We stepped out of Yu (Yuyuan) Garden and the calm flipped to buzz in three seconds flat, lanterns, shop signs, sizzling griddles, the smell of sesame and vinegar. Yuyuan Old Street wraps the garden and City God Temple in a tight maze of timbered façades and snack stalls. It’s touristy, yes, but also exactly the Shanghai mix I love: traditional bones + modern chaos. The garden and the bazaar sit side-by-side; you literally walk out of the garden and onto Old Street, with the Nine-Turn Bridge and Huxinting Teahouse as your landmark gateway.
How to get here (and how to flow from the garden)
By metro, ride Line 10 or 14 to Yuyuan Garden Station (Exits 1 or 7 are the straightforward picks). From the station it’s a 5-minute walk to the bazaar entrances; if you’re already inside the garden, aim your exit toward the Nine-Turn Bridge/Huxinting pond, cross the zigzag and you’re in the thick of Old Street.
When it’s open (and when it’s best)
Garden hours start earlier, but bazaar/Old Street shops usually open around ~10:00 and run into the evening; many stalls are still lively after dark. Weekends and holidays swell with crowds, mornings or post-dinner strolls feel better if you want room to breathe.
What to eat (our snack trail & what locals line up for)
We did this hungry, highly recommend. First up: skewers. You’ll see grills turning out beef (and lamb) chuan’r, dusted with cumin and chili, perfect walk-and-munch food if you avoid pork. Expect stands dotted through the lanes around the pond and temple.
Keep going and you’ll hit Shanghai’s icons:
- Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) the classic is at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (Nanxiang Mantou Dian, 南翔馒头店), the century-old name in this neighborhood. There’s often a queue; multiple floors sell different sets (pork, crab roe, etc.). We didn’t try them this time because of dietary restrictions, but this is thefamous spot everyone asks about.
- Shengjianbao (pan-fried soup buns) crisp-bottomed, fluffy-topped, sprinkled with sesame and scallions. Watch for the shallow pans near the bridge and side alleys.
- Tanghulu (candied hawthorns) & sweet snacks glossy fruit on skewers, sesame cakes, and seasonal pastries everywhere.
- Crab-shell pastry (Xie ke huang) flaky, sesame-coated rounds with sweet or savory fillings (think red bean paste or scallion oil/pork). You’ll spot trays in bakery windows; it’s a Shanghainese classic.
If you want to sit down for something more formal (or to ogle a throwback dining room), Lu Bo Lang and the mid-lake Huxinting Teahouse frame the bridge, both storied, both priced for the location.
Landmarks to help you navigate (so you don’t loop twice)
Use three anchors: Huxinting Teahouse on the pond, the Nine-Turn Bridge, and the City God Temple. From here, narrow lanes fan out into Yuyuan Bazaar/Market, that’s the shopping and snacking sprawl people mean by “Old Street.” It’s all essentially the same district; signs use “Bazaar,” “Market,” and “Old Street” interchangeably.
A simple route that works (garden → snacks → souvenirs)
Exit Yu Garden by the pond → cross the Nine-Turn Bridge (shoot your photos now) → tea peek at Huxinting or head straight into the lanes → snack crawl (skewers first, then buns/pastries) → finish at a souvenir street for silk fans, chopsticks, and trinkets. This keeps you moving forward and lets you bail back to Line 10/14 without backtracking.
Practical things that make the visit smoother
- Payments: QR still rules. The good news: visitors can now link international cards in WeChat Pay and Alipay, set it up before you go and you’re golden.
- Crowds: Late afternoon into evening is photogenic but busy. If the bridge is jammed, step one alley back, same lantern vibe, fewer elbows.
- Dietary notes: Pork is common in buns/dumplings. If you avoid it, ask for 牛肉 (beef) or 羊肉 (lamb) at skewer stands; look for 清真 signs for halal spots around the Old City, or keep it veggie with sweets and baked snacks.
- Souvenirs: Prices are friendly but expect tourist mark-ups, bundle a few items and smile-bargain.
Nearby pairings (if you’re building a full Old City day)
Do the garden first for calm and light, then Old Street for lunch and shopping. If you still have energy, walk 15–20 minutes north to the Bund for sunset, or hop one stop on the metro to People’s Square and the Shanghai Museum.
Quick facts at a glance
- Where: Old City/Huangpu, wrapped around Yu Garden & City God Temple
- Getting there: Metro Line 10/14 → Yuyuan Garden Station (Exit 1 or 7), ~5-minute walk
- Hours: Shops typically from ~10:00 to late evening; earlier for some stalls, later on weekends/holidays.
- Famous bites: Nanxiang Steamed Bun (soup dumplings), shengjianbao, skewers, tanghulu, crab-shell pastry
Walk slow, eat often, and let Old Street be loud and lovely around you. We exited the garden and fell straight into snacks, beef sticks first (so many stands!), then window-shopping the dumpling masters pinching pleats faster than my camera could catch. Even when we skip a bite for dietary reasons, watching the craft is half the fun here.
