Yu Garden: A Traditional Chinese Garden in the Middle of a Modern City

I'm Hesham, living in China since 2019. Yu Garden (豫园) is a traditional Ming-dynasty-era Chinese garden right in the middle of modern Shanghai — ponds, rockeries, and covered walkways, surrounded by the famous Yuyuan Bazaar with its traditional shops and restaurants.

Quick Answer

Yu Garden (豫园) is a traditional Chinese garden from the Ming dynasty in the middle of modern Shanghai, surrounded by the famous Yuyuan Bazaar with its traditional shops and restaurants.

🏯 Ming dynasty-era garden🏮 Annual Lantern Festival🛍️ Surrounded by Yuyuan Bazaar

How Much Is the Ticket? (Real Prices)

Admission is ¥40 during April-June and September-November, and ¥30 the rest of the year. The garden is open from 9:00am to 4:30pm (last entry 4:00pm), and closed on Mondays — plan your visit around that.

A traditional pavilion in Yu Garden — Shanghai

💡 Tip from experience: the Yuyuan Bazaar surrounding the garden is completely free even if you don't enter the garden itself — if you're short on time, you can stick to wandering the market and shops without a ticket.

The Yuyuan Lantern Festival

If your visit falls around the start of the year, the Yuyuan Lantern Festival (usually late January to early March) decorates the bazaar with giant lanterns in a new design each year — worth catching if your timing allows.

How Do You Get There?

The nearest metro is Yuyuan Garden on Line 10, a few minutes' walk from the garden and bazaar. The area is also close to the Bund, so you can combine both in the same day.

Yu Garden Quick Summary

Ticket: ¥30-40 depending on season | closed Mondays
Hours: 9:00am-4:30pm (last entry 4:00pm)
Surrounding Yuyuan Bazaar: completely free
Nearest metro: Yuyuan Garden (Line 10)

Planning a Trip to Shanghai?

I'm Hesham, living in China since 2019. Message me on WhatsApp and I'll set up an itinerary combining Yu Garden and the Bund in one day, or visit the private driver service page.