Huangpu commute: The Shanghai ferry system

On board a Shanghai ferry that traverses the Huangpu, you can get up close and personal with world-weary cargo ships while taking in the skylines of Puxi and Pudong. Depending on the line and time of day, ferries run every 10 to 20 minutes, and at RMB 0.5-2 per five-minute trip, this is arguably one of the cheapest ways to see the real Shanghai. Your spirits might also appreciate the break from the humdrum of the Metro. 

While there are 19 ferry lines that cross the Huangpu daily, we present the most accessible from downtown Shanghai.

Get up close to (and under) the Nanpu Bridge on the Nanlu Shanghai ferry line, the southernmost line connecting Huangpu District with Pudong.

Besides marveling at the ever-changing landscape of the riverbank, there are always opportunities for people watching. The ferry is, it seems, as good a place as any for a mid-afternoon stretch.

Passengers wait to board at Yangjiadu Ferry Pier. If boarding on foot, you may want to move aside for the motorcyclists to avoid getting caught in the chaos.

The interiors of these ferries might feel more like a parking lot, but head to the open-air front and you’ll be rewarded with a breeze and a better view. (Yangfu Line)

Even though the tunnels and Metro have eased traffic at the ferries, rush hour at the pier still feels like a life-threatening event .

As a part of the city’s public transportation system, the Shanghai ferry piers are no-frills and unassuming but easily recognizable by their logo, like this one at Dongmen Lu.

A post-sunset ride on the Dongdong Line will not only dazzle you with the pretty play of lights on either shore, but you also won’t notice how brown the water really is.

The Dongjin Line runs closest to the skyscrapers of Lujiazui and provides a close-up of the Bund’s transformation for the 2010 Expo.

Ferry stations (south to north)

Nanlu Line:
Lujiabang Lu Ferry Pier, 1 Lujiabang Lu (Puxi), Nanmatoulu Ferry Pier, 2 Nanmatou Lu (Pudong)

Tangdong Line:
Dongjiadu Ferry Pier, 735 Waima Lu (Puxi), Tangqiao Ferry Pier, 1 Tangqiao Lu (Pudong)

Yangfu Line:
Fuxingdong Lu Ferry Pier, 1 Fuxing Lu (Puxi), Yangjiadu Ferry Pier, 1 Zhangyang Lu (Pudong)

Dongdong Line:
Dongmen Ferry Pier, 1 Dongmen Lu (Puxi), Dongchang Ferry Pier, 1 Dongchang Lu (Pudong)

Dongjin Line:
Jinlingdong Lu Ferry Pier, 127 E. Jinling Lu (Puxi), Dongchang Ferry Pier, 1 Dongchang Lu (Pudong)

Cost per one-way trip

RMB 0.5 (pedestrian), RMB 1.3 (cyclist), and RMB 1.5 (motorcyclist). RMB 2 for Dongjin Line. Shanghai Public Transportation Card accepted.