Yu Garden in Shanghai: In half a day, I saw the soul of old Shanghai.

The breathtaking scenery is awe-inspiring! Stepping into the City God Temple food area, my nostrils were immediately assaulted by five aromas simultaneously: 1. At Nanxiang Steamed Bun Shop, after waiting in line for 40 minutes in the old private room, I finally got to eat crab roe xiaolongbao. The skin was so thin it was translucent, and the soup inside seemed magically locked in. One bite and it burst open with a "pop," filling my mouth with the sweet and savory flavor of crab roe. It was so hot I almost cried. 2. At the century-old teahouse under the lake pavilion, sitting on the second floor by the window, I enjoyed a 50-centimeter-long osmanthus rice cake, paired with a pot of Longjing tea. Watching the people come and go on the Nine-Turn Bridge felt like watching a slow-motion movie. 3. At Green Wave Corridor, the wine-infused crab roe soup dumplings were still slightly trembling when the waiter brought them on a tray. The moment I bit into them, the aroma of wine mixed with crab roe burst forth. I was speechless for 10 seconds, only able to instinctively slurp them down. 4. The freshly baked pork mooncakes from Songyuelou were so flaky they practically crumbled, and the juicy meat burst out with every bite, scalding me so much I jumped up. A Shanghai auntie next to me laughed, "You little rascal, even eating a mooncake is like dancing the samba!" 5. Finally, the old man at the spiced bean stall practically forced a bag of freshly roasted spiced beans on me, saying, "Try it, or your money back." I ended up buying three pounds. A Confession at Nightfall At nine o'clock, Yu Garden lit up. The red lanterns at the Lake Pavilion lit up, the Nine-Turn Bridge was adorned with small lights, and the distant artificial hill was silhouetted against the light, making the whole garden look like an illuminated amber. I stood at the exit, carrying my spoils (pear syrup candy, rice cakes, and crab shell pastries), and suddenly felt a little reluctant to leave. Yu Garden taught me two lessons in one day: One was about the ultimate in beauty—truly, a genuine Chinese garden can be breathtakingly beautiful; the other was about the ultimate in everyday life—the true flavors of life are hidden in the most bustling streets. As I left, I turned back for one last look at the pavilion in the middle of the lake, surrounded by lights, and silently said to myself: "Shanghai, I understand you." #NovemberDestinations2025