How to Cross the River from the Bund to Lujiazui
After reading this, you can choose how to cross the Huangpu River depending on day or night and who you're with.
From the Bund, Lujiazui is right in front of you.
From the Bund, Lujiazui is right in front of you.
Even so, you can't walk there.
That's because the Huangpu River flows in between.
Ways to cross the river include the metro, ferries, the sightseeing tunnel, and taxis.
Each has different operating hours and views, so it's best to choose based on when you cross.
Get to know the Huangpu River ferries first
According to the Shanghai Municipal Government, there are 17 regular ferry routes on the Huangpu River.
They run between piers on both banks.
Among them, the routes the city specifically picks as good for sightseeing are the Dongjin Line, the Dongfu Line, and the Taigong Line.
The three routes have different operating hours, and the city recommends them for different times.
The pier names are similar and easy to mix up, so remember both the route name and the pier name.
Ferries are best during the day
According to the Shanghai Municipal Government, the route most people take from the Bund side is the Dongjin Line.
It leaves from East Jinling Road Pier on the Bund side (141 Zhongshan East 2nd Road) and crosses to Dongchang Road Pier on the Pudong side (3510 Binjiang Avenue).
The Dongjin Line is for foot passengers only.
It only runs during the day.
The city guide lists 07:15~18:15 on the Pudong side and 07:15~18:30 on the Bund side.
So the city itself notes that it isn't suited to crossing while watching the night view.
The City Walk route the Shanghai Municipal Government recommends also uses this ferry.
You walk East Nanjing Road out to the Bund, then cross from Jinling Road Pier to Dongchang Road Pier.
After that, you walk toward the Jin Mao Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower.
If you want to see Lujiazui during the day, just follow this order.
From the boat, you can see the old Bund buildings and the Lujiazui high-rises on either side.
To cross by boat at night, take the Dongfu Line
If you want to ride a boat after sunset, switch routes.
The Dongfu Line runs between East Fuxing Road Pier and Dongchang Road Pier.
The city guide lists 07:15~21:00 on the Pudong side and 07:00~21:00 on the Bund side.
The Shanghai Municipal Government describes this route as the best for seeing the lights on both banks.
The Bund-side pier address is 1 East Fuxing Road.
It's a different place from East Jinling Road Pier, where you board the Dongjin Line, so check the pier name on a map before you go.
On the Pudong side, Dongchang Road Pier is shared by the Dongjin Line and the Dongfu Line.
If you want to ride at sunset, there's also the Taigong Line.
It runs between Gongping Road Pier and a pier on the Pudong side.
The city describes this route as the ferry that's prettiest at sunset.
Operating hours are listed as 06:00~21:40 on the Bund side and 06:00~21:50 on the Pudong side.
Gongping Road Pier is at 1 Gongping Road, and the Pudong-side pier is at 1 Pudong South Road.
Ferry hours can change, so the city guide also says to check the latest times in the "云上航线" menu of the official WeChat account "上海轮渡".
Late at night, take Metro Line 2
If you watch the night view to the end and then cross, the metro is convenient.
On Line 2, East Nanjing Road Station and Lujiazui Station are on the same line.
If you're staying at an East Nanjing Road hotel, take Line 2 from the station and cross under the river.
It doesn't matter if it's cloudy or raining.
Rainy-day routes are covered separately in Night views on cloudy or rainy days.
It works the same way in reverse, going from a Lujiazui hotel to the Bund.
The Eton Hotel Shanghai has Metro Lines 4 and 14 across the street, which is good for avoiding National Day traffic jams.
From The Eton Hotel to Pudong Avenue Station is about a 9-minute walk.
To Yuanshen Road Station is about an 11-minute walk.
Shanghai IFC is about a 23-minute walk, so it's a bit away from the heart of Lujiazui.
Ferry vs. metro on the same terms
Both connect the Bund and Lujiazui, but they're used quite differently.
- What you see: from the ferry you see both banks from the river. The metro goes under the river, so you can't see outside.
- Operating hours: the Dongjin Line ends around half past 6 in the evening and the Dongfu Line at 9 p.m. To watch the night view to the end and then cross, take the metro.
- Weather: for the ferry you have to walk to the pier, which is inconvenient on rainy days. The metro keeps you inside the station.
- Where to board: the ferry leaves from piers on the Bund riverside. The metro leaves from East Nanjing Road Station.
So a good combination is to cross once by ferry during the day or at sunset, and take the metro on your way back at night.
On the way there you enjoy the view, and on the way back you worry less about time.
The sightseeing tunnel is an attraction
Under the river between the Bund and Pudong, there's also the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel.
You ride a small driverless car through a tunnel with lights and sound effects.
The crossing takes only a few minutes.
It's more of an experience than a way to get around, so with kids it's worth riding once for fun.
Operating hours vary by season, so check before you go.
Take a taxi if you have luggage or are heading to a Pudong hotel
If you're staying at a Pudong hotel, a taxi is often the easiest.
Grand Hyatt Shanghai is inside the Jin Mao Tower.
It may look close to the Bund in a straight line, but you can't cross the river on foot.
When calling a taxi, it's best to set the pickup at Gate 3 of the Jin Mao Tower.
From Grand Hyatt it's about a 13-minute walk to the Oriental Pearl Tower, and about 13 minutes to Pudong South Road Station too.
Citadines Apart Hotel Lujiazui Shanghai is about a 13-minute walk to Deping Road Station, so you end up taking taxis to the main sights.
Check in this order before crossing
First, decide when you'll cross.
During the day it's the Dongjin Line, at sunset the Taigong Line, in the evening the Dongfu Line, and after 9 p.m. the metro.
Next, pin the boarding pier on your map.
On the Bund side, the pier differs by route: East Jinling Road Pier, East Fuxing Road Pier, or Gongping Road Pier.
Even on the same Bund riverside, the piers are quite far apart.
Right before you head out, check that day's operating hours once more on the WeChat account "上海轮渡".
The city guide also says the times may change.
Finally, decide what to do after crossing.
If you'll go up the Oriental Pearl Tower, you need to enter before 21:00.
If you decide how to get back in advance, you won't be wandering in front of the pier at night.
Choosing by who you're with
If you're going with your parents, a way with less walking is better.
With the ferry, you walk to the pier, and after getting off you still have a long walk toward the Oriental Pearl Tower.
If your parents walk slowly, it's easier to take Metro Line 2 on the way there and get off at Lujiazui Station.
If you're with kids, the sightseeing tunnel or the ferry is fun.
Just riding a boat is an attraction for kids.
But if it's close to the kids' bedtime, a taxi is better for the way back.
If you're traveling solo, cross on the Dongjin Line ferry and walk around Lujiazui.
The City Walk route the city recommends follows this order, so just walk along it.
How to choose
- If you're going to see Lujiazui during the day, take the Dongjin Line ferry. You see both sides from the river.
- If you want to cross by boat at sunset or in the evening, take the Dongfu Line or the Taigong Line.
- If it's after 9 p.m. or raining, take Metro Line 2.
- If you want to cross for fun with kids, try the sightseeing tunnel.
- If you have big luggage or are going straight to a Pudong hotel, call a taxi.
When you arrive in Lujiazui, the Oriental Pearl Tower is right nearby.
The Shanghai official tourism site says the Oriental Pearl Tower is open daily 08:00~22:00 with last entry at 21:00.
If you plan to go up the tower after crossing, make sure you arrive within these hours.
Other questions
Can I take a bicycle on the ferry?
The Shanghai Municipal Government guide says many people bring bicycles and e-bikes on the ferries.
However, the Dongjin Line is for foot passengers only.
What if I want to come back from Lujiazui to the Bund after 9 p.m.?
The Dongfu Line ends at 9 p.m., so take Metro Line 2 or a taxi.
Do I have to cross the river twice in one day?
If you're staying on the Lujiazui side, you go to see the Bund and come back; if you're staying on the Bund side, you go to see Lujiazui and come back.
If you're still deciding which bank to stay on, read Oriental Pearl Tower head-on from the North Bund, up close from Lujiazui first.
The walk to the Bund is in Walking from an East Nanjing Road hotel to the Bund.
