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 agai n 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. Chinese tourists look at an old temple embroided with gold. A "don't touch" sign prohibit the tourists to mess an old table made out of marble stone. © 2002 Didier Ruef