The biggest and longest Huangpu River cruise is running again

Photograph: Wolfram K

If there's one thing that Shanghai can't seem to get enough of (besides Mobikes – they seem to grow exponentially by the hour), it's the Lujiazui skyline.

Thousands squeeze their way to the edge of The Bund on a Wednesday night (trying to strategically avoid the crowd, only to find that every other person in China had the same idea), while the lucky few soak up the view on a private terrace in their suite at The Peninsula Shanghai. River cruises are another option, if not the most dynamic and best option, especially at night. And now the city's largest, longest and most dragon-shaped river cruise ship is back in service, according to Shine. 

Photograph: John K Paul, CC by 2.0

The self-proclaimed No 1 Sightseeing Cruise Ship, first put into operation in 2007, is a 7-9pm cruise that starts at the Qinhuangdao Road Cruise Dock in Yangpu and takes a route through The Bund, under the Nanpu and Lupu bridges and all the way to the 2010 World Expo site before turning around. 

The boat tour has a 400-person capacity, a bilingual audio guide and a buffet dinner. We haven't tried the food, so we can't say if it's good or not, but what we can say is that two hours is a healthy chunk of time to enjoy sunset and nighttime views along the breezy and bright Huangpu River. 

The ship has undergone significant renovation, with a completely refurbished interior, cultural detailing and a giant Chinese temple-roof structure on the upper deck. Another modern touch is a video projection of Shanghai's sights onto the ship's exterior, which might be a bit over-the-top in that Shanghai kind of way.

Tickets are currently priced at 260RMB but are expected to rise to 300RMB mid-August. You can buy them at Qinhuangdao Road Cruise Dock in Yangpu.

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