Yu Garden Market, Shanghai

• Location: Constructed in the center of Shanghai, it connects the Yu Garden and the City God Temple. It might take about 20 minutes to walk to Yuyuan Market from the Bund.
• Business Hours: All day. However, most of the stores are open from 10 AM to 10 PM.
• Entrance Fee: Free

When the Yu Garden was constructed in 1559, the surrounding area started to develop into a bustling commercial hub, and the streets around the garden began to be filled with shops, markets, and traders selling a wide variety of goods. This is the history of the Yuyuan Bazaar.

Nowadays, it has become a must-visit area for tourists looking to explore traditional Chinese markets.

The Yuyuan Bazaar generally opens at 10 AM, a bit later than Yuyuan, which opens at 9 AM. Some of the surrounding shops may open earlier. However, there are many interesting things to do at the Yuyuan Market.

There are many stores selling Shanghai snacks in Yuyuan Market. Shanghai snacks are known for their delicate flavors, focus on fresh ingredients, and unique blend of sweet and savory tastes. Here are some recommended stores with pretty good flavors:

A serving of Xiaolongbao

Nanxiang Mantou Dian is popular in Yuyuan Bazaar, Shanghai. It's also called Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant, selling distinctive steamed buns. The most famous dish of this restaurant is the soup-filled xiaolongbao with a pork filling and a hint of green onion and ginger. A single bite lets you taste the flavorful broth. Another must-try is the xiaolongbao with crab roe, which has a delicious and fresh flavor. If you don't eat pork or are a vegetarian, you can try vegetable buns made with fillings of greens and mushrooms, sometimes even including tofu.

Shanghai snacks in Shendacheng

Shen Dacheng is a traditional pastry shop in Shanghai, famous for its freshly-made Chinese snacks and sweets.

• Tiaotougao. A kind of rice cake made from glutinous rice flour. It has a soft and chewy texture. It's typically white in color and often flavored with sweet elements like red bean paste or osmanthus sugar.
• Savory pork mooncake. A popular traditional snack in Shanghai, originally enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival. These mooncakes have a flaky, golden crust, similar to puff pastry, and a juicy, flavorful pork filling inside. The meat is often marinated with soy sauce, ginger, and other spices, creating a rich and slightly sweet-savory taste.
• Qingtuan. It is a glutinous rice dumpling that has a distinctive green color, derived from using mashed mugwort or barley grass, which gives it a subtle herbal flavor. The fillings make the taste different. The most common filling is sweet red bean paste, but some variations include black sesame paste, salted egg yolk, or dried meat floss (rousong).
• Zongzi. It's made with glutinous rice, filled with a generous portion of seasoned pork, typically marinated in soy sauce and spices to create a rich, savory flavor, wrapped in bamboo leaves. The filling may also include additional ingredients like salted egg yolk, which adds a creamy, salty contrast to the tender meat and sticky rice.

Lanterns in Yuyuan Market

At night, every building in Yuyuan Market lights up with lanterns, creating a uniquely romantic atmosphere. If you've been to Xi'an, Yuyuan Market at night might remind you of this ancient Tang Dynasty capital, especially if you've visited the Great Tang All-Day Mall.

Every time the Chinese New Year approaches, the Yuyuan Market will host a Lantern Festival, displaying a variety of Chinese lanterns, often themed around the zodiac animal of the upcoming year. Overall, with the glow of the lanterns, Yuyuan looks even more photogenic at night than during the day. The lantern show held in Yuyuan Bazaar will charge from 30 to 80 RMB, which equals to 4.28 to 11.42 USD.

Qipao, a traditional Chinese dress

You can find many shops that rent traditional Chinese clothing in Yuyuan Market, allowing you to immerse yourself in the atomsphere. These shops also style your hair in traditional Chinese fashion and apply makeup. You can explore the whole Yu Garden area with these costumes and take photos. There will be a photographer who will take pictures of you.

Shanghai silk

Yuyuan Market offers a wide variety of handicrafts, including silk products, Chinese jewelry, tea, etc. For your convenience, we recommend purchasing silk fans or silk scarves, as silk items are exquisite and easy to carry. You can also buy Yuyuan-themed fridge magnets, postcards, and paintings. Tea is another good choice. However, make sure to choose packaged teas with ingredient labels and avoid those containing citrus. All of these items are perfect for collecting or giving as gifts to friends.

Yu Garden

• Yu Garden: It's a classical Chinese garden next to Yuyuan Bazaar, renowned for its elegant pavilions, serene ponds, and intricate rock formations.
• City God Temple: It's a historic Taoist temple dedicated to the protective city god of Shanghai, serving as a cultural and spiritual hub in this bustling market.

It's a great idea to visit all these two attractions and Yuyuan Market in a row. For enjoying the night scenery, the recommended itinerary is to visit Yuyuan Garden first at around 2 PM. Then visit the City God Temple. And finally, by the time you start to explore Yuyuan Market, it will be evening.

If you’re unsure how to plan your Shanghai itinerary, feel free to reach out to us at trip@odynovotours.com or leave a message. Our local experts specialize in crafting custom China tours, arranging itineraries based on your schedule and preferences to provide you with a worry-free Shanghai experience.