Shanghai night bike tour: Old Town to the Bund with food tasting

Shanghai night bike tour: 9 km ride, neon Bund, TCM stop, local snacks

A small-group night bike tour of Shanghai that departs from Xintiandi and covers roughly 9 km on vintage bicycles, moving from the Chinese Old Town through the French Concession to the Bund. You ride past Yu Garden, learn about Ghost Wedding rituals, visit a Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy, taste street food at stops, and return to the starting point after about three and a half hours of riding and exploring. The guide speaks English, the group stays under eight people, and all gear—bike, helmet, lights, water and snacks—is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening bike tour of Shanghai

• Meet at Culture Shock Office
• Ride vintage bikes through Old Town
• Explore Yu Garden area
• Learn about Ghost Wedding rituals
• Visit Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy
• Enjoy local street food snack
• Cycle behind Bund riverside
• Return to Culture Shock Office

The Experience

The tour leaves Xintiandi at 18:15 on a vintage Forever bicycle, which means you start in the French Concession and pedal into the Old Town's narrow streets while the city shifts into evening mode. The route covers roughly 9 km total and moves at a pace that lets you stop, look around and absorb the landmarks instead of rushing past them. Your guide is a foreign expert who speaks English and knows the history—the Yu Garden landmark, the Ghost Wedding rituals tied to the area, the Art Deco architecture that survived the decades—and points these out as you ride.

Food happens at two planned stops: a local snack in the French Concession early on, and another tasting moment as you explore the Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy near the Bund. The Bund itself is the visual payoff—the dazzling lights and the riverside—and you ride right up to it instead of viewing it from a distance. A bottle of water travels with you, and the helmet and bike lights are already fitted before you leave. The whole loop takes about three and a half hours and ends back at the Xintiandi office by 21:30.

One practical note: the minimum height is 1.50 m to ride the bikes. Children under 12 cannot ride independently on Shanghai's streets by traffic law, so kids that age travel on an electric scooter accompanied by an adult. If you have specific dietary needs, mention them when you book so the snack stops work for you.

What’s included

• Vintage Forever bicycle rental with lights.
• helmet.
• bottled water.
• local street food tasting at two stops.
• expert English-speaking guide.
• all gear and equipment needed to ride safely through the evening.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by CULTURE SHOCK

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to hear stories about the landmarks as you ride—the guide speaks English and keeps groups small enough for real conversation over city noise.

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Top questions

What exactly is the route on this Shanghai night bike tour?

The tour starts in the French Concession at the Xintiandi office, moves through the narrow streets of the Chinese Old Town, passes Yu Garden, and finishes at the Bund. The full distance is roughly 9 km, ridden on vintage bikes at a pace that allows stops to explore landmarks and taste food.

How long does the bike tour take and what time does it start?

The tour runs from 18:15 to 21:30, so about three and a half hours total. You depart from the Culture Shock Office at 89 Danshui Road in Xintiandi and return to the same location.

What food do I get to taste on this tour?

You stop twice for local street food tastings—once in the French Concession early in the ride and again near the Bund when you visit a Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacy. The specific dishes depend on what is available that evening, and you can request dietary accommodations when you book.

Is the guide English-speaking and what do they teach about?

Yes, the guide is a foreign expert who speaks English throughout the tour. They teach about Chinese history, Ghost Wedding rituals, Art Deco architecture, and the history of the French Concession and the Bund.

What's included in the price and what do I need to bring?

The price includes the vintage bike rental, helmet, all lights, a bottle of water, local food tastings at two stops, and the expert English-speaking guide. You don't need to bring anything except comfortable clothes and a willingness to ride; optional premium insurance is available if you want it.

Can children ride on this tour?

Children 12 and older can ride the bikes if they meet the minimum height of 1.50 m. Children under 12 cannot ride independently on Shanghai's streets by traffic law, so they travel on an electric scooter with an adult accompanying them.