# YuGarden.org - Yu Garden (Yuyuan) and old Shanghai tours, compared

> Independent guide to Yu Garden in the old city of Shanghai: 2026 ticket prices and hours, the Monday closure, the
> difference between the ticketed garden and the free Yuyuan bazaar, getting there, and every tour that visits the area.
> Not affiliated with the Yu Garden Administration, the Yuyuan bazaar, any tour operator or Viator.

Site: https://yugarden.org
Language: en. Currency: USD for online tours, RMB for the garden ticket. Country: China (Shanghai, Huangpu District).

## Verified facts

- Official source: https://www.yugarden.com.cn/page/articleView/message.html (Shanghai Yu Garden Administration).
- Hours: 09:00-16:30, last entry 16:00. Closed every Monday except national public holidays; Spring Festival hours announced separately.
- Adult ticket: 40 RMB (1 Apr-30 Jun, 1 Sep-30 Nov), 30 RMB (1 Jul-31 Aug, 1 Dec-31 Mar). Half price: ages over 6 to 18, students, seniors 60+ with ID. Free: 6 and under or 1.3 m and shorter.
- Tickets: windows at the North Gate (168 Fuyou Road) and South Gate (279 Yuyuan Old Street, groups use the North Gate) or the official WeChat mini-program 上海豫园.
- Metro: Line 10 or Line 14, Yuyuan Garden station, about 10 minutes on foot. No car park.
- Built from 1559 by Pan Yunduan (Ming dynasty), about 2 hectares; restored 1956-1961, opened 1961, national monument 1982. Exquisite Jade Rock: 3.3 m, about 5 tonnes.
- The Nine-Turn Bridge and Huxinting teahouse are in the free bazaar outside the South Gate. Huxinting: built 1784, a teahouse since 1855, reopened 10 July 2025 after restoration.
- Shanghai City God Temple: founded 1403, next to the garden; free or a few yuan.
- Yuyuan Lantern Festival: around Chinese New Year (2027: New Year 6 Feb, Lantern Festival 20 Feb); the central lantern area needs a separate ticket.
- 240-hour visa-free transit: 57 countries (from 20 Aug 2026), onward ticket to a third country required. 30-day visa-free entry for listed countries until 31 Dec 2026 (UK and Canada from 17 Feb 2026; not the US).

## Tours listed on this site

Booking links are Viator affiliate links (pid P00318890). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at https://yugarden.org/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD per person at the last build and move; private tours are tiered by group size.

- Private Full-Day Shanghai: Old and New Highlights (Shanghai, hotel pickup) - from $115 per person, 7 to 8 hours; in the garden: 50 min inside the walled garden; garden ticket: Only on the All Inclusive option; rated 5.0 from 1,371 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/private-full-day-shanghai-old-and-new/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/Private-tour-Full-day-Shanghai-Splendid-highlights-Old-and-New/d325-36522P11
- Yu Garden and Old Town Private Tour with Tea (Yu Garden and the old town) - from $81 per person, 2 to 2.5 hours; in the garden: 60 min inside the walled garden; garden ticket: Included; rated 5.0 from 29 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/yu-garden-old-town-private-tea-tasting/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/2-Hour-Shanghai-Yu-Garden-and-Old-Town-Private-Walking-Tour/d325-36522P24
- 4-Hour Private Shanghai City Tour (Old town, Yu Garden, Bund) - from $93 per person, 4 to 5 hours; in the garden: 60 min inside the walled garden; garden ticket: Not included: 30-40 RMB at the gate; rated 5.0 from 329 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/4-hour-private-shanghai-old-and-new/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/Half-Day-Shanghai-Must-Sees-Private-Tour-with-Optional-Lunch-or-Dinner/d325-36522P19
- 4-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai Tour (Bund, Jade Buddha, Yu Garden) - from $115 per person, 4 hours; in the garden: 60 min inside the walled garden; garden ticket: Not included: 30-40 RMB at the gate; rated 5.0 from 325 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/4-hour-flexible-private-shanghai/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/4-Hour-Flexible-Private-Shanghai-City-Tour/d325-32073P67
- Private Shanghai Airport Layover Tour (Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession) - from $151 per person, 6 to 8 hours; in the garden: 80 min inside the walled garden; garden ticket: Not included: 30-40 RMB at the gate; rated 5.0 from 126 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/private-shanghai-airport-layover-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/2-Hour-Walking-Tour-Along-The-Local-Off-The-Beaten-Area-In-Shanghai/d325-36522P1
- Zhujiajiao Water Town and Shanghai Private Day Tour (Zhujiajiao, Yu Garden, Bund) - from $246 per person, 8 hours; in the garden: 40 min inside the walled garden; garden ticket: Included; rated 5.0 from 1,114 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/zhujiajiao-water-town-and-shanghai-day-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/All-inclusive-Zhujiajiao-Water-Town-and-Shanghai-City-Highlights-Private-Day-Tour/d325-32073P49
- Private Evening Tour with Huangpu River Cruise (Yuyuan Old Street, river, Xintiandi) - from $128 per person, 3 to 4 hours; in the garden: None: Yuyuan Old Street (bazaar) only; garden ticket: n/a: no garden visit; rated 4.9 from 182 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/private-evening-river-cruise-and-lights/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/Private-VIP-Class-Huangpu-River-Cruise-and-Evening-City-Lights-Tour/d325-28669P9
- Night River Cruise and Yuyuan Bazaar (Huangpu river and Yuyuan Old Street) - from $142 per person, 3 to 4 hours; in the garden: None: an hour in the Yuyuan bazaar; garden ticket: n/a: no garden visit; rated 5.0 from 27 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/night-river-cruise-yuyuan-bazaar/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/Shanghai-Night-River-Cruise-and-Light-Tour-with-Yuyuan-Bazaar/d325-32073P375
- Zhujiajiao, Yu Garden and Bund Join-In Bus Tour (Yu Garden, City God Temple, Zhujiajiao) - from $67 per person, 9 hours; in the garden: 60 min inside the walled garden (Tue to Sun); garden ticket: Included (Tue to Sun); rated 4.6 from 34 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/small-bus-zhujiajiao-yu-garden-bund/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/Mubus-to-Zhujiajiao-Ancient-Town-and-Shanghai-Highlights-9-00-Departure-Daily/d325-187095P5
- Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour (People's Square to the Bund and City God Temple) - from $5 per person, 4 hours; in the garden: None: 20 min in the City God Temple area; garden ticket: n/a: no garden visit; rated 4.9 from 389 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/shanghai-city-guided-walking-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/Shanghai-City-Free-Walking-Tour/d325-122769P2
- 2-Hour Shanghai Street Food Tour in the Old City (Yuyuan Old Street, meet at Yuyuan Garden Metro) - from $65 per person, 2 hours; in the garden: None: bazaar and Old Street only; garden ticket: n/a: food walk, no garden visit; rated 5.0 from 6 Viator reviews. Page: https://yugarden.org/tours/old-city-street-food-tour/ Booking: https://www.viator.com/tours/Shanghai/Shanghai-Street-Food-Walk-Taste-Dumplings-Tea-and-More/d325-423589P20

## Guide pages

- https://yugarden.org/guides/yu-garden-tickets-hours/ - Yu Garden ticket price 2026: 40 RMB in peak season, 30 RMB off-peak, half price for students and over-60s. Open 09:00 to 16:30, closed Mondays.
- https://yugarden.org/guides/yu-garden-vs-yuyuan-bazaar/ - Yu Garden vs Yuyuan Bazaar: the walled garden costs 30 to 40 RMB, while the bazaar, the Nine-Turn Bridge and the City God Temple outside are free or nearly.
- https://yugarden.org/guides/how-to-get-to-yu-garden/ - How to get to Yu Garden in 2026: Metro Lines 10 and 14 to Yuyuan Garden station, which exit to use, the two gates, the walk from the Bund and both airports.
- https://yugarden.org/guides/yu-garden-tour-or-diy/ - Is a Yu Garden tour worth it? Alone it costs about 35 to 45 RMB with the metro. What a guide adds, how private per-person prices work, and which tour fits.
- https://yugarden.org/guides/yu-garden-at-night/ - Yu Garden at night: the garden shuts at 16:30, the bazaar lights up at dusk, the 150 to 190 RMB night garden tour, and the river cruise combos compared.
- https://yugarden.org/guides/zhujiajiao-and-yu-garden-day-trip/ - Zhujiajiao and Yu Garden in one day: a $246 private tour, a $67 join-in bus or DIY by Metro Line 17. Tickets, times, Mondays and boat rides compared.

## Blog posts (dated)

- 2026-10-22: https://yugarden.org/blog/yuyuan-lantern-festival-2027/ - Yuyuan Lantern Festival 2027 in the Year of the Goat: expected dates, the separate lantern-zone ticket, crowd control and the best evening tours.
- 2026-10-22: https://yugarden.org/blog/shanghai-layover-visa-free-2026/ - A visa-free Shanghai layover in 2026: the 240-hour transit and 30-day rules, Pudong and Hongqiao to Yu Garden, the Monday closure and the layover tour.
- 2026-10-22: https://yugarden.org/blog/yu-garden-winter-2026-27/ - Yu Garden in winter 2026-27: the 30 RMB off-peak ticket from 1 December, Monday closures, New Year and Spring Festival crowds, winter flowers and short days.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- 'Yu Garden' on a tour listing can mean only the free Yuyuan bazaar / Old Street. Evening cruise tours, the food walk and the tip-based walking tour do not enter the ticketed garden.
- The zigzag bridge and Huxinting teahouse are not inside the paid garden.
- Yu Garden is closed on Mondays (except public holidays); tours swap stops that day.
- Garden entry is not included on every private tour: on 36522P11 only with the All Inclusive option; 36522P19, 32073P67 and 36522P1 exclude it.
- The $5 walking tour is a tip-based free walking tour: the $5 is a booking fee and the guide is paid by tips.
- Older guides quote opening hours of 08:30-17:30; the official hours are 09:00-16:30.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage or the relevant tour page. Ticket prices, hours and visa rules change; verify close to your travel date.