[2025 Shanghai Attraction] Travel Guide for Chenxiang Pavilion (Updated May)

In the bustling core of Shanghai, where neon lights and towering skyscrapers dominate the skyline, lies a peaceful sanctuary that feels like a step back in time—Yuyuan Garden, also known as Ji Garden. Built during the Ming Dynasty over 400 years ago, this classical Chinese garden is a breathtaking example of harmony between architecture, nature, and artistry. The moment I stepped through the garden’s gates, the noise of the city seemed to disappear. I was greeted by delicate stone bridges, koi-filled ponds, and intricately carved pavilions that reflect centuries of Chinese culture and craftsmanship. Every corner of Yuyuan tells a story—whether it’s the legendary Exquisite Jade Rock, the charming Nine-Turn Bridge, or the elegant Sansui Hall where scholars once gathered. I visited in the early morning to avoid the crowds, and the soft light filtering through ancient trees made the experience all the more magical. The garden is compact yet endlessly intricate—each element, from curved roofs to zigzag paths, is carefully designed to create a sense of wonder and tranquility. Just outside the garden, the Yuyuan Bazaar offers traditional snacks, souvenirs, and a taste of old Shanghai charm. After exploring the garden, sipping tea at a nearby teahouse overlooking the pond was the perfect way to reflect on the serene beauty I had just experienced. Whether you’re a lover of history, architecture, or simply seeking calm in the chaos, Yuyuan Garden is an unmissable gem in Shanghai. 📍 Address: No. 218 Anren Street, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China 💴 Average Price per Person: RMB ¥30–40 💗 Reasons to Recommend: classical garden design, historical ambiance, cultural richness, central location ⸻ Hashtags: #YuyuanGarden #ShanghaiAttractions #JiGarden #ChinaHeritage #TripCoins #100waysoftravel #SerenityInTheCity #ExploreShanghai #GardenEscape #FeaturedExperience

|Agarwood Pavilion (1438). Located in the old city of Shanghai, a road was named after a Zen temple, which is the Agarwood Pavilion, also known as the Ci Yun Zen Temple, located at No. 29, Agarwood Pavilion Road, Shanghai. It and the Jade Buddha Temple, Longhua Temple, Jing'an Temple, Yuanming Lecture Hall and other five Buddhist temples in Shanghai were listed as the 142 key temples in the Han region by the State Council in April 1983. It is also a famous Buddhist Bhikkhuni dojo in Shanghai. According to the 'Book of Sui', during the Sui Dynasty, there were envoys visiting the Malay countries, among which the Red Soil Country presented the Agarwood Guanyin. When the envoy returned to the country and met Emperor Sui Yang, he encountered a strong wind in the Huai River, and the ship capsized and sank. It was obtained by Pan Yunduan, the owner of Yu Garden in Shanghai during the Ming Dynasty. According to the 'Shanghai County Records' of the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, 'In the 28th year of Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, that is, 1600, there was an image of Agarwood Guanyin floating to the mouth of the Huai River. At that time, Pan Yunduan was supervising the canal on the Huai River, and he returned to build the pavilion.' Hence the name Agarwood Pavilion, which was Pan Yunduan's family temple. During the Kangxi, Jiaqing, and Daoguang periods of the Qing Dynasty, it was repeatedly renovated and expanded, with buildings such as the Shanmen Stone Arch, Maitreya Hall, Daxiong Baodian, Agarwood Buddha Hall, and Hexuan, and the front hall Zen Hall. Agarwood Pavilion is famous for its worship of Agarwood Guanyin. Guanyin is carved from a whole piece of agarwood, finely crafted, with smooth lines and unique shapes. The statue of Guanyin is seated, with the right foot bent, the right hand hanging on the knee, the left hand supporting, the head slightly tilted, in a thoughtful posture, with a graceful posture, hence the name 'Ruyi Guanyin', with a natural and lifelike expression. Whenever it rains, the fragrance is overflowing. Before the Wanshou Palace was built in Shanghai, every time the emperor and the empress dowager's birthday, Shanghai officials used this as a place to pay homage, and at the same time, it was also a place where people prayed for rain.

Chenxiang Pavilion was first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, rebuilt in the 20th year of Jiaqing (1815), and renamed as Ciyun Temple, but it is still called Chenxiang Pavilion by the people. The entire temple is quite large, with a Maitreya Hall and a stone arch at the front; a Daxiong Treasure Hall, Chenxiang Buddha Hall, Zaohe Pavilion, front hall Zen hall and left and right wing buildings in the middle. The architectural form of the pavilion is solemn and elegant, making it very prominent in the entire temple. During the Qing Dynasty, the pavilion was a place for the officials of the city to pray for rain, and before the Wanshou Palace was built in Shanghai, the emperor and the empress dowager also celebrated their birthdays here. Therefore, the incense is strong and the reputation is full of Shanghai. The pavilion is famous for its Chenxiang Guanyin. Guanyin is carved from a whole piece of agarwood, finely crafted, with smooth lines and unique shapes. The Guanyin statue is seated, with the right foot bent, the right hand hanging on the knee, the left hand supporting, the head slightly tilted, in a thoughtful state, with a graceful posture, so it is also called "Ruyi Guanyin", its cultural and artistic value is extremely high. The Guanyin statue is enshrined in the pavilion. The pavilion was built in the Ming Dynasty, with a unique architectural form. It is listed as one of the national key temples and is also a city-level cultural relic protection unit.