Huangpu River Cruise(Shiliupu Pier)

It wasn't peak tourist season yet, so it wasn't crowded and the wait wasn't long. The view of the Huangpu River was truly different from during the day. You could go up to the deck for a guided tour, and there were free seats. The cabin was warm, and the experience was quite good.

Unfortunately, the weather was bad. The cruise was good, I liked everything.

As the sky turned a vibrant orange-pink and indigo, the silhouettes of the buildings on both banks softened, and lights illuminated the river in succession. The reflections on the water shifted from gold to red and then to purple, creating a truly immersive atmosphere, perfectly capturing the essence of Shanghai. The Bund's historic buildings were outlined in warm golden light, while the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower in Lujiazui shone brightly with neon lights, their reflections dancing on the rippling river. A cool river breeze carried the sounds of amazement and camera shutters clicking across the deck, while soft music often accompanied the cabin, creating a romantic and dreamlike ambiance.

The entire cruise terminal is only equipped with three small buildings with simple lines and a height of no more than four floors, surrounded by large green areas and waterfront platforms with riverside characteristics. On this landscape shoreline with an elevation of 7.4 meters, in the "Sky Garden" with a green coverage rate of 52%, the designer also built a group of elegant and undulating curved glass sheds, named "Pujiang Cloud". The lowest point is about 9 meters and the highest point is more than 20 meters, just like a colorful cloud floating in the distance. "Pujiang Cloud" and three small buildings with stone finishes form a dialogue between modern and traditional materials, naturally transitioning the huge era contrast between the old Bund buildings in Puxi and the Lujiazui buildings in Pudong; and in terms of shape, they interweave and echo each other, becoming an endless main line in the general map, and also a new experience of modern riverside expression.

On the boat, you can see the beautiful scenery of Shanghai's classic and modern architecture. The cruise departs from Shiliupu Wharf, stops at Binjiang Avenue, Shanghai Tower, Shanghai International Convention Center, Oriental Pearl Tower, then turns around along Qinhuangdao Wharf, continues to visit North Bund, Magnolia Square, Waibaidu Bridge and the Bund International Architecture Expo Group, and finally returns to Shiliupu Wharf. The whole journey takes about 45 minutes.

Shanghai Shiliupu Wharf is located on Zhongshan East 2nd Road, Huangpu District, and is a famous wharf on the Bund. Its history can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty. It was once the largest wharf in the Far East and the water gateway of Shanghai. In 2004, the passenger terminal was moved to Wusong, and was later renovated and reopened during the 2010 World Expo. Now known as Shiliupu Tourist Wharf, it has 855 meters of shoreline and 17 berths. It is the Huangpu River water tourism center, and also has riverside green space, commercial restaurants and parking garages and other facilities.

I strongly recommend buying boat tickets on Ctrip, which is much cheaper than the pier! Personal experience, my child wanted to take a boat trip while visiting the Bund. I saw that there were boat tickets along the Bund, so I bought a ticket for 120 yuan. When I arrived at the pier, it was not yet time for the boat to leave, so I searched on Ctrip and found that it was 68 yuan per ticket that day! OmG, I calculated the refund fee and made a decisive decision. It is also cost-effective to refund the ticket and buy a new one on Ctrip!

After years of silence, Shiliupu Wharf has regained its former prosperity. During the 2010 World Expo, the area not only became the home port for Huangpu River cruise ships, but also a new choice for citizens and Chinese and foreign tourists to enjoy the riverside scenery. Many Shanghai citizens have a special affection for Shiliupu Wharf. The large platform on the ground of the new Shiliupu stretches from north to south. This is a wide pedestrian path for sightseeing, tourism, dining and resting. Visitors strolling in the winding path can touch the lush greenery of flowers, plants and trees, and look up to see the undulating curves of the glass ceiling; if you are tired, you can sit and rest in the three small ground buildings, or you can go to the underground shopping and entertainment through elevators, escalators, ramps, steps and other transportation facilities, and you can walk to the waterside to enjoy the river breeze. Walking on the riverside landscape platform, on the west side is the old Bund building complex representing the city's history, and on the east side is the Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone, which symbolizes a bright future. The new Shiliupu is like a time and space corridor that can overlook Shanghai's past and future. It is a must-visit place for taking photos and checking in when visiting Shanghai.