What to See in Shanghai's Yu Garden & Old Town?

Last updated: May 2026. Prices and hours subject to change—verify before visiting.

The Bund is Shanghai's face; Yu Garden is its foundation.

When the Bund's bank buildings rose in the 1920s, Yu Garden had already been here for 400 years. Built in 1559 by a Sichuan provincial governor for his father, its name "Yu" means "pleasing the elderly."

Now, Yu Garden and the surrounding City God Temple, snack streets, and old markets form the last enclave of Shanghai's old city. Touristy, commercialized—but if you know how to look, this remains key to understanding Shanghai's past.

Why It's Worth Your Time

Yu Garden, built in 1559, is a classic Jiangnan garden—rockeries, ponds, pavilions, winding corridors, a new view at every step.

Compared to Suzhou gardens, Yu Garden is smaller but more exquisite. The famous "Jade Exquisite" rockery is said to be a remnant of the Song Dynasty's flower-and-stone tribute fleet, one of the "Three Famous Rocks of Jiangnan" alongside Suzhou's Ruiyun Peak and Hangzhou's Zhouyun Peak.

The City God Temple represents another layer of Shanghai memory. Once the center of Shanghai County, now a place for tourists to buy snacks and souvenirs. Heavily commercialized, but the architecture itself—upturned eaves, red walls, golden tiles—remains worth seeing.

What to Realistically Expect

Crowds:

• Inside Yu Garden: Dense tour groups, especially at Jade Exquisite and Nine-Bend Bridge
• City God Temple area: Extremely crowded weekends and holidays
• Snack streets: Queuing is normal

Best Times:

• Yu Garden: 9:00–10:00am when gates open, or 3:00–4:00pm
• Avoid: Weekend mornings, all day during holidays

Admission:

• Yu Garden: ¥40 (peak season Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov), ¥30 (off-season)
• City God Temple: ¥10
• Snack streets: Free

Duration: Yu Garden 1–2 hours, surrounding area 2–3 hours

Don't Miss

• Jade Exquisite Rockery — Yu Garden's treasure, one of the Three Famous Rocks of Jiangnan. Legend says incense smoke rises from all its holes. Come right when gates open for the quietest moment.

• Nine-Bend Bridge — Connects Yu Garden and City God Temple, nine bends for good fortune. Always packed with photo-takers, but best light at dawn or dusk.

• Yu Garden Bazaar (Snack Street) — Tourist trap, but walk through quickly. Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (xiaolongbao) flagship is here—1-hour queues, but tastes no better than city branches. Look, don't eat.

• City God Temple Main Hall — Dedicated to Shanghai's patron deity Qin Yubo. Red walls, golden tiles, flying eaves. ¥10 entry, worth seeing the Taoist architecture and incense.

• Shanghai Old Street (Fangbang Middle Road) — West of City God Temple, quieter than main area. Old buildings, small shops, more authentic old city feeling.

• Lvbolang Restaurant — Historic restaurant inside Yu Garden, famous for dim sum. Pricey but pleasant environment, good for a rest.

Practical Information

Note: Yu Garden closed Mondays (except holidays).

Getting There

Subway: Line 10 to Yuyuan Garden Station, Exit 1, 5-minute walk.

From the Bund: About 15-minute walk through Old City Wall Park—you can see remnants of the old city wall.

Taxi: Address "Yu Garden" or "City God Temple," but extremely congested on weekends—subway recommended.

Food Strategy

Inside Yu Garden:

• Lvbolang: Nice environment, expensive, good for resting
• Pear syrup candy: Shanghai specialty, buy small packs to taste

City God Temple Snack Street:

• Nanxiang Steamed Bun: Long queues, not recommended
• Songyuelou: Vegetarian buns, relatively authentic
• Five-spice beans: Old Shanghai brand, good souvenir

Better Options:

• Walk out of Yu Garden area to Yunnan South Road or Huanghe Road—same snacks, better taste, cheaper prices.

Yu Garden isn't Shanghai's most beautiful garden—Suzhou's are more refined. City God Temple isn't the most authentic old town—real lane life is in the French Concession.

But the Yu Garden + City God Temple combination is the most accessible "traditional Shanghai" for visitors. A 400-year garden, a 200-year temple, a 100-year snack street—layered together, they form Shanghai's collective memory of the "old city."

If you have only half a day, come here. If you have more time, come here first, then contrast with the French Concession—that's the complete Shanghai.

Related Guides:

• Shanghai City Guide — Complete city guide