Yu Garden

Yu Garden, located in the old city of Shanghai, is a sprawling 5-acre classical Chinese garden dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Originally constructed between 1559 and 1577 by a government official named Pan Yunduan as a private garden for his father, it represents the pinnacle of Chinese garden design during the Ming and Qing periods. The garden features intricate pavilions, zigzag bridges, rockeries, and tranquil ponds, each element meticulously designed to create a harmonious and symbolic landscape. Surrounded by traditional Chinese-style buildings and markets, Yu Garden offers visitors a journey through Shanghai's rich cultural heritage. The garden's layout follows traditional Taoist principles of landscape design, with each section representing different philosophical and aesthetic concepts.