advise to not visit on Chinese New Year when the Chinese military make a presence of epic proportions when crowds are already huge. Watch your belongings and realize that with all the shops here you can easily spend days there and not see it all. Do see the Summer Palace which is part of the YuYuan complex. Truly ornate and beautiful.
Written January 19, 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.

cecilia chin
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia181 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
A classical Chinese architecture garden with lots of unique sculptures and carvings. Mesmerized by the attractive lights lining the shapes of the building with its exquisite layout of the garden as onr wander om it. Lots of souveniers and eatery outlets where tourists have their golden chance to shop on. Needed more time to really enjoy the place.
Written August 12, 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.

SLE811
105 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Nice garden but I enjoyed the shopping and eating outside the garden. Prices are reasonable here. We stumbled Fuyou commercial building outside the garden which looks like where the local would go for their daily necessity goods.
Written January 25, 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.

Rimmi
Singapore, Singapore13 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
It is a lovely garden with gold fish and pagodas. In the heart of the city but once u r in the garden it is tranquil. It can get crowded due to visitors flicking from other provinces. I went there twice once during summer and in Dec. I found its better to go in summer as flowers are blooming and it’s warmer. The garden is surrounded by the city of god Temples.
Written January 1, 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.

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Yu Garden (Yuyuan) (Shanghai) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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Yu Garden (Yuyuan) is open:
  • Sun - Sat 8:45 AM - 4:15 PM
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