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279 Yuyuan Old Street, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
The only well-preserved classical Chinese garden in Shanghai downtown
Yuyuan Garden is the only fully restored classical Chinese garden in Shanghai. It was inaugurated in the Ming dynasty and has a total area of 20,000 square meters. Although the Garden occupies less than five acres, demonstrates perfectly the sophisticated art of combining several different elements to create a world in miniature - ingeniously mingling pavilions and corridors, small hills and carefully selected and well-placed rocks, lotus ponds, bridges, winding paths, and trees and shrubs.
As a paragon of the south Chinese landscaping style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is a MUST for all visitors to Shanghai. The neighboring Yuyuan Bazaar, known among old-timers as "Old City God's Temple Market", is a rising tourist and shopping center where visitors loitering among a cluster of shops, restaurants and recreation facilities invariably find themselves making a tour of discovery of local folklore and Ming and Qing architecture.
There are more than 40 scenic spots scattered throughout the garden, which is divided into six parts by five boundary walls. The six scenic areas include the Grand Rockery, the Ten Thousand-Flower Pavilion, the Hall of Heralding Spring, the Hall of Jade Magnificence, the Inner Garden, and the Lotus Pool.
Yuyuan Garden was originally founded in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty by Pan Yunduan as a comfort for his father, the minister Pan En, in his old age. Pan Yunduan started the construction after failing one of the imperial exams. However, his appointment as governor of Sichuan Province delayed this project for nearly twenty years until 1577. In 1577, Pan Yunduan resigned and concentrated in building the garden. He hired some famous horticulturists to design the layout of the garden for him. The garden was the most well-known and the largest of its period in Shanghai City, but finally its cost helped the bankruptcy the Pans.
The garden was inherited by Zhang Zhaolin, Pan Yunduan's granddaughter's husband, and then passed to different owners. A group of merchants renovated the increasingly decrepit grounds in 1760 and in 1780 the West Garden was opened to the general public.
The gardens went through damage for a couple of times during the 19th century. In 1842 during the First Opium War, the British army used the Huxinting Teahouse as a base of operations for several days. During the Taiping Rebellion, the Small Swords Society ran its headquarters in the Dianchun Hall; by the time Qing troops recovered the garden, the original buildings in the garden were nearly all destroyed. They were damaged again by the Japanese in 1942. Then from 1956 to 1961, it was repaired by the Shanghai government. They were opened to the public in 1961.
Sansui Hall Scenic Area
Sansui Hall(三穗堂) is one of the main buildings of Yuyuan Garden. Sansui Hall Scenic Area includes Sansui Hall, Yangshan Hall(仰山堂）, Iron Lion Statues, Jian Ru Jia Jing Corridor(渐入佳境游廊) and Cuixiu Hall(萃秀阁). Yangshan Hall is a two-floor building with Yangshan Hall at the first floor and the Juanyu Building at the second floor. Standing at the Juanyu Building, you can enjoy the picturesque view of the Great Rockery at the opposite. Cuixiu Hall is located in the north of the Great Rockery, where you can enjoy the scenery of the Great Rockery. Built in 1760, Cuixiu Hall is quiet and elegant. At Cuixiu Hall, you can see the ancient trees, rockeries and flowers. The Iron Lion Statues was made in Yuan Dynasty(1290AD), which have a history of over 700 years. The Great Rockery was built in Ming Dynasty, which is 14 meters tall.
Wanhua Building Scenic Area
Wanhua Building(万花楼) refers to that flowers here are always blooming in different seasons. Here you can see the ancient ginkgo tree with a history of over 400 years. At the Yule Pavilion(鱼乐榭), you can see exquisite buildings, ancient trees and fishes in the pool. Fu Corridor is divided into two corridors by the wall, and there are many windows on the wall, which are interesting to walk around. Liangyi Pavilion(两宜轩) is facing the mountains and located by the water, where you can enjoy the wonderful designs of the Jiangnan gardens.
Huijing Building Scenic Area
Huijing Buidling Scenic(会景楼) is located to the south of the Wanhua Building Scenic Area. Huijing Building Scenic Area is located in the center of the Yu Garden, which is surrounded by water on its three sides. The landscape and scenery of Huijing Scenic Area are extremely beautiful. At Huijing Buidling Scenic Area, you can see the Jiyu Water Corridor(积玉水廊), Liushang Pavilion(流觞亭), Three Turns Bridge(三曲板桥) and Jiushi Pavilion(九狮轩). Jiyu Water Corridor connects Huijing Building and Hanbi Building.
Dianchun Hall
Dianchun Hall Scenic Area(点春堂), includes Dianchun Hall, Opera Stage, Dragon Wall, Kuai Building(快楼), Hexu Hall(和煦堂). There are 4 couplets on the Opera Stage, which describe the scenery of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The Dragon Hall is located in the weest of Dianchun Hall, whose shape is like a flying dragon. By the way, there are dragon walls in Yuyuan Garden at Inner Garden, Hexu Hall and behind Great Rockery.
Yuhua Hall Scenic Area
Yuhua Hall Scenic Area(玉华堂) includes Yuhua Hall(study room), Yulinglong(玉玲珑), Huanlong Bridge(环龙桥), Hanbi Building(涵碧楼) and Tingtao Pavilion(听涛阁). Yulinglong is one of the Three Most Famous Stones in Jiangnan(south of the Yangtze River), which has a history of about 1,000 years. Yulinglong is known as the treasure and Yuyuan Garden.
Our cleints at Yulinglong of Yuyuan Garden
Inner Garden Scenic Area
Inner Garden Scenic Area(内园) is a well-preserved garden of Qing Dynasty. It is a little garden in the Yuyuan Garden, hence the name. Inner Garden is a dedicate garden with beautiful and exquisite pavilions, flowers, trees and stones and ponds. Inner Garden includes Jingguan Hall(静观), Keyiguan Hall(可以观), Songcui Pavilion, Guantao Tower(观涛楼) and Ancient Stage(古戏台).
Admiring the Classical Chinese Garden of Ming Dynasty
Yuyuan in Shanghai is one of the five most famous classical gardens in Jiangnan(south of Yangtze River). It is also a landmark of Shanghai. At Yuyuan Garden, you can visit the architectures of classical garden of Ming Dynasty in China and know about the architectural design of it. And you will know about the beauty of Chinese building of the matching of buildings, pavilions, bridges, rockeries, lakes and plants, which is harmonious and picturesque.
Slow Down at Fast-Paced Shanghai
Shanghai always gives tourists a sense of fast-paced life. However, you can slow down your life at Yuyuan Garden, to fully experience the architectural beauty of Chinese classical gardens, admire the layout and design of the garden and experience the leisure at Yuyuan Garden. You can sit and relax for a while, without thinking anything. Just immerse yourself at the beautiful place.
Flower Show
There are flower shows every year, including chrysanthemum show, orchid show and plum flower show. All the flowers on the show are provided by private persons. Plum flower show is mostly held in Januarys, but not held every year. Orchid show is held every year, mostly in late April. Chrysanthemum show is also held in September every year.
Lantern Show
Lantern Show is held in every New Year in the garden, from 1 January to 18 January of lunar calendar of China.
Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition
Occasionally, there are some painting and calligraphy exhibitions to show the Chinese culture to the visitors. If you have interested in that, you should make confirm with the management department of the garden to check out the date of the show. You can take Bus No.11, 66, 126, 926 can reach the place.
Note: Arrive the Yuyuan Garden one hour earlier than its actual closing time is advised, the ticket office stops selling ticket and the garden stops accepting any tourists 30-40 minutes before its actual shutting down time.
Shanghai City God Temple
Shanghai City God Temple, also know as Chenghuangmiao, is a famous Taoist temple in Shanghai with a history over 600 years. It is just near the exit of the Yuguan Garden, where you can take some time to visit and visiting the Yuyuan Garden. At the Shanghai City God Temple, you can burn incense and worship and taste the vegetarian foods. You can also know about the history of the Shanghai City God Temple and stories of the statues inside the halls of the temple.
►By Bus: You can take Bus No.11、26、64、71、145、581、715、730、736、801、926、929、932、960 or 980, get off at Yuyuan Garden stop(豫园站).
►By Metro: take metro line 10, get off at the Yuyuan Garden Station.
Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Nanjing Road
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