Yuyuan Garden

For the people of Shanghai, Yuyuan Garden is much more than a garden. As the only existing ancient garden in Shanghai Old Town, Yuyuan Garden can be traced back to more than 400 years ago. In 1982, it was listed as Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

In the 38th year of Jiajing Period of Ming Dynasty (1559),Pan Yunduan first built Yuyuan Garden within the city wall of the Shanghai County. The construction was completed in early 1590 under the workmanship of Zhang Nanyang, a famous artisan in Jiangnan. Covering an area of more than 70 mu, Yuyuan Garden is reputed for rockeries, ponds and more than 30 pavilions, terraces and open halls, ranking among the top in southeast China and on a par with Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou and Yanshan Garden in Taicang. In the late Ming and early Qing, Yuyuan Garden gradually became dilapidated. Some of the houses were used as guild halls, and some of the garden plots turned into vegetable beds. In the 25th year of the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty (1760), the deserted garden was bought and renovated by some merchants from the guild. In 1784, the rebuilt Yuyuan Garden was opened to the public as the Western Garden of Town God's Temple of Shanghai.

In the early 20th century, Yuyuan Garden was divided into southern and northern parts by Yuyuan Road. The southern part included Huxin Pavilion, Zigzag Bridge, Exquisite Jade Rock, Moon-Embracing Pavilion, Xiangxue Hall and other rockeries and pavilions; the northern part included Cuixiu Hall, Dianchun Hall, and House of Spring Breeze, etc. Many of the buildings were converted into folk dwellings. Ninghui Pavilion, Qingfen Hall, Pleasure Boat, Green Wave Hall were turned into restaurants, bakeries or teahouses. A bustling bazaar and a paradise for the citizens took shape.

After 1949, Mr. Chen Congzhou undertook two large-scale betterments to Yuyuan Garden. From 1956 to 1961, Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall and other areas were restored, and new attractions such as Nine Lions Pavilion, Sightseeing Tower, Yuhua Hall, and Winding Water were built. From 1986 to 1988, the renovations were mainly carried out in eastern part, like Exquisite Jade Rock, Yuhua Hall, Sightseeing Tower, and Nine Lions Pavilion and so on. Huanlong Bridge was rebuilt. Jiyu Rockery, Huanyun Rockery, Universal Happiness Screen Wall and Jiyu Corridor were constructed. And the ancient stage in the former Palace of Thean Hou Temple in the north of Shanghai was relocated into the garden.

Although the present day Yuyuan Garden is only half of that of the Ming Yuyuan Garden in terms of scale, Grand Rockery built in the Ming Dynasty has survived. Sansui Hall and Dianchun Hall and other ancient buildings are grand. Huxin Pavilion in the middle of Zigzag Bridge is unique. The overall garden still showcases the charm of classical Jiangnan gardens. Huxin Pavilion and its surrounding ponds used to be a famous scene when Yuyuan Garden was first built, known as “Daoyi Pavilion” or “Fushui Pavilion”. Nowadays, the plane view of Huxin Pavilion looks like“T”, with two polygonal wings. The roof is composed of six tapered and short hip-and-gable roof structures of different sizes with 28 corners, in picturesque disorder and very lifelike. The Zigzag Bridge used to have wooden railings on both sides. They were replaced by cement railings during the reconstruction in 1924.