China. Shanghai. Downtown. City center. Yuyuan Gardens. The Yuyuan Gardens were founded by the Pan family, rich Ming dynasty officials. The gardens took 18 years (1559-1577) to be nurtured into existence, only to be ransacked during the Opium war in 1842, when British officers were barracked here for a few days, and again during the Taiping Rebellion, by the french in reprisal for attacks on their nearby concession. Today the gardens have been restored and are worth visiting to see a fine example of Ming garden design. A "don't touch" sign prohibit the tourists to mess an old marble stone. © 2002 Didier Ruef