Shanghai, China Travel and holiday Guide

Posted by The Travel Blogger on March 18th, 2008 in Top Sanghai Attractions

The Garden of Contentment or the Yu Yuan Garden is famous in Shanghai as one of the finest Chinese Gardens in China.  The garden is nestled within the main ancient City particularly in Shanghai China.  It has been said that the garden was first established in 1159 by Pan Yuan.  He spent of about 20 years making the garden look fascinating from his father’s eyes—Pan En who was a prominent high-ranking official during the Ming Dynasty period. 

 The garden suffered and experienced severe damage by the people occupied on it. Starting from 1760 when it was bought by the traders which spoiled much in the 19^th century.  While in 1842 which was during the Opium Wars, the Town God temple was being occupied by the British armies for about five days.  And during the period of Taiping Rebellion the garden as well was being inhabited by the imperial troops and was again damage by the Japanese in 1942.  Eventually, the garden was then refurbished by the Shanghai government in 1956-1961 which was then dramatically opened to the public in 1961 while when the year 1982 approaches the latter was appointed as a national monument.   

Recently, this famous Garden of Contentment or the Yu Yuan Garden caters of about 2 hectares or 5 acres which is divided into six broad areas nestling into the Suzhou style and these are the following:

 The Heralding Spring Hall or Dianchun—this area of the garden served as the pedestal of the Society of Little Swords or the Xiaodao Hui; this is built in 1820 which was the first sovereignty of the Emperor Daoguang.

• Grand Rockery—this area is believed that it contains the Sansui Hall or the Three Corn Ears.  It is made of huangshi stone with 12 m high.  It features peaks, winding caves as well as gorges, and cliffs. 
• Jade magnificence Hall or Yuhua—this one is furnished with rosewood pieces starting the Ming Dynasty. 
• Inner Garden—this area was first established in 1709 which features rockeries, ponds, pavilions, and towers and was refurbished in 1956 by joining the east and the west gardens.
• Ten Thousand-Flower Tower or Wanhua

And lastly the Lotus Pool—its unique feature of zigzag bridge and mid-like pavilion are incredible views to see.