Yuyuan Gardens Shanghai – Visit a Demon Slayer Infinity Castle (2026)!

If there is one place you cannot skip on your travels to Shanghai, it’s Yuyuan Gardens Bazaar. 

This enchanting place feels like you’ve stepped back in time to a bygone era as it’s filled with ancient Chinese buildings. 

You can shop till you drop, munch on tasty snacks, visit ancient tea houses, and snap oodles of photos.

I visited many times, but my favourite was in the evening when the whole bazaar lights up and becomes a magical wonderland.

The hodgepodge of ancient rooftops feels like you’ve entered the Infinity Castle in Demon Slayer. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Here is a complete guide to Yuyuan Old Street, with all the charming things to do and important tips for your visit.

What is Yuyuan Gardens Shanghai?

Yuyuan Gardens is a restored historic garden and bazaar complex in Shanghai that is a very popular pedestrian hub.

The area dates back to the 14th century and showcases China’s rich cultural heritage.

It’s filled with traditional Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings that have curved rooftops, red beams, lattice windows, and glowing lanterns.

The vibrant streets are a bazaar filled with shops, food vendors, tea houses and restaurants that make it worth visiting.

In the evening, the entire place lights up. The glow of the lanterns gives this ancient place an enchanting atmosphere. 

It will make you feel like you’ve entered a portal back in time and are strolling through a period C-Drama.

It often goes viral on social media as Demon Slayer fans feel this place looks like the Infinity Castle. 

Visit the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle

The reason Yuyuan Bazaar often goes viral on social media is that people think it looks like the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle in real-life.

In the manga and anime movie, this is an extra-dimensional pocket space and secret lair of the demon king Muzan Kibutsuji. 

The fantasy castle shifts appearance and layout as an infinite labyrinth designed to confuse intruders.

Demon Slayer fans will love wandering around at night as the red lights and mesmerising buildings feel like you’re in the Infinity Castle. 

Hopefully, you won’t have to slay any demons on your visit. But it’s always best to be prepared ;).

How to visit Yuyuan Gardens in Shanghai 

You’ll find the Yuyuan Gardens in the heart of Old Town Shanghai in the central Huangpu District.

This is right next door to the City of God Temple and just over 1.5 kilometres from The Bund and Nanjing Road.

The easiest way to explore this mega city is by using the Shanghai metro, and you can download a transport card on Alipay.

The closest metro station to the Yu Garden is Yuyuan Garden Station on Lines 10 or 14. It’s then just a short walk away.

Alternatively, you can take a DiDi ride, which you can order through Alipay. This is China’s version of Uber and trips are very affordable. 

Just remember, as this area is pedestrianised, cars cannot go near it. So, the drop-off location will be a short walk away from the Yuyuan Bazaar.

Yu Gardens opening times and entry fees

The Yuyuan Gardens are open from 8 am to 10 pm every day in Shanghai. 

They switch the lights off at 10 pm sharp, and then everyone is kicked out of the main complex. 

Shops and vendors have varying opening hours, but are typically 8/9 am to 8/9 pm.

The formal Yu Gardens are open from 9 am to 4.30 pm. Tuesday to Sunday and are closed on Monday.

Amazingly, it’s completely free to visit Yuyuan Old Street, so it makes a great budget activity in the city. 

But the formal Yu Gardens have an entry fee of 30 CNY or 40 CNY depending on the season. 

When is the best time to visit Yuyuan Bazaar? 

You can visit Yuyuan Old Street at any time of day. But the very best time to visit is in the evening, in my opinion.

This is when they light up all the Ming and Qing buildings, and it transforms into an ancient Chinese wonderland. 

Of course, this is when everyone else wants to visit because it’s so mesmerising. So, it will be far busier after dusk. 

I found that a little after 9 pm it got a lot quieter. I would visit either early in the morning or later in the evening for fewer crowds. 

Things to do in Yuyuan Gardens 

You probably won’t need much convincing to visit the Yu Garden in Shanghai. It’s a mesmerising place that will enchant you.

But here are all the things to do in the Yuyuan Gardens & Bazaar that make it worth visiting. 

1. Huxinting Tea House & ZigZag Bridge

Did you know that the Yuyuan Garden is home to the oldest teahouse in Shanghai?

The Huxinting Tea House is an ancient pagoda, and its brand name dates back to 1784.

You can still visit this historic teahouse today and experience a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, but the prices are sky-high. 

Even if you don’t want to step inside, you must visit the zigzag bridge that surrounds it.

This is the best photography location in the Yu Bazaar, and you can capture most of the ancient buildings over a gorgeous water feature. 

This artificial pond really comes alive in the evenings with all the lights, fountains, mist and statues. It’s a breathtaking experience.

2. Shopping & Xiaolongbao

You’ll find a plethora of shops in the Yuyuan Gardens, and it’s a delightful mix of historic market stalls and popular name brands.

There are places selling handicrafts, statues and traditional fabrics. But there is also Miniso, % Arabica and Chagee, to name a few.

You’ll also smell a delightful aroma from all the food vendors that are hard at work.

Beyond the bubble tea and egg waffles, a traditional snack you need to try is Xiaolongbao. 

You can find these all over China, but the Yuyuan Bazaar is famous for them.

It’s a bamboo basket of Chinese Tangbao or dumplings. They are filled with ground meat, vegetables and soup stock that melts in broth.

3. Admire ancient Chinese architecture 

I was absolutely mesmerised by the hodgepodge of ancient Chinese buildings of the Yuyuan Gardens. 

You could honestly spend hours exploring the maze of historic streets with tiled rooftops that look stacked on top of each other.

The main shopping street is the best example of this. It really does feel like a scene from Demon Slayer.

This complex is a labyrinth you’ll be glad to get lost in, and each corner is more addictive to photograph than the last. 

4. Hanfu Photoshoot

A very popular thing to do in China is dress up in traditional clothing for a fun photoshoot.

You can find many stalls offering Hanfu photoshoots in the Yuyuan Gardens. There are also many touts with iPads trying to draw you in.

Prices vary based on the quality of Hanfu and the length of your photoshoot.

Also, you pay for makeup, hairstyling, the number of photos you want to keep and photo edits.

As it was so busy at the Yuyuan Gardens, I didn’t do this here. I did a photoshoot in Xi’an at the Chang’an Twelve Hours Theme Street! 

I loved getting dressed up, and it’s definitely something that is encouraged in China as it keeps heritage alive.

5. Yu Garden

Another reason why people visit the Yuyuan Bazaar is that it’s a commercial exit to the formal Yu Garden. 

This is a separate attraction from the shopping complex and is a restored ancient garden that dates back to the Ming Dynasty. 

This was one of my favourite attractions in Shanghai as it is like stepping back in time. 

It’s like an oasis away from the bustling streets of the city, and you can meander along water corridors, pavilions and palace rooms. 

Just know that it’s a very crowded place and filled with tour groups. It may take a while to get around as there are always bottlenecks. 

Unlike the bazaar, this attraction has specific opening hours of 9 am to 4.30 pm and is closed on Mondays. 

It also costs 30-40 CNY depending on the season. But I thought this magical place was well worth the admission fee. 

6. City of God Temple

The City of God Temple, or Chenghuang Miao, is a historic and famous Taoist temple.

It was built during the Ming Dynasty in the 15th century to honour the guardian spirits who protect Shanghai. 

The city gods are Huo Guang, Qin Yubo and Chen Huacheng. There are statues of them inside, and visitors pray to them with incense.

This does have an entry fee of 10 CNY per person and is open from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. 

7. Yuyuan Gardens at night

By far the best time to visit Yuyuan Old Street is at night, as this is when the architecture really comes alive.

The whole area transforms into an electric paradise. They light the ancient buildings in red and purple, which gives the place a magical vibe. 

This is also when the Yuyuan Gardens look most like the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle in real life. 

It does get very busy at this time, though. So, be prepared for masses of crowds, especially around the zigzag bridge.

Also, the lights turn off at 10 pm sharp. Shortly after, everyone is kicked out of the complex. So, don’t visit too late!

Is Yuyuan Gardens in Shanghai worth visiting?

Yes, the Yuyuan Gardens are a magical attraction in Shanghai that you really cannot skip on your travels in China.

I had a wonderful time shopping, exploring the historic streets, and munching on xiaolongbao.

My fondest memories of the Yu Bazaar are visiting in the evening when the entire place looked like an illuminated wonderland. 

It really does feel like you’ve entered Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle or entered another century entirely.

Don’t skip the Yuyuan Gardens Shanghai; it’s a place that leaves a lasting impression, and you won’t regret a thing. 

How long do you need to visit Yuyuan Bazaar?

I would say you need around 1-3 hours to visit Yuyuan Old Street; how long you spend here depends on your interests.

There are plenty of shops to browse, food stalls to fawn over, and fabulous photo opportunities. The atmosphere is also addicting. 

If you want to visit the formal Yu Garden, I would allow extra time. It’s a compact place but can get very crowded during the day.

So, you may take a while to get around it as there are usually bottlenecks.

Important visitor tips

• This place gets seriously packed throughout the day. It’s almost uncomfortable. Visit early or late for fewer crowds.

• Don’t miss Yuyuan Gardens at night; it’s when the magic happens.

• Make sure your Alipay and WeChat are set up to pay vendors. They don’t typically accept cash or card payments.

• They switch off the lights at 10 pm sharp and kick everyone out of the complex. Don’t visit too late or you’ll run out of time.

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