Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise 2026: Night View & Booking Guide

China

Huangpu River Cruise

Hey fellow travelers! I'm Lisa, your go-to travel blogger :)

✔️ This is a 100% honest, self-funded review based on my personal booking and experience.

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Planning an exciting getaway to Shanghai, China?

Shanghai is world-famous for its breathtaking night skyline.

Among all the ways to experience it, the Huangpu River Cruise is an absolute must-do to see the dazzling city lights from the best possible angle.

During my time exploring Shanghai,

I checked out trendy rooftop bars and strolled around the North Bund,

but hands down, the Huangpu River Cruise was the absolute highlight.

I booked my cruise tickets through Trip.com and managed to save over ~$5 per person compared to buying them on-site!

🔎 The Huangpu River Cruise departs from Shiliupu Pier and is a fantastic 1-hour route where you can marvel at both the Bund and the Oriental Pearl Tower simultaneously from the water. It is hands down my top recommendation for catching Shanghai's legendary night views.

1. Who is the Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise for?

I highly recommend the Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise if you:

✔️ Want to experience the very best of Shanghai's night skyline

✔️ Are traveling with parents or family and looking for a comfortable, stress-free sightseeing route

✔️ Want to capture both the Bund and the Oriental Pearl Tower in a single panoramic view

✔️ Want to sit back, relax, and soak in Shanghai's evening glow away from the crowds

If you've ever been to the Bund in Shanghai, you already know how it goes...

The crowds can be absolutely overwhelming.

Sometimes, you end up feeling completely exhausted

before you even get to enjoy the views.

On the cruise, however, you can enjoy the stunning city lights in a much more relaxed and comfortable setting.

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Being able to capture the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Bund in a single glance

made this the most satisfying and memorable highlight of my entire trip.

2. Boarding Locations & Booking Platform Comparison

You can book tickets for the Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise through several different platforms.

Here is a quick price comparison by platform updated for 2026.

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I personally chose to book through Trip.com.

✔️ Flexible boarding anytime after 18:00 without a fixed slot

✔️ Free cancellation & same-day booking available

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With Trip.com,

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you can choose from these 3 different boarding locations.

(I'll leave the Gaode Map/Amap location details in the comments below!)

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Since the Oriental Pearl pier only had daytime tickets available,

you can simply pick whichever of the other two fits your itinerary best.

* Click the blue text above to head directly to the best rate booking page!

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⚠️ However, if you're traveling with your parents or prefer having a guide explain all the sights,

I highly recommend checking out Klook or MyRealTrip.

A professional guide will board the cruise with you to point out the best viewing spots, explain the route, share interesting facts about the Bund and the Oriental Pearl Tower, and even help you snap the perfect photos!

You can choose from departure times at 7 PM, 8 PM, or 9 PM,

but the guided tour option is only available for the 8 PM slot!

Just meet your guide at one of these spots to pick up your physical tickets.

Both spots are right near Shiliupu Wharf, which is super close to Yu Garden, so boarding is extremely convenient.

Between the two, MyRealTrip is highly tailored for Korean speakers and tends to be very affordable, so I highly recommend using MyRealTrip! :)

( Free cancellation is available if requested before 9 AM, 1 day prior to departure. )

3. How to Ride the Huangpu River Cruise

This actually wasn’t my first time visiting Shanghai, but it was my first time boarding the Huangpu River Cruise.

The crowds were honestly massive, which made me realize just how incredibly popular this attraction is.

I booked my tickets departing from Shiliupu Wharf through Trip.com.

It took only about 10 minutes by taxi to get there from East Nanjing Road.

By the way, Trip.com tickets allow same-day booking and free cancellation. I booked mine in advance with the comfortable mindset of, "If the weather is bad, I can just cancel!"

You can show up anytime after 6 PM before the final boarding, so I headed over around 7:20 PM.

Just head inside near Exit 2 of Shiliupu Wharf, where you'll find the ticket office. Simply swap your mobile voucher for a physical ticket there, and you can board the next available cruise immediately.

After that, just follow the staff's guidance, queue up at the waiting area, and hop on board!

(It can get pretty crowded while waiting, so if you're visiting in the summer, definitely bring a portable fan! It gets a bit hot 😂)

4. Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise: My Honest Review

Once on board, the first place I headed to was the deck at the very back.

Everyone is always looking for the best vantage point on the ship.

Hands down, the best spot is the VIP seating on the upper deck, which requires an extra upgrade of 100 RMB (~$14) to relax and enjoy the view in comfort.

You can purchase this upgrade on the spot by heading up to the 3rd floor. Since it’s a full 1-hour tour, many passengers opt for this upgrade.

As for me, I enjoyed the night view from the 2nd-floor deck without any extra upgrade. Honestly, this spot is more than enough!

You get a fantastic view of both the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Bund.

And since it’s a round-trip route, don’t stress if you miss a photo opportunity on the way there—you can easily catch it on the way back!

It’s usually tough to capture both of these spots in a single frame from the ground, but out here on the Huangpu River Cruise, it’s totally doable!

Everyone in my family loved it with zero complaints!

If you're wondering where to go for the ultimate view of Shanghai's nightscape,

I can guarantee that this Huangpu River Cruise alone is more than enough to give you that breathtaking experience!

5. FAQ

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Q. Can I book tickets on the same day?

Yes! On Trip.com, as long as you purchase your tickets before 6 PM on the day of your visit, you can use them right away.

Q. Can I get a free cancellation?

Trip.com tickets are automatically refunded if they are unused.

You will receive a cancellation request notification after 2 days, and you can proceed with it then.

Q. Are children allowed on board?

Yes! Children under 130cm tall can ride for free.

Standard adult rates apply for anyone 130cm or taller.

If you're wondering where to get the absolute best view of Shanghai's legendary night skyline,

look no further than the Huangpu River Cruise!

It’s a crowd-pleaser that everyone—regardless of age—will absolutely love.

Personally, I’m 100% planning to hop on this cruise again the next time I visit Shanghai.

You can book your tickets depending on your preferred boarding location:

📍 Lowest rate for Jinling East Road ➜ Click here

📍 Lowest rate for Shiliupu Pier ➜ Click here

⏰ If you want total flexibility without being tied down to a specific time slot:

➜ I highly recommend this option!

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