Even with December's crisp chill, Shanghai's classical gardens stay warm with colors. Red maples, golden ginkgos, and historic architecture take on a calm winter palette. Walk a little, and each turn offers a quiet, balanced view.

Yuyuan Garden

Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden is known for two ginkgo trees that have stood here for more than 400 years. You'll see them as soon as you enter. They face each other across the wall like old guardians of the garden.

Their bright gold contrasts with the dark tiles, red railings, and delicate rockeries, creating a steady, elegant scene.

🍂 Where: No 168 Fuyou Road, Huangpu district

Qiuxia Garden

Early winter suits Qiuxia Garden well. As one of the city's oldest and best preserved classical gardens, its pavilions are framed by trees in soft seasonal gradients.

More than 150 kinds of maples grow here. Some have broad red leaves, others show thin, lace-like shapes. Most are now showing their best color.

🍂 Where: No 314 Dongdajie, Jiading district

Guyi Garden

Guyi Garden welcomes early winter with a warm, earthy tone. Around the Quejiao Pavilion, different maple varieties join into a canopy of red.

A ginkgo grove adds soft gold along the Quxiang Corridor, mixing with red leaves. By the water, the last lotus stems remain, adding a quiet pause to the scene.

🍂 Where: No 218 Huyi Highway, Jiading district

Qushui Garden

Qushui Garden is celebrated for its winding waterways and scattered pavilions. In December, red leaves contrast with the emerald green water, composing one serene waterscape after another.

Most of the structures follow styles from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. You can sit in a pavilion and experience the quiet elegance of a classical Chinese garden.

🍂 Where: No 612 Gongyuan Road, Qingpu district

Fangta Garden

Fangta Garden shows early winter through color and texture. More than a dozen types of seasonal foliage unfold into a rich, layered scene.

Ginkgos, maples, Chinese tallow trees, and dawn redwoods blend red, yellow, and green. The ancient square pagoda and stone bridges mirror these tones and create a sense of deep calm.

🍂 Where: No 235 East Zhongshan Road, Songjiang district

Guhua Garden

Crisscrossed by canals and dotted with stone bridges, Guhua Garden blends heritage architecture with seasonal color in quiet harmony.

The clear water reflects a 300-year-old Qing Dynasty arch bridge and the red maple leaves around it, with golden ginkgos and the warm russet of dawn redwoods nearby.

Here, only the rustle of leaves breaks the stillness, making it an ideal place for slow wandering.

🍂 Where: No 220 Middle Jiefang Road, Fengxian district

Sources: WeChat account of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism "shanghaitourism", official channels of the gardens mentioned above