Shanghai Yu Garden

Yu Garden is one of the most famous gardens in China and is national heritage listed. It was built in 1559 and extended in 1577. Each section of the garden is separated by curved white walls crowned with the head and body of a dragon. It's named after the original owner.

Yuyuan Garden occupies an area of 20,000 square meters (about five acres). However, the small size is not a representative of the attractions of the garden. The pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters all have unique characteristics. There are six main scenic areas here: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. Each area features several scenic spots within its borders.

Sansui Hall is a place to hold ceremonies for the gentlemen and bookmen. With a height of nine and featuring five halls, it is the largest and most commodious structure in the garden. Wanhua Chamber is a delicately chased building surrounded by derious cloisters. Spring bamboos grow beside the cloisters. Dianchun Hall was once the headquarters of Xiaodao Hui, a revolted group who fought against the government of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) during 1853-1855. The coins made by Xiaodao Hui and the bulletins they proclaimed are currently displayed in the hall.

The true treasure of Yuyuan is the Exquisite Jade Rock. What is interesting about this rock is that if you burn a joss stick just below the rock, the smoke will magically float out from all of the holes. The Inner Garden is a separate garden in the south of Yuyuan. It is compact and exquisite, and the rocks, pavilions, ornamental ponds and flower walls offer some of the most attractive sceneries in Yuyuan.

坐落于城隍庙旅游区的豫园是拥有四百多年历史的古典园林，这里虽然不大，但它设计精巧、环境清幽秀丽，亭台楼阁、假山、池塘样样俱全，是繁华大都市中心难得的一处古雅之处。园内还可看到上百件出自名家手笔的匾额、碑刻，以及藏品甚多的石雕展馆。

豫园是上海五大古典园林（豫园、古漪园、醉白池、秋霞圃、曲水园）中唯一位于市区的一座，曾是明代官员的私人园林。豫园布局细腻，在有限的面积内建有点春堂、玉华堂、万花楼、大假山、古戏台等数十栋建筑，游人走在曲径游廊间，处处可见奇峰异石、池沼溪流与花树古木相掩映，非常别致。

园内点春堂曾为1853年上海小刀会起义的指挥部；三穗堂景区内有江泽民题词'海上名园'的巨石；玉华堂景区内的'玉玲珑'假山石是与苏州留园的'瑞云峰'、杭州花圃的'皱云峰'齐名的江南园林三大奇石之一。