I don’t think I need to give many travelers a reason to visit Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar. It should be a staple on everyone’s first trip to Shanghai. Just make sure that when you visit, you don’t miss out on these 5 things!
Aside from visiting the Bund, it’s a rite of passage for many travelers to visit Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar while in Shanghai. After having a warm and local $2.50 meal at a hidden noodle shop in Old City Shanghai, my mom and I strolled down Shanghai Old Street towards the center of the area—the Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar. Yuyu literally translates into Garden on Happiness. After spending a few ours exploring the area, you’ll understand why. Yuyuan Bazaar is free, but exploring the Yu gardens comes at a small fee. Here are 5 reasons Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar will leave you feeling happy day and night:
1. Huxinting Teahouse and Zigzag Bridge
Walking under a round-shaped door, I wandered on to the Yuyuan Garden grounds. Walking around for a while my mind marveled at the fountains, statues, fish filled ponds, and people. My mind was so stimulated I barely noticed I was walking on a zigzag bridge, also known as nine-turn bridge. The bridge was constructed in this Chinese traditional zigzag style to keep evil spirits at bay from the pavilion.
The bridge leads you to a beautiful, old-style Chinese tea house. The structure is hard to miss. It stands erect on stilts in the center of the manmade lake and is rich in intricate red and white designs and decor. This tea house, named Huxinting Tea House, dates back to 1855. Huxinting Tea House still serves some of the best traditional Chinese tea in Shanghai and it’s service is unparalleled. It’s so good, Queen Elizabeth II had her tea here when she visited Shanghai! If it’s got the Queen’s stamp of approval, I don’t think we can argue.
2. City God Temple
Back in the day, Chinese people always saw temples in walled cities such as Old Shanghai City as the immortal god or spirit that protected their city. The City God Temple was one of these temples who was dedicated to the spirit of Jinshan, or “Gold Mountain,” an island off the coast of Shanghai. Today, it’s been restored so people could come and worship to the protectorate of their city. The temple is dedicated to 3 city gods who have served Shanghai. You can pay a few dollars to enter and visit this ancient City God Temple right in the heart of Yuyuan Garden and Bazaar.
3. Yuyuan Bazaar during the day
The majority of your time will be spent getting lost in the maze-like streets of Yuyuan Bazaar. From souvenir shops, to foods, craft work, jewels, and pearls, the bazaar offers everything. If you decide to shop here, remember to bargain and bargain hard. I recommend you get an idea of prices before you settle on purchasing in here however. A lot of stores directly outside of Yuyuan Bazaar in Old City Shanghai offer similar products for less. If you’re in the mood for a tea service, take an escalator up to one of the tea houses located on the top floors. Only go to those that look legit and do not be scammed by people trying to persuade you to go into their tea house.
4. Yuyuan Bazaar at Night
Although Yuyuan Bazaar is fun during the day, my favorite time to visit is at night. Lights contour each of the ancient buildings spotlighting the details and bringing a certain Asian exotic-vibe to the air. It’s charming, energetic, and the best time to visit in my opinion.
5. Xiao Long Boa
As you walk around you’ll see many people holding what looks like a ginormous dumpling with a straw sticking out of it. Let me introduce you to your new favorite Chinese food—Xiao Long Bao, or soup dumplings. King sized versions are sold as street food rich in crab meat soup, chicken soup, beef soup, anything really! Although many run to the famed Nanxiang stall for their soup dumplings, I honestly think that all the stalls are pretty similar. You can’t go wrong with them. Eat 2 to 3 enormous Xiao Long Baos and you’re set for dinner. They make look small, but they pack a punch and are healthy in nutrients.
>> Next: Where to Find the Best Noodles in Shanghai
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