Pavilion and pond in Yu Garden, Shanghai · Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Suggested time
Half a day
Checked
2026-11-09
Mood
Gardens & history
Region
Shanghai
“The art of Chinese gardens is to compress infinite nature into a finite space, where every window frames a painting and every pavilion offers contemplation.”
Pan Yunduan first built the garden in 1559, and construction was postponed until 1577. It sits in Huangpu District beside the City God Temple. The Inner Garden was first laid out in 1709, and Dianchun Hall was built in 1820.
A rockery 12 metres high, one of the garden’s over 40 scenic spots. Wikipedia also records the Exquisite Jade Rock, a porous boulder 3.3 m high weighing 5 tons.
The garden has carved dragon details on its walls. They are easy to miss at a quick pace, which is one reason to give the garden more than a short stop.
Getting there
Yu Garden is in Huangpu District, next to the City God Temple, in the northeast of the Old City. Your driver drops you at the nearest point and meets you after the visit.
FromUS$2,010per private group of up to 2, estimate
Plan
A private trip to Yu Garden & the Old City
Tell us your dates and pace. We will suggest how long to stay, where to sleep and when to arrive to avoid the crowds.
Yu Garden & the Old City: frequently asked questions
When was Yu Garden built?
Wikipedia says it was first built in 1559 by Pan Yunduan and that construction was postponed until 1577, which is the year of creation given in the infobox.
How big is Yu Garden?
It covers 2 hectares (5 acres) and has over 40 scenic spots, according to Wikipedia.
When did Yu Garden open to the public?
In 1961. It was declared a national monument in 1982, per Wikipedia. Ticket prices and opening hours are not stated there, so we confirm them before each tour.
