Shanghai's City God Temple and Yuyuan Garden are adjacent, separated by no more than a hundred meters, so many tourists visit both attractions together.
Additionally, between the City God Temple and Yuyuan Garden lies the Yuyuan Shopping Mall. This area isn't just a large shopping and dining district; its architecture is mostly modeled after ancient structures. When illuminated at night, it creates a stunning spectacle, ranking among Shanghai's most beautiful night views. Of course, the breathtaking views along the Bund are also unmissable. For the optimal itinerary, check out our recommended route for a Shanghai Bund Day Tour.
This guide therefore covers the City God Temple, Yu Garden, and Yu Garden Shopping Mall together, aiming to help you explore this area more effectively.
Further Reading:[Shanghai Independent Travel]Ultimate Guide to a 3-Day, 2-Night Independent Trip: Transportation, Itinerary, Accommodations, and Cuisine
Shanghai Yuyuan Garden City God Temple Transportation Guide
1. Subway: Take Metro Line 10 or 14 within Shanghai, get off at Yuyuan Station, and exit via Exit 1. (Recommended for its speed and convenience)
✅️ Purchase of Metro and Bus Card：China Mainland Bus and Metro Integrated Card
2. Bus:
Take Bus 932 and get off at Chenghuang Temple Station;
Take Bus 64 or 715 and get off at Fuxing East Road/Guangqi Road Station;
Take Bus 24 or 581 and get off at Yuyuan Station;
Take Bus 11 (Inner Loop, Outer Loop), Bus 64, Bus 304 Night Air-Conditioned, Bus 736, Bus 736 Air-Conditioned, Bus 801, Bus 920, Bus 926 Air-Conditioned, or Bus 930 and get off at Xinbeimen Station.
Take Bus 11 (Inner Loop, Outer Loop), Bus 64, or Bus 304 Night Air-Conditioned and get off at Renmin Road-Xinkaihe Road Station.
Shanghai Yuyuan Garden and City God Temple Tour Route
Recommended itinerary for the Shanghai Yuyuan Garden and City God Temple area:
Yuyuan Garden Subway Station Exit 1 → Fuyou Small Commodity Market → Tonghanchun Tang Chinese Medicine Museum → Dahuchun (Yuyuan Branch) → Yuyuan South Gate (Main Gate) → Yuyuan West Gate → Nine-Turn Bridge and Lake Heart Pavilion → Yixiu Tower → Lunch at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant or Green Wave Pavilion → Chocolate Museum → Shanghai Pear Garden → City God Temple → Yuyuan Shopping Mall
Shanghai Yuyuan City God Temple Tourist Attractions
1. Fuyou Small Commodities Market
Right next to Exit 1 of Yuyuan Metro Station is the Fuyou Small Commodity Market. You can haggle over prices for everything inside—it's recommended to be bold about it, as not bargaining means you'll lose out. Feel free to browse around and pick out some souvenirs to take home.
2. Tong Han Chun Tang Chinese Medicine Museum
This century-old Chinese herbal medicine shop displays an array of scented sachets at its entrance, each carrying distinct seasonal meanings! The museum is located on the 4th floor and offers free admission.
3. Da Huchun (Yuyuan Branch)
Da Huchun is a time-honored Shanghai brand renowned for its pan-fried buns. Visitors arriving in the morning can enjoy breakfast here. Operating hours: 09:00-22:00.
4. Yuyuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden is a scenic spot featuring classical Chinese architecture, perfect for photography with each corner offering unique views. Allow approximately 2 hours for exploration.
Yuyuan Garden operates from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with last entry at 4:00 PM. Closed on Mondays. Admission: 40 RMB during peak season, 30 RMB during off-peak season.
✅️Ticket Reservations：Klook
Recommended Yu Garden Tour Route:
South Gate of Yuyuan Garden → Sansui Hall → Yangshan Hall → Grand Rockery → Fish Pavilion → Cuixiu Hall → Yifang Pavilion → Double Corridor → Xuepu Garden → Dianchun Hall → Kuailou Pavilion → Jiushixuan Pavilion → Hexu Hall → Laojun Temple → Huijing Tower → Liushang Pavilion → Yuhua Hall → Library → Yulinglong Pavilion → Huanlong Bridge → Hanbi Pavilion → Inner Garden → Jingguan Pavilion → Dongtian Fudi → Songcui Pavilion → Kexiang Pavilion → Huanyun Pavilion → Ancient Opera Stage → West Gate of Yuyuan Garden
5. Nine-Turn Bridge
Upon exiting the West Gate of Yuyuan Garden, you'll encounter the Nine-Turn Bridge and Lake Heart Pavilion. Take a stroll along this winding path—each step brings a turn, every five steps a bend—believed to dispel bad luck and invite good fortune. The lake also hosts periodic themed lantern exhibitions.
6. Yixiu Pavilion
Yixiu Pavilion stands at the heart of Yuyuan Shopping Mall, adjacent to the Nine-Turn Bridge. This Western-style building features blue bricks and timber framing. Its two-story structure boasts distinctive open-air corridors, exuding an elegant and timeless charm.
With a long history of construction, Yixiu Tower was later renovated into the Yong'an War of Resistance Cultural Celebrity Museum, showcasing various heroic deeds.
7. Nanxiang Steamed Bun Shop or Green Wave Pavilion (Lunch)
Nanxiang Steamed Bun Shop and Green Wave Restaurant are both renowned time-honored establishments in Shanghai. Nanxiang Steamed Bun Shop specializes in xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and crab roe soup dumplings.
Green Wave Restaurant is a state banquet-level establishment, featuring signature dishes such as Eight-Treasure Duck, Glutinous Rice Duck, soup dumplings, and crab roe buns.
8. Chocolate Museum
Located on the 2nd and 3rd floors at 69 Jiuxiaochang Road. The museum features an animal exhibit crafted from chocolate, filled with the rich aroma of cocoa. Visitors can also admire chocolate-made handbags, shoes, vases, and more. Admission is free, and guests receive complimentary chocolate beans upon departure.
9. Shanghai Pear Garden
Originally a stage overlooking the Yu Garden, it has now evolved into an aerial courtyard spanning nearly a thousand square meters. The immersive stage seamlessly integrates traditional architecture with dining areas, creating an elegant and enchanting atmosphere for enjoying performances. Shows are held periodically here, and admission requires a ticket.
10. City God Temple
Shanghai City God Temple is one of the principal Taoist temples of the Zhengyi School in Shanghai. Admission to the site is free, though a 10 yuan incense offering fee applies. Opening hours: May to September: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; October to April: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
The main halls of Shanghai City God Temple include the Three Officials Hall, Matchmaker Hall, God of Wealth Hall, Compassionate Voyage Hall, Blessing Hall, Huo Guang Hall, Yuan Chen Hall, Guan Yu Hall, Wenchang Hall, City God Hall, Goddess Hall, and Virtue Cultivation Hall. Follow the layout from south to north for your visit.
11. Yuyuan Shopping Mall
This vibrant hub offers dining, entertainment, and shopping galore, transforming into a breathtaking spectacle when illuminated at night. Here, ancient alleys coexist with modern skyscrapers, showcasing Shanghai's captivating charm.
2026 Shanghai Yuyuan Lantern Festival
The 2026 Shanghai Yuyuan Lantern Festival, themed “Celebrate the Shanghai New Year at Grand Yuyuan,” will illuminate on January 26th, kicking off Shanghai's festive season. The Yuyuan Folk Art Lantern Zone will be the first to light up, launching a 36-day journey through Shanghai-style New Year traditions. (Note: The Yuyuan Folk Art Lantern Zone will not be illuminated on February 16th, Chinese New Year's Eve).
This year's Folk Art Lantern Zone operates on a timed-entry ticket system: Peak Days (Fridays-Sundays, Lunar New Year's Day to the 7th, Lantern Festival) 2:00 PM–10:00 PM; Regular Days 4:00 PM–10:00 PM. Adult tickets: ¥80; Children, Military Personnel, Seniors: ¥50. Details below↓
This year, the Yuyuan Lantern Festival extends for the first time to Ancient City Park, Fangbang Middle Road, Fuyou Road, and the Bund. Through meticulously designed lantern displays themed around the Year of the Horse, it seamlessly connects to the BFC Shanghai World Financial Center, presenting a new “six districts as one” layout. Centered around the narrative of “returning home for the New Year,” it weaves a “history-modernity-future” light and shadow narrative belt from Yuyuan Garden to BFC to the Bund, comprehensively crafting a “must-visit Shanghai New Year route” brimming with warmth, festive vibrancy, and ceremonial significance.
Here, visitors can relive the rich festive atmosphere of old Shanghai: savor local flavors, explore the Spring Festival market, enjoy cultural performances, engage with interactive technology, shop for creative New Year goods, and purchase Shanghai souvenirs. This experience allows old Shanghai residents to reconnect with memories, helps newcomers understand traditions, and lets tourists immerse themselves in the Shanghai-style Spring Festival. Residents, visitors, and international guests are all invited to the Grand Yu Garden to share in authentic Shanghai's New Year spirit.
Yu Garden BFC Bund presents a new light-and-sound fusion experience, with one ticket granting access to six lantern zones!
This year's festival expands beyond the traditional Yu Garden Folk Art Lantern Zone to encompass six themed zones across the Greater Yu Garden area, forming a continuous viewing route stretching from Yu Garden to BFC Bund.
Yu Garden Folk Art Lantern Zone Continues Cultural Theme
Among these, the familiar Yu Garden Folk Art Lantern Zone presents the fourth installment of “The Marvelous Journey of Yu: Wilderness Chapter” (ticketed entry by time slot), set to illuminate first on January 26. It blends intangible cultural heritage lantern craftsmanship with digital light art to deliver a visual feast where culture meets technology. The theme “Ride Dreams Like Horses, Wildflowers in the Wilderness” expresses that life is a ‘wilderness’ rather than a “track,” encouraging people to strive steadfastly like galloping horses in an ever-changing world. It urges them to boldly pursue dreams amidst mountains and seas, transforming inner aspirations into beautiful realities.
Stepping through the auspicious “Gate of Blessings and Prosperity” into a dazzling sea of lights, festive couplets brimming with New Year spirit and blessings greet visitors first, complementing the giant revolving lanterns at Golden Plaza. Within the lanterns, intricate openwork carvings blend with light, creating a scene where “gourd-shaped light flows, presenting myriad auspicious signs.” Strolling along Ninghui Road, the “Dancing Horses Treading Fortune” lantern display gallops through the air, interpreting three distinct themes of life's journey.
Turning into the central plaza, six galloping steeds in the “Steeds Gallop Across the Nine Provinces, Every Step Blooms with Flowers” display seem to break through time and space, charging proudly across the heavens, mountains, and seas. Beneath the ginkgo trees on one side, the “Everything Goes Well” lantern arrangement carries the auspicious meaning of “prosperity and fulfillment,” offering New Year blessings to every visitor. Wenchang Street blends elements drawn from representative treasures of the Dunhuang and Luoyang Museums, adorned with auspicious symbols to celebrate the New Year.
“Horses gallop across the starry sky, chasing dreams in the heavens” unfolds gradually on the Nine-Turn Bridge. The lake transforms into a sea of stars, with the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions arrayed across its surface. Here, reality and legend intertwine, creating an immersive, tangible experience of Eastern lifestyle aesthetics. Additionally, the “Horses Treading on Flying Flowers” at Yanhaige Pavilion and the “Path of Blooming Flowers” at Gate 5 connect to the New Year Market on Jiuxiaochang Road. Visitors can admire the lanterns while selecting festive goods, savoring local delicacies, and purchasing Shanghai souvenirs, immersing themselves in the rich festive atmosphere woven through light and shadow.
This year, Yuyuan Garden has also collaborated with Little Bu for a special project. The adorable “Little Bu Rabbit” transforms into a dream reporter, secretly hiding within four core light installations—Golden Plaza, Ninghui Road, Central Plaza, and the Nine-Turn Bridge. Visitors can seek out the hidden Little Bu Rabbits during their tour, with even more surprises awaiting everyone. Let's journey through Yuyuan Garden together, where dreams bloom and flowers blossom.
Five Free Lantern Zones with Distinctive Themes
This year, BFC debuts its Fashion Trend Lantern Zone as the opening highlight, offering free admission throughout the entire festival period. Collaborating with Pop Mart, BFC presents a Spring Festival Fair where beloved IPs don new Year of the Horse-themed outfits, gathering at the Bund to deliver festive blessings. Immersive interactive experiences with various blessing lantern installations are complemented by a pop-up store featuring exclusive gifts.
The festivities extend beyond the main square: traditional games like Chinese painting, hopscotch, and retro arcade machines gather in the South District's B2 Retro Street. The Bund Maple Path is adorned with dynamic horse lanterns, while a series of vibrant New Year markets offer stylish festive gifts. Shanghai Fosun Art Center kicks off the year with “Patterns: The Way of the Palace”—an immersive digital experience from the Palace Museum, interpreting the essence of Eastern aesthetics. This Spring Festival, BFC's trendy light district will craft a familiar yet innovative Chinese New Year celebration, bringing dazzling new festive fun to the Magic City.
Additionally, four light displays are open to the public free of charge. The Fuyou Road display creates warm alleyways with “Streams of Light, Fuyou's Fireworks”; the Fangbang Middle Road display revisits Shanghai's memories through “A Thousand Homes Aglow, Fangbang's Past”; the Ancient City Park display radiates reunion vibes with “Family Gathering, Ancient City's New Year Flavor”; while the Bund light display showcases modern splendor with “Radiant Riverside, Magnificent Bund.” These four interwoven themes convey Shanghai's intimate festive spirit while radiating vibrant, fashionable brilliance. As they illuminate the city, they naturally guide visitors to Yuyuan Garden, BFC, and the Bund for a complete, multi-layered lantern-viewing journey. Five free light zones will gradually illuminate, achieving simultaneous lighting across all six zones on February 1.
Shanghai Yuyuan Temple Area Dining
First, it's important to note that as a popular tourist area, the food and snacks in the Shanghai Yuyuan Garden and City God Temple district tend to be pricier compared to other parts of Shanghai. Therefore, it's not highly recommended to make a special trip here solely for Shanghai cuisine.
However, if you're visiting Yuyuan Garden and City God Temple, you can enjoy the local delicacies along the way. The area offers a rich variety of authentic Shanghai specialties, with many time-honored establishments. Here are some recommendations:
Dahu Chun
Dahu Chun is a renowned Shanghai brand specializing in pan-fried dumplings. Their signature dumplings feature thick wrappers and minimal broth, resulting in a crispy, satisfying texture. A splash of rice vinegar cuts through the richness, making them perfect paired with a bowl of curry beef and vermicelli soup for breakfast.
Nanxiang Steamed Bun Shop
Established in 1900, this remains a top spot in Shanghai for savoring xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). To avoid queues, opt for takeout—convenient for on-the-go enjoyment.
Nanxiang Steamed Bun Shop specializes in fresh pork xiaolongbao, renowned for their abundant broth and tender meat. A steamer basket (42 RMB) contains six dumplings.
Green Wave Pavilion
This restaurant is truly a state banquet-level establishment. Their glutinous rice duck is simply unparalleled, though note that daily supply is limited. Their dim sum is also exceptional, featuring crab roe soup dumplings, egg yolk pastries, rose cakes, and green cakes.
Songyue Lou
With a century-old history, their signature pure vegetarian vegetable buns sell 4 million annually. The flavor is classic, and their wild chive and pine nut green rice balls are also worth trying—delicious and satisfying.
Ningbo Tangyuan
Their tangyuan are large, with soft, glutinous skins and savory fillings, especially the sesame flavor.
Shen Dacheng
Specializes in various pastries and green rice cakes. Their savory egg yolk pork floss green rice cake is exceptionally delicious, where the savory pork floss perfectly complements the salty aroma of salted duck egg yolk—a truly exquisite pairing.
Bright Dairy Frozen Treats
Bright Dairy is a beloved milk brand among Shanghai locals. By transforming last century's classic Bright Dairy ice blocks into beverages, the texture has become richer and silkier. The bottom layer of tapioca pearls and coffee syrup appeals to younger tastes.
Tong Han Chun Tang
Offers traditional herbal teas with a wide variety of health-focused recipes, available for dine-in or takeout.
Chenghuang Temple Vegetarian Restaurant
Located inside the temple grounds, noodles are just 20 yuan per bowl, with toppings priced at 15 yuan each and numerous options available. Vegetable buns, butterfly pastries, and cloud-shaped cakes are all delicious. The large wontons are also highly recommended!
Beyond the temple grounds, an outdoor food street on Jiuxiaochang Road offers many Shanghai specialties, including stinky tofu.
Shanghai Yuyuan City God Temple Shopping Recommendations
Old City God Temple Food Store
For Shanghai specialties, visit this shop. You can find milk candies, nougat, five-spice beans, and more. We particularly recommend purchasing Shanghai pear syrup candy and Da Bai Tu milk candies.
Jiuxiaochang Road
Beyond its diverse array of street snacks, this street also offers various Shanghai specialties for purchase.
