From the Bund to the Oriental Pearl Tower — three night-view spots in Shanghai

A walk along the Bund, a 45-minute cruise on the Huangpu, and a view from the Oriental Pearl Tower — three ways to see Shanghai's two skylines facing each other across the river.

Words · Editorial desk

Shanghai's night skyline comes in two halves that face each other across the Huangpu River. On the west bank (Puxi) stands the Bund, lined with Western-style buildings from the old concession era; on the east bank (Pudong), towers like the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower rise into the sky. Here are three ways to take in both sides.

The Bund — walking the promenade, looking across the river

The Bund is roughly a 1.5km promenade running along Zhongshan East No. 1 Road. Its row of Western-style bank and hotel buildings, built in the 1920s and '30s, is often called an "exhibition of world architecture" by day — but the real draw after dark is looking across the water. From the promenade, the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center come into full view on the Pudong side; that skyline usually lights up together at 7 p.m. and switches off at 11 p.m., though the schedule can shift earlier during major events, so it's worth checking before you go.

There's no admission fee and no fixed visiting hours — it's open around the clock. It's a 5–10 minute walk from Nanjing East Road or the Bund stations on metro lines 2 and 10. The promenade gets crowded between 7 and 9 p.m., and touts offering to take your photo or steering people toward pricey "tea ceremony" experiences aren't uncommon; politely declining unsolicited offers is the safer move.

A Huangpu River night cruise — both skylines at once, from the water

If the Bund is a view from the shore, the night cruise departing from Shiliupu Wharf lets you see both skylines at once from the middle of the river. The route runs from Shiliupu Wharf past the Bund's riverside promenade, Shanghai Tower, and the Shanghai International Convention Center to the Oriental Pearl Tower, turns around near Qinhuangdao Wharf, and heads back past North Bund, Waibaidu Bridge, and the Bund's building row again — more of a loop than a one-way trip. Boats run roughly every 30 minutes from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and one round takes about 45 minutes.

Tickets are 145 yuan per person. Shiliupu Wharf has two separate piers — Pier 1 at 481 Zhongshan East 2nd Road and Pier 2 at 551 — so it's worth checking which one your ticket is for before you go. It's a walk from Yuyuan Garden station on metro line 10. The river breeze can be sharp regardless of season, so bring a jacket, and weekend evening sailings can sell out, so booking online ahead of time is a good idea.

The Oriental Pearl Tower — looking down from above

Having seen the skyline from across the river and from the water, the last step is looking down from inside it. The Oriental Pearl Tower, Pudong's Lujiazui landmark, has two sphere observation decks (at 259m and 263m) plus an upper deck at 350m; the most commonly sold ticket, covering both lower spheres, is priced at 199 yuan for adults. The 259m level has a glass floor section, so Lujiazui's night lights show up directly under your feet.

It's open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., though sources disagree on the last-entry cutoff — some say 9 p.m., others 8:30 p.m. — so it's worth confirming on site. The address is 1 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, a walk from Lujiazui station on metro lines 2 and 14. From the deck, the view looks back toward the Bund side of the skyline, so you can retrace the promenade you walked and the cruise route you took, this time from above.

※ Admission fees and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.

PARTNERS

제일타카 · JITOOL 우허비즈니스호텔 장수화로 한식당 천지골프연습장 크리스탈나로도 · ITM 킴스헤어 미용실 장춘연 변호사 법률사무소 CS 비즈솔루션 천진한국국제학교 블루아이 · 아시아부동산 JESSICA 패션 ELIC · 중국유학 천진 CN 렌트카