Name: Yu Garden
Address: 279 Yu Yuan Lao Jie, 四牌楼 Huang Pu Qu, Shang Hai Shi, China, 200000
Telephone: 021 6326 0830
Rating: 4.5

5-acre garden built in 1577 that features Ming dynasty pavilions, ponds, rockeries & arched bridges.

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Yu Garden was created during the Ming Dynasty by Pan Yunduan, a government official, as a place of peace and enjoyment for his parents in their old age.

Built During Which Dynasty?

Despite its central location in a bustling city, Yu Garden covers a relatively compact area of about 5 acres, showcasing the artistry of traditional Chinese garden design in a concentrated space.

Acres of Beauty

The garden features a famous rockery, the 'Great Rockery,' believed to be the work of Zhang Nanyang, a renowned garden designer from the Ming Dynasty. It's a highlight of the garden's landscape.

Grand Rockery

One of the main halls in Yu Garden is the 'Hall of Exquisite Jade,' named after a large piece of jade that was once displayed there. Although the jade is no longer present, the hall retains its historical significance.

Hall of Jade

Yu Garden suffered damage during the 19th century and later during World War II. Extensive restoration work was carried out after 1949 to bring the garden back to its former glory.

Damage and Restoration

Outside the garden itself is a bustling bazaar area filled with shops selling traditional Chinese crafts, souvenirs, snacks, and tea. It's a popular tourist destination.

Surrounding Bazaar

Yu Garden

Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden in Shanghai, distinguishes itself through its meticulous arrangement of rockeries, ponds, and pavilions, embodying the essence of Ming Dynasty aesthetics. Conceived by Pan Yunduan as a haven for his aging father, the garden uniquely blends familial piety with artistic expression. Its most celebrated feature, the Exquisite Jade Rock, is not merely a decorative element but a prized Taihu stone, riddled with 72 holes, each said to whistle when the wind blows. The garden's layout, deliberately labyrinthine, was designed to disorient and delight, offering a constantly shifting perspective. Unlike other gardens of its era, Yu Garden incorporates elements of local folklore and mythology within its architectural details, such as the dragon walls with undulating ceramic scales, each scale individually crafted. The Grand Rockery, a towering artificial mountain, is attributed to Zhang Nanyang, a renowned garden designer, and represents a microcosm of the natural world, inviting contemplation and escape from the bustling city outside.

Introduction

Yu Garden, a quintessential example of Ming Dynasty gardens, was conceived during the Ming Dynasty by Pan Yunduan, a government official, as a private retreat for his parents in their old age. Its design embodies the principles and aesthetics prevalent in Ming garden architecture, reflecting a microcosm of the natural world intended for contemplation and leisure. The garden's layout meticulously incorporates rockeries, ponds, pavilions, and corridors, all carefully arranged to create picturesque scenes that evoke classical landscape paintings. The use of Taihu stones, a hallmark of Ming gardens, is prominent throughout Yu Garden, with carefully selected and positioned rocks forming dramatic grottoes and providing visual interest.

The garden's pavilions, such as the Hall of Jade Magnificence, exemplify Ming Dynasty architectural styles, featuring intricate woodwork, upturned eaves, and decorative carvings that showcase the craftsmanship of the era. The deliberate use of winding paths and strategically placed viewpoints encourages visitors to explore and discover hidden vistas, a key characteristic of Ming garden design aimed at fostering a sense of tranquility and harmony. The garden's flora, including ancient trees and carefully chosen flowering plants, further enhances the naturalistic ambiance, reflecting the Ming emphasis on integrating nature and architecture. Yu Garden serves as a tangible representation of the Ming Dynasty's sophisticated understanding of landscape design and its cultural values centered on family, scholarship, and appreciation of the natural world.

Ming Dynasty Gardens

Yu Garden exemplifies the Ming Dynasty's classical garden design principles through its intricate layout and symbolic representation of the natural world. Conceived by Pan Yunduan, the garden embodies the ideal of harmony between architecture and nature, showcasing key elements of Chinese cosmology. The garden's rockeries, particularly the renowned Exquisite Jade Rock, are not merely decorative; they represent mountains and the pursuit of immortality, a central theme in Taoist philosophy reflected in garden design. Water features, such as the Grand Rockery Fountain, are strategically placed to create a sense of depth and movement, vital for achieving the desired aesthetic of a living landscape. Buildings within Yu Garden, including the Sansui Hall and the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion, are carefully positioned to offer framed views and enhance the visitor's experience of the surrounding scenery. The use of winding paths and covered corridors encourages exploration and discovery, revealing carefully curated vistas at every turn. The garden's flora, including plum blossoms, bamboo, and peonies, are selected not only for their beauty but also for their symbolic significance, representing virtues such as resilience, integrity, and prosperity. Yu Garden's design meticulously adheres to the principles of feng shui, ensuring the harmonious flow of qi (energy) throughout the space. This is evident in the placement of rocks, water, and buildings, all intended to create a balanced and auspicious environment. The garden's small scale intensifies the experience, creating a microcosm of the natural world within the bustling city.

Yu Garden

Did You Know?

Built During Which Dynasty?

Acres of Beauty

Grand Rockery

Hall of Jade

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