Shanghai Yuyuan Garden Guide: Tickets & Night Views

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Must-Visit in Shanghai:

Yuyuan Garden Tickets, Transport & Night Views

Written by High Couple

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Are you planning a trip to one of 2026's hottest travel destinations,

Shanghai?

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If it's your first time visiting this vibrant city,

there is one historic gem you absolutely cannot miss.

It's the traditional Chinese masterpiece, Yuyuan Garden (豫园).

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Today, I'm sharing the ultimate guide on how to get to Yuyuan Garden,

how to book tickets, and why the night views are spectacular!

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Yuyuan Garden was built during the Ming Dynasty

and is a stunning example of classical Chinese landscaping

where you can truly feel the elegance of that era.

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Keep in mind that Yuyuan is closed every Monday,

so be sure to factor that into your itinerary.

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Also, while it stays open until 4:30 PM,

✅ the absolute last entry is at 4:00 PM,

so you'll want to arrive with plenty of time to explore.

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💡 Personally, I highly recommend

entering around 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

This gives you enough daylight to appreciate the gardens,

and allows you to seamlessly transition into the breathtaking night views.

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📍 Admission fees vary by season:

Peak season is 40 RMB (~$6),

and off-peak season is 30 RMB (~$5).

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You can buy tickets at the gate, but to skip the long lines,

booking online in advance via the link below

is definitely the way to go.

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> Book Yuyuan Garden Tickets Here <

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Next, let's talk about how to get there.

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Yuyuan is conveniently located near Nanjing East Road

and People's Square, where many travelers stay.

You can easily take a taxi or use public transport.

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If you're taking the subway,

ride Line 10 or Line 14 to Yuyuan Station.

Take Exit 1, and it's about a 10-minute walk

(roughly 0.5 miles) from there.

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Once you step out of Yuyuan Station, just follow your map

or simply follow the crowd heading toward the area

to find the main ticket office.

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Note: Instead of going straight into the massive commercial entrance,

you'll need to walk slightly to the left to spot the actual garden entrance.

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I didn't book my tickets in advance,

so I ended up waiting in a pretty long line at the gate.

Because time is precious when traveling,

I highly encourage you to reserve your tickets online beforehand.

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Now, let's dive into what it's like

inside the garden!

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Yuyuan was originally built by Pan Yunduan, a Ming Dynasty official,

as a private retreat for his aging parents.

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I was genuinely shocked by this fact.

The scale is absolutely massive for a private residence.

It really puts the sheer size of historical Chinese estates into perspective.

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Though it was built nearly 500 years ago,

and suffered damage throughout history,

extensive restoration has brought it back to its original glory.

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Because it's so large and quite popular with tourists,

plan to spend at least an hour wandering around.

If you want to take your time and snap plenty of photos,

allocate about 1.5 to 2 hours.

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Inside, the craftsmanship is incredibly exquisite.

The delicate balance of intricate rockeries, bamboo groves, and tranquil koi ponds is perfect.

Every corner feels like a photo op,

making it easy to capture stunning memories.

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One of the most striking features you'll notice are the Dragon Walls​.

Instead of standard tiled roofs,

the tops of the walls are shaped like undulating dragon bodies,

culminating in fierce dragon heads at the ends.

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From afar, it looks as though a massive dragon is slithering through the estate,

visually connecting the different sections of the garden.

Since the garden was built for his parents,

the dragon also served as a symbol of protection for them.

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It was so much fun spotting these symbolic dragons

hidden in plain sight throughout the grounds.

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There are countless vintage-style photo zones scattered around.

Against the backdrop of massive rocks and bamboo forests,

you'll often see locals dressed in traditional Hanfu taking beautiful portraits.

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Personally, I found the large pond near the exit

to be incredibly peaceful and picturesque.

I highly recommend stopping here for a photo!

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As you exit the garden, you'll immediately step into the Yuyuan Bazaar.

This is the perfect spot to grab some famous Nanxiang soup dumplings (Xiaolongbao)

or do some souvenir shopping.

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Just past the commercial area, there's another iconic spot

you must see: the Nine-Turn Bridge (Jiuquqiao).

Since this area is outside the ticketed zone,

it's usually buzzing with crowds.

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The Nine-Turn Bridge is exactly what it sounds like:

a bridge with nine sharp zig-zags.

According to ancient Chinese folklore, evil spirits

can only travel in straight lines. Building a jagged path

was a way to ward off bad luck.

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Today, it stands as a symbol of good fortune

and remains a massive draw for visitors.

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We're so used to straight bridges that

seeing this jagged design over the water is really fascinating.

It makes for a fantastic photo backdrop, so if it's not too crowded,

definitely take a stroll across it.

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Finally, let's talk about the Yuyuan night views!

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Yuyuan completely transforms after dark.

Depending on the season, the lights switch on around 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM,

revealing the magical, traditional Chinese atmosphere I had been dreaming of.

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Shanghai is world-famous for its modern skyline,

but Yuyuan's historical nightscape holds its own.

Wandering through the illuminated alleyways

was an absolute highlight for taking pictures!

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Seeing the Nine-Turn Bridge at night hits differently.

With the golden lights reflecting off the water and the unique sculptures,

I completely lost track of time!

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There were many women dressed in ethereal Hanfu outfits,

and the traditional clothing against the glowing architecture

looked straight out of a historical drama.

It definitely made me want to try a traditional photoshoot myself!

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If you're visiting Shanghai, Yuyuan Garden is a non-negotiable must-see.

The entrance fee is incredibly affordable,

making it the perfect place to experience classical Chinese culture.

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Plus, you'll walk away with

countless amazing photos.

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Because the daytime and nighttime vibes are so distinctly beautiful,

I really hope you get to experience both.

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💡 My suggested itinerary: Enter the garden in the late afternoon,

explore the grounds, then head out to the Nine-Turn Bridge and Bazaar.

Grab a snack, and by the time you're done, the sun will have set.

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Capping off your day with the spectacular Yuyuan night view

will make your Shanghai trip truly unforgettable.

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Don't forget to grab your tickets in advance below

to save time at the gate!

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> Book Yuyuan Garden Tickets Here <