Is The Yu Garden in Shanghai Worth Visiting?

This post is all about The Yu Garden in Shanghai: Is It Worth Going To & Everything You Need To Know

Whether it’s your first time in Shanghai China, or you’ve been here before it can be challenging to figure out if the Yu Garden in Shanghai is worth going to.

I remember our first time here, it was so difficult to navigate, we went too late and alot of the shops closed!

Well, have no fear, I’ve put together the ultimate Yu Garden Shanghai guide for you. From how to get to Yu Garden Shanghai, to what time to go, and how long to spend here, here’s everything you need to know about Yu Garden Shanghai.

This post is all about The Yu Garden in Shanghai: Is It Worth Going To & Everything You Need To Know

Welcome to the Yu Garden Shanghai: one of the most incredible places, a classical Chinese garden filled with delicious restaurants, fun souvenir shops, and incredible architecture located in the heart of Shanghai’s Old City. Although it’s in the Old City, it looks incredible and modern with one of the most mindblowing designs you’ll ever see.

Yu Garden Shanghai Location

Located in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, the precise address of Yu Garden Shanghai is No.218 Anren Street, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China.

Just look up “豫园” and you’ll find it easily.

What Is Special About The Yu Garden?

Despite being mindblowing beautiful, Yu Garden is one of Shanghai's most cherished cultural landmarks. Built in the 16th century, it’s been a gathering place for poets, artists, scholars, and now tourists flock worldwide to see this incredible place.

Designed as a traditional Chinese garden, you can also see rocks, ponds, towering landscapes, and beautiful structures here symbolizing aspects of Chinese philosophy like balance and harmony.

How Do I Get to Yu Garden Shanghai Metro?

There are various ways to get to the Yu Garden Shanghai including taking a cab, taking a bus, walking, or taking the metro.

To take the metro to Yu Garden Shanghai, you can take either Line 10: Yuyuan Garden Station (Exit 1) or Line 14: Yuyuan Garden Station (Exit 2).

But I recommend taking a taxi there, taxis in Shanghai are incredibly cheap! They’re a little difficult to navigate but if you download the Chinese Google Maps, you can find it’s easy to call a cab there.

Here’s the link to downloading the Chinese Google Maps

What Time To Visit Yu Garden Shanghai?

The gardens are open from 8:30AM to 10:00PM from March to October but in the winter months, it closes at 9:00PM.

It’s also closed on Mondays, except for national holidays so go around 6:00PM to have enough time to explore and get dinner. We went at 8PM and regretted it so much! So many of the restaurants and shops started closing. Plus expect alot of crowds, so it takes time to get around.

Yu Garden is even better at night so I recommend going when the sun is down.

Best Time To Visit Yu Garden Shanghai?

The best time to visit Yu Garden in Shanghai is Spring to Autumn (March-May) and (September-November) for the most pleasant temperatures and vibrant flowers.

The worst time to visit which we did and it was so sticky and miserable was the peak summer months of June-August which can be really hot and crowded.

How Long To Spend In Yu Garden Shanghai?

You can spend all day at Yu Garden Shanghai eating, exploring, and taking beautiful photos.

I recommend at least 3 hours here, so make sure to go around 6PM or all of the shops will close before you’re done (it did for us and was one of my biggest regrets!)

What To Bring To Yu Garden Shanghai?

If you’re going to Yu Garden Shanghai, the #1 thing you need is comfortable footwear! There’s going to be alot of walking and shopping so avoid heels or flats. If you’re going during the summer, make sure to bring sunscreen and a hat. Shanghai gets incredibly hot and sticky.

Here’s the camera I take on all of my trips (and I used it on all of these photos!), it’s incredibly easy to use and super compact.

Yu Garden Shanghai: What It’s Really Like

Unlike the photos and videos you see online, the Yu Garden in Shanghai is extremely crowded. Expect to be almost shoulder to shoulder, elbow to elbow next to everyone else who's trying to go shopping, take a picture, or eat here!

In fact, during the walk along the actual river part of the garden, there are police guards all around to make sure people keep walking and avoid a human traffic collision.

Chinese locals can also be pushy and are always in a rush, so don’t be offended, it’s quite the cultural norm.

Yu Garden Shanghai: Is It Worth Going?

Despite the crowds, Yu Garden Shanghai was my favorite place in all of China. The architecture is incredible, show stopping, and one of the coolest things you’ll ever see in your life. Come prepared, bring your cameras, and you’ll be set to have the most incredible time.

And there you have it! Is the Yu Garden in Shanghai worth visiting and everything you need to know. I hope you have the most incredible time and enjoy the views.