While reading up on Shanghai, we often come across Yu Garden or Yuyuan Garden. It is a famous tourist spot with its preserved ancient landscaped garden. With its convenient location right in the city, one need not travel too far to see a “Classical Chinese Garden”.
Thus, I put it as the first Shanghai place to visit once we checked into our hotel at SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund. The hotel was also chosen due to its proximity to Yu Yuan (豫园）.
To Yuyuan Garden by Taxi
After our swift check-in where we just quickly dumped our things, Vin booked a taxi using the DiDi app. It arrived but the driver was a little grumpy about the “short distance”. He felt we could have easily walked there. Well, it was a 10-minutes walk but to us with a toddler and a child, a 10 minutes walk would most certainly drag on. It was already 3.30pm and we would not have much time to tour Yuyuan Garden before it closed.
Soon, the driver dropped us at a certain spot beside a pavement and told us to just “Walk in”. We were worried because it certainly did not look like any entrance to a garden. True enough, the taxi driver did not drop us at Yuyuan Garden itself. (This happened a few times later in our sight-seeing. It’s to the taxi driver’s convenience and not to ours.)
Vin had to use his google map to check the entrance to Yuyuan Garden and we spent some time walking to Entrance No.1, where the “Yuyuan Old Street” （豫园老街) or Yuyuan Bazaar was. It was an interesting alley walk with street shops at both sides. As we were in a rush for the actual garden, we didn’t stop to browse the items. We made a note to come back later after we visited.
Tickets to Yuyuan Garden
The entrance was crowded with lots of people just standing around. I was shocked and wondered whether it would be crowded inside. However, when we purchased the tickets and walked in, the crowd was still manageable.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION – WHY VISIT ?
Yuyuan Garden is said to have been built in the Ming Dynasty, more than 400 years ago. It started as a private garden of Pan Yunduan (潘允端) in 1559 and was owned, restored by different people throughout the years. People visit for its historic value and to appreciate the natural beauty and cultural display.
How Big is Yuyuan Garden 豫园?
Yuyuan Garden covers an area of 20,000 square meters. Therefore, it is a really huge maze filled with different gardens, pavilions, lake etc. The huge garden is divided into six parts and with our limited time, we could only admire and quickly walk past each area.
Explore Scenic Parts of Yuyuan Garden
We followed a path from the main entrance and started our exploration. I love ancient Chinese architecture, so we took several photographs with the beautiful surroundings. Mainly, we were just there to bask in the atmosphere since we didn’t have a guide to explain what we were seeing. While walking, we did overhear some guides explaining the carvings or the significance of certain objects but with an active toddler, it was really not possible to stay put.
1. Sansui Hall (三穗堂 Three Tassels Hall)
At that time, when we stumbled on this hall, we didn’t know what to “look out” for. I just love the window frames, carved Chinese characters and found them pretty to look at. We also knew that this was a meeting hall, judging from the placement of the chairs. Reading up on Yu Garden’s information, it is actually a meeting place for local officials and we are to admire the art of the windows and wood-beam carvings.
Grand Rockery
Outside is the Grand Rockery which consists of 2,000 tons of rare yellow stones fused together. It was a pretty landscape, so we lingered here for a while taking in the view from a pavilion.
Kid’s Journal
Before coming to China, I thought of getting Dar more involved in our trip. Since he’s good at drawing, I gave Dar a task of “drawing items he saw”, while touring at each place of interest. We kept at it for a while until Hangzhou where we needed more time.
2. Wanhua Chamber (万花楼 )
This place consists of a chamber, a pavilion and a corridor. All were interesting to walk through.
I was happy with the beautiful plum blossoms on display and took several photos.
There was even a 400-years-old Gingko Tree in the courtyard, with a sign that indicated its protection by the government.
3. Rocky Artificial Mountain
We came to this artificial mountain and the kids excitedly climbed up the steps to a higher vantage point. This is a structure we commonly see in Chinese stories or movies, where one could stand among the rocks and look down at the surrounding lake. As it was quite “rocky” and there was no railings, we had to be extra careful with our toddler. She loves walking up and they felt like it was an adventure, wondering what was up there?
Reaching the small summit, we found a small reading hall with a look at a pavilion opposite. In ancient times, it would indeed be a nice quiet place to do some reading, with some tea perhaps?
4. Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall
The rest of the places around the lake were equally pretty. We visited the various halls and took a look at their interiors. They were barred at the door, so we could only see but not touch the furnitures.
5. Yu Linglong (Exquisite Jade Rock)
The Jade Rock is the most celebrated stone sculpture in the garden. It was very noticeable as we strolled, right in the middle at a higher point.
6. Photo Spot – Doorways & Bridges
We came across a Chinese Doorway and immediately got Ling to pose in front of it. Subsequently, she took another with Dar. This became a nice photo to commemorate their first China attraction visit!
We then continue our walk and came across an arch bridge. A must-take photo as it is an essential part of a Chinese Garden landscape!
7. Beautiful Halls With Intricate Roofs
Walking out, we were supposed to go through the Nine-turning Bridge which would lead us to a famous tea house. Alas, we discovered the place was under renovation! Where were we supposed to go for our Nanxiang Xiao Long Bao (dumpling) now?
It was so disappointing! I had looked forward to eating there in the traditional tea house, with the picturesque scenery. On closer look, there was a sign that directed us to a branch of Nanxiang inside the Yuyuan Bazaar area. Thus, we quickly headed there for our tea break.
[ IN SUMMARY ]
- Time Taken: 50 minutes (We didn’t linger too much at one place)
- Verdict: A pretty garden to stroll. Most of the structures/furnitures were what we had seen in Chinese period dramas, so it was nice to see them in real life. Our kids were very interested as they seldom watch Chinese shows so these were all new to them. Our stroll in Yuyuan Garden became an educational tour for them. I was actually more interested in the natural garden with the pretty flowers, the lake surroundings and the “artificial mountain” (假山) walk.
- Temperature in 10th March: It was abt 13 degrees Celsius when we visited, so we were wearing wind-proof jackets or down jackets (the kids) over long sleeves. Ling and me wore a heat-tech layer.
>> Read Next Post: Yuyuan Bazaar and Xiao Long Bao Lunch
Shanghai: Day 1 Itinerary
- Departure from Singapore to Shanghai
- Arrival in Shanghai
- Taxi to SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund
- Yu Yuan or Yu Garden 豫园
- Yuyuan Bazaar / Lunch at Nanxiang Steamed Bun 南翔小笼包
- The Bund
- Nanjing East Road / Dinner
- Back to Hotel
Read More of our China 2018 Trip: 9-Day Family Travel Itinerary in China Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou
Tips For Travelling in China: “Essential Tips for Safe Family Travel in China“
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