Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai

Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yuyuan_garden.JPG
Author: J. PatrickFischer


Yuyuan Garden, or simply Yu Garden, is a garden adjacent to the Ancient City Park of Shanghai. It was created in 1559 by Pan Yunduan for the pleasure of his father Pan En, who was a high-ranking Ming Dynasty official. Pan Yunduan spent 20 years putting together the garden, which is regarded by many as one of the finest Chinese gardens in the world.

Over the course of history, Yuyuan Garden has fallen into disrepair a few times. It was bought over by merchants in 1760 and restored. During this time, the Huxingting Teahouse was built, but by the turbulent 19th century, the garden once again suffered extensive damaged from the Opium Wars and Taiping Rebellion. Japanese Occupation in the Second World War also inflicted damage.

The Shanghai government undertook to restore Yuyuan Garden in 1956, and it was finally reopned to the public in 1961. In 1982 Yuyuan Garden was declared a national monument.

Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20090510_Shanghai_Yuyan_6573.jpg
Author: Jakub Halun


Among the sights at Yuyuan Garden includes the Huxingting Teahouse, the City God Temple, the Dragon Wall and rockery.

The Huxingting Teahouse was built by cotton merchants as a pavilion. It was converted into a teahouse in the late 19th century. The structure is on a lake connected with zigzag bridge said to confuse evil spirits as they cannot turn corners.

The rock garden at Yuyuan Garden is reputed to be one of the largest and finest Ming Dynasty rockeries.

Apart from the traditional Chinese Garden, visitors can now also browse through the extensive bazaar that has been developed. Be forewarn that this is a blatant commercial endeavor, but you may enjoy wandering through the stalls and perhaps haggling over prices of souvenirs. You can often come across street performers and acrobatic troupes.

How to reach Yuyuan Garden

You can either take bus no. 6 or call a taxi.

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