City God Temple (Chenghuang Temple)城隍庙
The City God Temple is the landmark of Shanghai's old walled city, honoring Qin Yubo, the city's guardian deity. It anchors the Yuyuan commercial district, ringed by bustling market lanes, with the Nine-Bend Bridge and the Huxinting Teahouse as signature sights — the best place to meet the commerce and folkways of old Shanghai.
Shanghai · Visitor Guide2026-10-18
Quick Answer
Is City God Temple (Chenghuang Temple) worth visiting?
The spiritual heart of old Shanghai, anchoring the Yuyuan Garden bazaar and its sprawling small-commodities market. Temple entry CNY 10.
Quick facts
| Ticket | CNY 10 (temple itself) |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:00-17:00 |
| Recommended duration | 1-2 hours |
| Best time to visit | Chinese New Year, when the lantern festival is at its liveliest |
| How to get there | Metro Line 10 to Yuyuan Garden Station, then a 10-minute walk |
| English signage | |
| Wheelchair accessible | Partial |
| History | Yongle era, Ming dynasty |
| Deity | City god Qin Yubo |
| Location | Old town (Nanshi) |
| Surroundings | Yuyuan commercial district |
| Nine-Bend Bridge | Signature sight |
| Lantern festival | Liveliest at Chinese New Year |
What to expect
The City God Temple is the guardian temple of Shanghai's old walled city, first built in the Yongle era of the Ming dynasty (1403-1424) and dedicated to Qin Yubo, a Ming official born in Shanghai. Plain and elegant in style and wreathed in incense, it remains one of the city's great centers of Taoist life.
The surrounding Yuyuan district is one of Shanghai's busiest tourist quarters. Its small-commodities market goes back centuries and sells everything from needles and thread to gold and jade. The Nine-Bend Bridge and the mid-lake Huxinting Teahouse are the temple's signature views, and every Spring Festival a lantern festival packs in enormous crowds.
The lanes nearby are prime ground for Shanghai snacks: time-honored names such as Nanxiang soup dumplings, Ningbo glutinous rice balls and the Lvbo Lang pastry house all cluster here. Pair the temple with neighboring Yu Garden and give it half a day — gardens first, grazing after.
How to get there
Metro Line 10 to Yuyuan Garden Station Exit 3, then a 10-minute walk along Fuyou Road
Best photo spots
- The Nine-Bend Bridge and Huxinting Teahouse
- The temple's main gate
- Incense rising in the temple halls
- The Yuyuan bazaar lit up at night
Tips
- Come toward evening — architecture by daylight, lanterns after dark
- Street food abounds at every price point
- The Nine-Bend Bridge gets crowded; mind your step and your pockets
- Bargain when shopping, especially for small commodities
Scams to avoid
- Watch out for outrageously priced snacks
- Don't be sold on supposedly blessed souvenirs
Frequently asked questions
How do the City God Temple and Yu Garden relate?
They sit side by side and are easily combined — Yu Garden is a classical garden, the City God Temple a Taoist temple.
Is the food around the temple authentic?
Genuine time-honored institutions share the lanes with tourist-oriented shops; choose carefully.
Does the Spring Festival lantern festival need a ticket?
During the lantern festival a ticket is usually required.
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