Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise: The Ultimate Night View Guide

On my recent trip to Shanghai, China, I decided to finally experience the iconic Huangpu River Cruise.

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Taking a river cruise to see the glittering Shanghai skyline was at the very top of my bucket list, but I surprisingly struggled to find detailed, up-to-date information online. So, after experiencing it firsthand, I decided to put together this comprehensive review and guide to help fellow travelers out!

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China

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Shanghai Travel Guide

Shanghai Travel Guide

Huangpu River Cruise & Oriental Pearl Night View

© Words & Photos: Global Explorer

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Exploring Shanghai

China Travel

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With its countless skyscrapers, Shanghai boasts one of the most glamorous and futuristic skylines in the world. While the city is vibrant during the day, the true magic of Shanghai unlocks after sunset.

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The panoramic view encompassing the Oriental Pearl Tower, the historic Bund, and the winding Huangpu River is simply breathtaking. Sure, admiring the city from the Shanghai Tower observation deck or a luxury hotel rooftop is fantastic, but drifting along the water on a Huangpu River cruise offers an entirely different, immersive vibe.

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Where to Board the Huangpu River Cruise

China Travel

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There are multiple cruise operators and boarding points dotted along the river. I was initially a bit overwhelmed trying to choose one, but ultimately went with an operator that had tons of positive safety reviews.

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/ The boarding location is

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📍 Shiliupu Marina
531 Zhongshan Rd (E-2), Huangpu, Shanghai, China 200120

(Pro tip: Copy and paste this address into Apple Maps or the Amap/Gaode app for easy navigation!)

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Booking Your Cruise Tickets

China Travel

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I booked my tickets in advance through Klook. When booking, you simply select your date and preferred time slot. Keep in mind that daytime and nighttime cruises have different price points. Naturally, I opted for the Night Cruise to catch those dazzling city lights!

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If you buy tickets on-site, it costs 120 RMB (about ~$18) per person, which is roughly ~$1 more expensive than booking online. So, grabbing them on Klook beforehand is definitely the smarter, more budget-friendly move.

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Once you arrive, you'll need to exchange your Klook digital voucher for a physical ticket. The cruise ships are massive, so while you probably don't *have* to exchange it hours in advance, getting it done early ensures you secure your preferred departure time.

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When swapping the voucher, you confirm your time slot. We chose the 6:30 PM departure, which is the very first night cruise of the evening.

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As of our 2026 trip, the night cruises operate from 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM, with departures every 20 to 30 minutes. Note that the exact style of the boat can vary slightly depending on your time slot.

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The Cruise Experience

China Travel

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You're supposed to gather at the boarding area about 20 minutes before departure. You line up indoors first, and when it's time to board, the staff guides everyone out to the riverbank to step onto the ship.

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Even though we showed up 30 minutes early, there was already a massive line! We seemed to be the only international tourists in our group.

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The route takes you on a 50-minute loop up the Huangpu River, offering spectacular views of both the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Bund. To actually see the night view clearly, you basically have to stand outside on the deck for the entire ride. There is indoor seating, but the views are obstructed—and since the whole point is the skyline, expect to be on your feet outdoors.

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With our legs already aching from a full day of exploring, my husband insisted that sometimes you just have to treat yourself—so we happily paid the extra 100 RMB to access the top-deck View Lounge.

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I hesitated at first about the upcharge, but considering it was nearly an hour-long ride and offered unobstructed views, it felt worth it.

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Spoiler alert: it was the best decision ever. Just a heads up—if you want to upgrade to the View Lounge, decide quickly as you board! Even the VIP lounge is first-come, first-served for the best seats.

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I thought the extra fee was just for a reserved seat, but it actually included bottled water and a complimentary scarf! Being out on the water at night gets surprisingly chilly (temperatures can easily drop into the 50s Fahrenheit), so this scarf was an absolute lifesaver.

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It was surprisingly soft and decent quality, too! Getting a souvenir scarf, a drink, and a comfortable seat with the best view on the boat made the extra 100 RMB totally worth it. (Though fair warning, the scarf does start to pill a bit after a few wears, haha).

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While the views from the lower decks are still great, it's incredibly crowded, making it tough to get good photos without someone's phone in your shot. Up on the top deck, there was plenty of breathing room to snap the perfect pictures.

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The Shanghai skyline is purely mesmerizing. This experience truly validated why everyone raves about the city's night view. Photos honestly don't do it justice—you have to see it with your own eyes! 💛

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Seeing the massive "I ❤️ SH" flashing across the skyscrapers really hits home that you're in one of the world's great metropolises. The LED displays on the buildings constantly shift and change, making the skyline feel alive and incredibly dynamic.

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We got an amazing, up-close look at the Oriental Pearl Tower and drank in the classical architecture of the Bund. While standing on the riverbank gives you a flat, static view, cruising down the river allows you to appreciate the skyline from a multitude of angles. It's simply gorgeous ;)

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I couldn't stop taking pictures, trying to capture every moment. The View Lounge was absolutely worth it—major props to my husband for making the quick call to upgrade!

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Since you'll be outside on the water for about an hour, I highly recommend dressing in warm layers. Even if it's a mild day, the river breeze cuts right through you once the boat gets moving.

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Overall, the Huangpu River Cruise exceeded all my expectations! If you want to experience the quintessential Shanghai night view, I cannot recommend this enough. 💛

I've left the exact address for the marina and ticket exchange below. Just copy and paste it into your map app!

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Huangpu River Cruise

Book Now

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Huangpu River Cruise Tickets - Klook