Shanghai: Huangpu Night River Cruise & Xinjiang Dinner Tour

Summary

Huangpu river cruise lights, city towers, Xinjiang flavors & lively Shanghai

You’ll drift along Shanghai’s Huangpu River at night with city lights flickering around you, then share plates of spicy dapanji chicken and lamb kebabs at a buzzing Xinjiang spot on Nanjing East Road. Your local guide handles every detail—from hotel pickup to laughter over dinner—leaving you free to soak in each moment as the city comes alive.

What’s the experience like?

We slid out from the hotel lobby just as the city was starting to glow — you know that weird moment when the sky’s not quite dark but all the neon is already fighting for attention. Our guide, Li, waved us into a van and we zipped through streets that felt busier than my brain after two coffees. At the Huangpu River cruise dock, there was this mix of fried food smells and river air — not exactly fresh, but definitely Shanghai. We climbed up to the top deck and Li pointed out the Bund’s old buildings on one side, all lit up like they were showing off. The other side? Pure glass and steel — Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower (Li made sure we knew it’s the second tallest in the world), and a bunch of others I’d only seen in photos before. I tried to take a picture but honestly, none of them really capture how the lights flicker across the water or how everyone else on deck goes quiet for a second when we pass under those towers.

The river cruise lasted about an hour — long enough for my phone battery to give up and for me to realize I’d been grinning like an idiot at every building Li named. After we docked, we followed him down Nanjing East Road where everything smelled like spice and grilled meat. The Xinjiang restaurant he took us to was packed with locals (always a good sign). There was this big plate chicken — dapanji — that came swimming in chili oil with potatoes and hand-pulled noodles tangled underneath. Lamb kebabs too; smoky, salty, kind of addictive. I tried saying “naan” in Mandarin and Li laughed so hard he almost choked on his yogurt drink.

Somewhere between bites, music kicked in — live dancers with swirling skirts doing what Li called “a bit of Xinjiang flair.” A couple of them pulled people up to dance; I tried to hide behind my plate but got caught anyway. Not my proudest moment but hey, at least nobody filmed it (I hope). Walking back outside after dinner felt different — maybe it was just being full or maybe it was seeing Shanghai all lit up from both sides of its river. Either way, I still think about that view sometimes when things get too quiet at home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Evening river cruise and Xinjiang dinner

• Meet guide and driver at hotel
• Travel to Huangpu River Cruise Terminal
• Enjoy 60-minute Huangpu River cruise
• View Bund colonial buildings and skyscrapers
• Dine at Xinjiang halal restaurant in Pudong
• Watch cultural and belly dancing show
• Return to hotel or chosen drop-off location

Top questions

How long does the Huangpu River night cruise last?

The river cruise lasts about 60 minutes as part of this tour.

Is dinner included on this Shanghai night tour?

Yes, a halal Xinjiang-style dinner at a local restaurant is included after the cruise.

Where does the tour start and end?

Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Shanghai and returns you there after dinner (or can drop you elsewhere in central areas).

What food is served during the Xinjiang dinner?

Dishes include dapanji (big plate chicken), lamb kebabs, naan bread, yogurt drinks, and other halal options.

Are drinks included with dinner?

You get soft drinks or beer included with your meal at the restaurant.

Is there live entertainment during dinner?

Yes, there is evening entertainment with cultural dancing between 6:30pm–7:30pm at the restaurant.

Can children join this tour?

Yes, children are welcome if accompanied by an adult; infants can ride in strollers or sit on laps.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, private transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off is included in your booking.

What’s included

Your evening includes private hotel pickup by your guide and driver, a 60-minute Huangpu River night cruise past both Bund landmarks and Pudong skyscrapers, then a halal Xinjiang-style dinner with soft drinks or beer at a lively local restaurant before returning to your hotel—or another central spot if you prefer.