When lunchtime rolls around, there's no better place to eat than Chenghuang Temple near Yu Garden—and there's no better snack to indulge in than small steamed buns.

Yu Garden is located in the northeastern section of old Shanghai, with Fuyou Road to its north, Anren Street to the east, and old Chenghuang Temple to the southwest. Widely considered the most beautiful garden south of the Yangtze River, Yu Garden was built more than 400 years ago, in 1559, as a private garden. The garden—a legacy of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)—is the only one remaining in the old section of the city.

The garden has more than 40 scenic spots, including pavilions, terraces, stone fixtures and steles, and ponds, all in the architectural style from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

After New China was founded, the Shanghai Municipal Government launched a large-scale renovation of the garden. In February 1982, the State Council listed Yu Garden as a key cultural relic.

And just as important as the architecture and sights of Yu Garden is the food—specifically Nanxiang small steamed buns served in the garden. The steamed buns are made of white flour and filled with chopped meat. The fillings are mixed with liquid from chicken and pork soup instead of artificial flavoring, with a small amount of grinded sesame seed sprinkling and crab roes, spring bamboo or shelled shrimp according to the season.