China: Shanghai – Yuyuan Garden

Yuyuan Garden aka Yu Garden was created in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty and is one of the most extensive traditional Chinese landscaped gardens in the country – with rocks, bonzai trees, various pavilions, ponds, fountains, and sculptures. Narrow pathways meander through the landscaped areas supposedly bringing serenity and peace but everything is ultra crowded with people and everybody is trying to get selfies. At its height, the Yuyuan Garden was the most expensive to maintain garden in China and eventually fell into disrepair during the 18-19th century, but has since been fully restored and is now considered one of the main attractions in Shanghai.