One of the most beautiful, peaceful, and romantic places in busy Shanghai is Yuyuan Garden. The garden is also called the «Garden of Happiness» or the «Garden of Leisurely Holiday». These names were not given by accident. The garden is located in the historical center of Shanghai on the territory of the Old City in Huangpu where locals and tourists come to spend their time every day. For many people, the garden of Yuyuan becomes a peaceful and secluded island of serenity.

Everything changes, but Yuyuan Garden has been a part of dynamic Shanghai for more than 460 years now. The garden has been a silent witness of its history and a keeper of its traditions. This is not just a park and a garden but a museum of landscape art and one of the main state monuments of China.
The construction of Yuyuan started in the second part of the 16th century during the Ming dynasty. For many years the territory of the garden was private property. Its first owner was a former treasurer Pan Yunduan who came out with the idea to make a picturesque park as a gift for his father. That is why the garden is called the «Garden of Happiness».

Unfortunately, the old man died before the construction of the garden was finished, so he did not see the beauty of the modern park. By the way, the construction of the park lasted for too long due to the financial problems connected with the project. In the end, the descendants of Pan Yunduan got rid of that masterpiece of their father and sold it almost for nothing. Over time Yuyuan became a part of the City God Temple which is located near it.

The territory of the garden is around 4 hectares and is divided into 6 separate park zones. One of the most impressive of them is the tower of Hujing which is located almost in the center of the pond. Near the tower, you will find beautiful stones, plants, and trees. A small bridge leads to the tower. From the bridge, you can see golden carps.

Every year people gather on the river and celebrate the local «Lantern Festival».