Shanghai Travel Must-Do | Yu Garden Lantern Festival

The Yu Garden Lantern Festival is so popular that it's worth braving the crowds to see it. ✨【Lighting Time】 ✅17:00-22:00, I arrived after 18:00, when it was already dark and there were quite a few people. However, when I left before 20:00, there were even more people... ✅So my advice: either come early, at 17:00, when there are relatively fewer people, with the downside that it's not completely dark yet. Or come late, entering the garden at 21:00. 🚶‍♀️【Tour Route】 🚇Transport: Subway Line 10/14, Yu Garden Station, Exit 7, just across the road 📸Route & Must-Visit Spots: ➡️Walk along Jiuxiao Chang Road, where you'll pass gates 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Yu Garden Mall, all of which you can enter. Gate 5 has the 【Dragon Head Decoration】, or you can turn to Fangbang Middle Road to reach Gate 7, which has the 【Coiling Dragon Pillar】. ➡️Enter through Gate 7, go straight, and on the left, there's a Mr. Pi Coffee where you can go to the second floor, but the photo spot is blocked off. On the right is the large lantern set 【"Dragon Soaring Over the Sea"】. ➡️After taking photos, continue forward, and you'll see signs directing traffic around the Jiuqu Bridge. I followed the crowd to the bridge. There were a lot of people, but it was manageable. This year's popular attractions 【Spirit Dragon, Dragon Horse, Lu Meiling...】 are all on the Jiuqu Bridge. ➡️After squeezing through the Jiuqu Bridge, follow the crowd out and find yourself at Gate 2, which also has a beautiful archway. Turning the corner, you're back on Jiuxiao Chang Road, where I took photos of 【the Dragon at Yanhai Pavilion】. ➡️I found another entrance to go back in and took photos of this year's super popular 【Night of Fish and Dragon Dance】. ➡️Following the main road, you'll reach the Golden Square, where the 【"Mirage"】 lantern set is located. After touring the above, you're basically done. You can then browse some small shops before heading home. ☕【Food & Drink】 There are many places to eat and drink, from street stalls to proper restaurants. When I went, it didn't seem too crowded... everyone was squeezing onto the Jiuqu Bridge... 🎟️【Tickets】 ⏰Date: 2024.1.21-2.25 👍Free Admission: Currently free, 💰Charging period: 2.10-2.25, Adults: 80, Children: 50 yuan 2.9 Chinese New Year's Eve, no lighting 2.10-2.16 10:00-22:00 2.17-2.21 14:00-22:00 2.22-2.25 10:00-22:00 Yu Garden Mall Gates 2, 3, 5 ticket checkpoints 🗺️【Surroundings】 ✅Yu Garden is not far from Nanjing East Road and the Bund. You can stroll the Bund during the day and come to see the lights at night, or continue to enjoy the night view of the Bund after the lights. ✅The Yu Garden itself (the actual garden) is also worth visiting, one of the top five gardens in Shanghai, suitable for daytime tours and evening light viewing Yu Garden Mall