Huangpu River Cruise Shanghai 2026: Prices, Times & Reviews

As my friends and I were planning our Shanghai trip,

one thing I absolutely wanted to do

was the Huangpu River cruise.

You get to see the night views of The Bund and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower

all at once from the river,

and after experiencing it myself, I realized it was definitely worth it!

Huangpu River Cruise: Boarding from around ~$8

Checking on Klook,

the price varies depending on whether a guide is included.

Option	Price
Cruise Boarding	~$13
Korean-speaking Guide + Commentary	~$22

If your goal is simply to enjoy the night view

and take photos with friends, like I did,

then the basic ~$13 option is perfectly fine.

Conversely, if it's your first time in Shanghai

and you want to hear the stories behind the buildings,

there's also the option to pay about ~$8 more

and go with a guide included.

With an incredible 5.0-star rating and 480 reviews,

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A Night View with a Completely Different Vibe Than from The Bund

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You can definitely enjoy Shanghai's night view from The Bund, right?

But it gets incredibly crowded every night.

We also saw the night view from The Bund,

but when we stopped for photos, people kept walking by,

and it felt quite chaotic just standing there trying to take it all in.

That's why taking the Huangpu River cruise was the best choice.

On one side, you'll see the historic buildings

of The Bund stretching out,

and on the other, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower

and Pudong's towering skyscrapers.

As the boat moves, the scenery constantly changes,

giving you a completely different perspective

of Shanghai's night view.

Especially seeing the building lights

reflect on the river –

it was even more stunning in person than in photos!

Cruise Schedule and Duration

Lasting 40-50 minutes, it's perfect to fit into your itinerary!

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The cruise lasts for about 45 to 50 minutes.

At first, I thought it might be too short,

but after experiencing it, it felt just right.

We had been walking around Shanghai all day,

and if the evening schedule had involved even more walking,

it would have been quite exhausting.

Once we were on board,

we could admire the night views with friends, take photos,

and simply relax for a bit,

making it a perfect final activity for the day.

Cruise Times	Meeting Times
14:00~14:45	13:00~13:20
19:00~19:45	18:00~18:20
20:00~20:45	18:50~19:20
21:00~21:45	20:00~20:20

If you're going to see the night view,

I would definitely choose a time slot after 7 PM.

However, depending on the pier conditions, the departure time

might vary by about 20 minutes either way,

so it's a good idea to schedule your post-cruise plans with some flexibility.

Optional Guide?

If your goal is simply to take photos freely with friends

and enjoy the night views, the basic option is perfectly sufficient.

However, after reading some reviews,

I sometimes wish we had opted for the guided tour.

Apparently, a guide doesn't just point out the names of the buildings

in front of you, but also

shares fascinating stories about Shanghai's history

and the buildings themselves.

If you just look,

you might simply think, "Wow, that building is pretty!" and move on.

But knowing the stories behind them truly makes a difference in what you remember, doesn't it??

Many reviews raved about how entertaining these stories were, likening them to a fascinating, insightful documentary,

so if you're traveling with your parents or it's your first time in Shanghai,

I would personally recommend the option that includes a guide.

If you're traveling with your parents

or if you've already done a lot of walking during the day,

you also have the option to upgrade to VIP seating on site.

Based on reviews, it was about 100 Chinese Yuan per person.

My Overall Cruise Experience & Review

This was one of the things I most wanted to do

when traveling to Shanghai with my friends,

and experiencing it firsthand was even better than I expected!

It wasn't just about seeing the Oriental Pearl Tower and then being done;

the nightscapes of the Bund and Pudong continuously unfolded on both sides.

Plus, being able to relax for a while after a full day of walking

was definitely a huge bonus.

The price starts from ~$13,

making it a highly affordable activity to include

on your Shanghai itinerary.

If you're wondering where to best experience Shanghai's night views,

don't just stick to a stroll along the Bund.

I highly recommend taking a Huangpu River cruise

to truly immerse yourself in the magic!

🔻Book Your Incredible Huangpu River Night Cruise Here🔻

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