Shanghai Garden

Shanghai is considered as a tourist spot and has various sights and places to offer that have historical significance. If you love shopping, you can visit the numerous shopping streets in Shanghai. It also offers a wide selection of attractions for the visitors and they can choose that ones that they want to visit. It ranges from the modern skyscrapers, shopping districts and gardens. Shanghai is located at the edge of the Yangtze River. The city has a diverse mix of colors and activity, making it one of the most profitable markets in the regions as well as the whole world. It also has various tourist spots for their visitors.

If you want to enjoy quiet scenery or just stroll down a park, you might consider visiting the Yu Yuan Garden, one of the Shanghai gardens that you can visit in Shanghai.  The Yu Yuan Garden is described as a renowned classical garden situated in Anren Jie area in Shanghai. The garden was built in 1577 by Pan Yunduan, an administration bureaucrat during the Ming dynasty. The garden was exclusively built for the parents of Pan Yunduan so that they can enjoy the tranquility the garden has to offer.

During the 400 years of existence of the Yu Yuan Garden, it has undergone numerous changes and modifications. It was during the late Ming dynasty in which the Yu Yuan Garden deteriorated together with the decline of Pan Yunduan’s family. Based on historical records, it was during 1760 when the Yu Yuan Garden was purchased by rich merchants. They spent 20 years reconstructing the garden and all the buildings. It was during the Opium War of the 19^th century in which the garden was severely damaged. The Yu Yuan Garden that we presently see is a result of a restoration project that started in 1956. It was on September 1961 when it was opened to the public once again.

The Yu Yuan Garden covers an area of 20,000 square meters. On the other hand, the small area space does not affect the garden attractions. All of the structures such as the halls, pavilions, rockeries, cloisters and ponds have distinct characteristics. There are main attractive areas all located within the Yu Yuan Garden; it includes the Wanhua Chamber, Yuhua Hall, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Sansui Hall and the Inner Garden. Every area features scenic spots within their borders. Once you enter the Yu Yuan garden, you will be greeted by a rockery which is called the Great Rockery. It has a height of 14 meters and considered as the largest and oldest rockery in the southern region of the Yangtze River. On top of the rockery, you will get a full view of the entire garden. The Cuixui Halls rests at the foot of the rockery. It is an elegant and quiet place enclosed by old trees and a diverse mix of beautiful flowers. You will also find different curio shops in the hall. The Sansui hall was erected in 1760 and was originally used in entertaining guests and visitors. The name Sansui means propitious and lucky.  As the years passed, it transformed into a place where ceremonies for bookmen and gentlemen are held. It has a height of nine meters and is composed of five halls. It is the largest and the most spacious structure in the Yu Yuan Garden. As you wander down in the vicinity of the Yule Pavilion and Wanhua Chamber, you will discover several pavilions, streams, corridors, courtyards and other natural marks. The Wanhua Chamber is a delicate building bordered by several cloisters where spring bamboos grow just beside these cloisters. The Dianchun Hall is situated in the east of the Wanhua Chamber. It includes the Hexu Hall, Ancient Well Pavilion, Relic Hall and the Acting-and Sing Stage.

The main feature of Yu Yuan Garden is the Exquisite Jade Rock. It is located across the Yuhua Hall. It is considered as one of the three famous rocks in the southern region of the Yangtze River. As a description, the rock is around 3.3 meters in height and has 72 holes. The rock is very interesting, if you will pour water from the top, the water will flow out from every hole, and it is quite a spectacle to see. The Yuhua Hall was built facing the rock so that it is convenient to sit in the hall and admire the beauty of the Exquisite Jade Rock. You should also take note that the furnishings in the hall were all made from top quality rosewood of the Ming dynasty. Lastly, the Inner Garden was a separate garden built in 1709; today it is part of the Yu Yuan Garden. It is best described as compressed and lovely. It has pavilions, rocks, flower walls and ornamental ponds that are considered as the most attractive sceneries in the Yu Yuan Garden.

Now that we have fully discussed the Yu Yuan Garden, there are also other places that you can visit in Shanghai. The Bund area in Shanghai is well known for the bright lights and musicians playing great music at night. Visitors can spend a quiet and relaxing evening observing the activities on the Huangpo River or strolling along the commercial buildings located within the area. If you want to shop, your ideal destination is the Nanjing road. It is the shopping street in Shanghai. It is visited by nearly a million visitors on a daily basis. You can find affordable souvenirs, handmade crafts as well as luxury goods and gadgets in the expensive shops. Another place that you should visit is the jade Buddha temple. It is one of the most ancient of the Buddhist monasteries in China. The Buddha statues within the shrine came from Burma. There are also various festivals celebrated in China, especially in Shanghai.

Having your vacation in Shanghai is one of the best choices among other places in the world. With a rich diversity of the modern and old, you will definitely have a memorable vacation. You would never miss out visiting one of the Shanghai gardens, especially the Yu Yuan Garden as well as other tourist spots worth visiting.