Shanghai Tower at night: Private tour with river views

A 55-second elevator ride to views of two Shanghais: the one you remember and the one lit up after dark

A private night tour of Shanghai that starts with hotel pickup in downtown Shanghai and takes you to the observation deck of Shanghai Tower, Asia's tallest building, where you watch the city transition from sunset to evening lights across the 118th floor. A local guide in English or Chinese narrates the skyline and its landmarks. You can add a Huangpu River cruise to float past the Bund's colonial architecture and modern towers reflected in the water. The tour runs 3 to 4 hours and includes entrance to the observation deck, local transport (premium Uber for small groups, private van for five or more), and hotel drop-off.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Shanghai Tower1h · entry included
2. Huangpu River1h

Shanghai Tower and Night River Cruise

• Pick up at downtown Shanghai hotel
• Drive to Pudong New Island
• Visit Shanghai Tower observation deck
• Enjoy sunset and evening city views
• Take night river cruise on Huangpu River
• View Bund architecture and city lights

The experience

You get picked up at your downtown Shanghai hotel and driven to Pudong, the financial district that rose from swampland into a forest of towers. The real moment starts when you step into the elevator at Shanghai Tower's base: 55 seconds straight up to the 118th floor, where the observation deck opens onto the entire city. At sunset, you're watching the skyline shift from daylight to neon: the Pearl, the World Financial Tower, the older Bund buildings below all catching light as the sky darkens. Your guide points out the landmarks and the city's layers, from the colonial architecture to the glass-and-steel present.

If you book the Tower+Cruise option, the second half of the evening takes you down to the Huangpu River. You board a night cruise that floats you past the Bund's illuminated facades and under the bridges that connect the old city to Pudong. The guide walks you through Shanghai's history (the foreign concessions, the modern transformation), while the buildings slide past lit up against the dark water. You can photograph the reflections or just watch the city from a different angle, one that most visitors miss.

Transport is handled by the tour: hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the vehicle depends on your group size. For one to four people, you travel in a local premium Uber. For five or more, a private van is provided. The observation deck entrance is included. If you want dinner during the tour, that's on you and paid on site. Outskirt hotels can be arranged for an extra charge if you're staying outside downtown.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in downtown Shanghai.
• entrance to Shanghai Tower's 118th-floor observation deck.
• local transport in a premium vehicle matched to your group size.
• a guide speaking English or Chinese throughout the tour.
• and if you book the Tower+Cruise option, a night cruise along the Huangpu River with views of the Bund's illuminated architecture.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tower Option OnlyGuide in English or Chinese · 18:00, 18:30, 19:00 and 19:30Shanghai Tower option: a great guide, local transfer, and admission to the Shanghai Tower observation deck are all included. Pickup is included.

Tower+Cruise OptionGuide in English or Chinese · 17:00, 17:30 and 18:00Tower and night cruise option: includes a great guide, local transfer, admission to the Shanghai Tower sightseeing deck, and River Cruise tickets. Dinner is not included. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 17:00, the last at 19:30

Book up to6h before

AgesUp to age 75

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 15

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sunny Private Tours

Is this one for you?Book the Tower Option Only if you want to focus on the observation deck and have time to linger over the sunset-to-night transition without rushing. Add the Huangpu River cruise if you want to see the city from two angles (from above at the tower, then from the water), and hear the guide's take on Shanghai's colonial and modern history from the Bund side.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

What's the view like from the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower?

The observation deck sits at 632 meters and looks out over the entire Shanghai skyline. You see Pudong's modern towers like the Pearl and World Financial Tower, the older Bund buildings across the river, and the city's lights spreading out in all directions. At sunset and into the evening, the view shifts as the city lights come on.

Can I add a river cruise to this tour?

Yes, the Tower+Cruise option includes a night cruise along the Huangpu River after the observation deck visit. You float past the Bund's illuminated colonial architecture and modern towers, and your guide explains Shanghai's history from the water.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes entrance to Shanghai Tower's observation deck, hotel pickup and drop-off in downtown Shanghai, local transport (Uber for small groups, private van for larger ones), and a guide who speaks English or Chinese. Dinner and any purchases on the boat are separate.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 3 to 4 hours, depending on how much time you spend at the observation deck and whether you add the river cruise.

What if my hotel is outside downtown Shanghai?

Downtown pickup and drop-off are included. If your hotel is in the outskirts, pickup can be arranged for an additional charge. Ask when you book.

Can I visit Shanghai Tower without the river cruise?

Yes, the Tower Option Only lets you skip the cruise and focus on the observation deck and the city lights from above. You can add the cruise experience later if you want.