The Yu Gardens are a wonderful example of the old surrounded by the new in Shanghai. Created in the 1500s, the gardens are in the traditional Chinese style and located in the Old City neighborhood.
Though the gardens are extensive and ringed with high stone walls and traditional buildings and structures, sky scrapers still peak into this patch of old Shanghai.
Rather than flowers, these gardens are more about the tranquil combination of rocks, tree, and water. Despite the large crowds of people meandering through, the gardens do inspire a sense of peace.
We enjoyed a tea tasting with our new friends Dan and Cristin. Each of us chose a different tea which we sampled from thumb-size porcelain cups. The service featured a new element I have never experienced in all my tea-drinking: the tea pet. This lovely creature keeps you company as you imbibe your tea and is the recipient of all untasted hot water. He changes colors as the fluids slosh over him. Ours was a little dragon.
All in all it was a great day touring the gardens. This sign below threw us off a little bit...but that is to be expected. Things definitely get lost in translation sometimes.