The Yù Yuán Gardens in Shanghai

The Yùyuán Gardens were founded by the Pan family, who were rich Ming-dynasty officials. The gardens took 18 years (from 1559 to 1577) to be nurtured into existence, only to be ransacked during the Opium War in 1842, when British officers were barracked here, and again during the Taiping Rebellion, this time by the French in reprisal for attacks on their nearby concession.
Today the restored gardens are a fine example of Ming
garden design. The gardens are small, but seem much big-
ger thanks to an ingenious use of rocks and alcoves. None-
theless, they were simply never designed to accommodate
the number of visitors that descend daily, so prepare for considerable disruption to the harmonious feng shui.
A handy map depicting the layout of the gardens can be found just inside the entrance. As you enter, Three Ears of Corn Hall (三穗堂; Sānsuìtáng) is the largest of the halls in the gardens. Its wood doors and beams are carved with images of corn, rice, millet and fruit, all symbolising a bountiful harvest. The rockeries (假山; jiǎshān) attempt to re-create a mountain setting within the flatland of the garden, so when combined with ponds (池塘; chítáng) they suggest the ‘hills and rivers’ (shānshuǐ) of China’s landscapes. The largest rockery in the gardens is the Great Rockery (大假 山; Dàjiǎshān), with its huge arranged stones, rang- ing west of the Chamber of Ten Thousand Flowers (万花楼; Wànhuālóu).

In the east of the gardens, keep an eye out for the Hall of Heralding Spring (点春堂; Diǎnchūn Táng), which in 1853 was the headquarters of the Small Swords Society, a rebel group affiliated to the Taip- ing rebels. To the south, the Exquisite Jade Rock (玉玲珑; Yù Línglóng) was destined for the imperial court in Běijīng until the boat carrying it sank out- side Shànghǎi.
South of the Exquisite Jade Rock is the inner gar- den (内园; nèiyuán), where you can also find the beautiful stage (古戏台; gǔxìtái) dating from 1888, with a gilded, carved ceiling and fine acoustics, as well as the charming Hall for Watching Waves (观 涛楼; Guāntāo Lóu).

Spring and summer blossoms bring a fragrant and floral aspect to the gardens, especially in the luxurious petals of its Magnolia grandiflora, Shànghǎi’s flower. Other trees include the luohan pine, bristling with thick needles, and willows, towering ginkgos, cherry trees and beautiful dawn redwoods. 

Source: Lonely Planet Shanghai

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