Yu Yuan Garden – Things to Do in Shanghai

It is located in the Shanghai old city, a few blocks south of the Bund, Yuyuan Garden is considered one of the most lavish and finest Chinese gardens. The inner and outer gardens were both built in the Ming Dynasty (more than 400 years ago) classical style, with numerous rock and tree garden areas, ponds, dragon-lined walls and zigzagging bridges separating various garden areas and pavilions. Yuyuan Garden was first established by a mandarin named Pan yunduan who used to be the governor of Sichuan and later expanded greatly. The garden today is a veritable jungle of architectural structures, where the forms of artificial hills are reflected in the ponds, and the entire place is hidden in the rich verdure of trees and plants.

credit: MojoBaron