Shanghai: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket and Optional Attractions

Shanghai is a huge city, and this three-route sightseeing bus gives you a quick grip on its main districts without forcing you into one fixed tour. You can ride past the Bund, People’s Square, Yuyuan Garden, Jing’an Temple, and Pudong’s forest of towers, then hop off when something catches your eye.

I like the low starting price of $12 and the freedom to use the bus for 24 or 48 hours. I also like having audio commentary in eight languages, plus optional add-ons such as the Huangpu River Cruise and Jin Mao Tower’s 88th-floor view.

The main catch is timing. Buses generally come every 30 minutes, and the blue and green routes run for fewer hours than the red route. Finding the correct stop can also take patience, especially at People’s Square.

Key points

• Three separate routes: Cover central Shanghai, Pudong, and the temple district with red, blue, and green loops.
• Best first ride: The red route links People’s Square, Nanjing Road, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, and Xin Tian Di.
• Useful rainy-day option: The covered bus gives you a city overview when walking is unpleasant.
• Audio in eight languages: Choose English, Mandarin, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, or Korean.
• Optional major sights: Depending on the package, add the Huangpu River Cruise, Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai Tower, or Bund Sightseeing Tunnel.
• Plan around departures: Most routes run every 30 minutes, but waits can feel long at certain stops.

A practical first look at Shanghai from the top deck

This is best used as an orientation tool, not as a complete guided tour of every sight. You get a broad view of Shanghai’s old commercial center, grand riverfront, traditional garden quarter, and modern Pudong district in one ticket.

I would start with one full loop before hopping off. The ride helps you see how Shanghai fits together: People’s Square and Nanjing Road form the central city, the Bund faces Pudong across the Huangpu River, and Yuyuan Garden gives you a very different view of the city’s older side.

The double-decker layout matters. From the upper deck, you get a better look at Shanghai’s towers and broad avenues, but weather can make the ride hot, cold, or wet. One bus may have very strong air conditioning while another feels warm, so bring a light layer and keep some flexibility.

The bus also gives you a break from Shanghai’s traffic and crowds. You will not get a detailed explanation of every street, and the recorded commentary can occasionally fall out of sync with the bus, but it gives useful context while you watch the city pass by.

The red route links Shanghai’s classic sights

The red route, called the Shanghai City Tour, is the most useful starting point for most people. Buses run about every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It begins at People’s Square, a central stop near several important city sights. This is also one of the three places where you can exchange your voucher for the actual bus ticket, so it is a practical place to begin.

From there, the route passes People’s Park and the Shanghai Art Museum. People’s Park gives you a greener pause in the middle of the city, while the museum adds an art stop if you want something beyond streets and buildings.

Next comes Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s famous shopping avenue. The bus is useful here because the road is long and busy, and you can get a sense of its scale before deciding where to walk.

The Bund is the essential stop on this route. Along the riverfront, you face Pudong’s modern skyline while standing among the older buildings of Shanghai’s former international quarter. Get off here if you want photographs, a riverside walk, or access to the Huangpu River Cruise.

The route then continues to Yuyuan Garden. This is where Shanghai’s traditional side becomes more visible, with old-style architecture and a different pace from Nanjing Road and the Bund. If you want to visit the garden, allow enough time because a quick bus connection will not give this area justice.

The final listed stop is Xin Tian Di, a popular dining and entertainment district. It can work well for an evening meal, though food and drinks are not included in the ticket.

The blue route crosses into Pudong

The blue Pudong Tour runs about every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is shorter in feel than a citywide loop, but it takes you directly into Shanghai’s modern high-rise district.

The route starts at the Bund, so it is easy to connect with the red route. From the riverfront, you can look across to the Oriental Pearl Tower and the taller buildings behind it.

The Oriental Pearl Tower is one of Shanghai’s most recognizable landmarks. The bus gives you a useful outside view, while the optional attraction packages may include other observation decks rather than entry to this tower itself. Check your selected option carefully before assuming a particular tower ticket is included.

The next section covers the World Financial Center and Jin Mao Tower. Jin Mao Tower’s 88th-floor Observation Deck is one of the optional additions, and it gives you a high view over the city. This is a good choice if you want a paid viewpoint without committing to every tower ticket available in Pudong.

The blue route also reaches Cool Docks, a waterfront area with restaurants and converted industrial buildings. It is a change from the grand scale of the Bund and the towers, though the route’s main value remains its connection between the riverfront and Pudong’s high-rise center.

The River Cruise, Pier 16 stop is another important connection. If your package includes the one-hour Huangpu River Cruise, this is where the bus network becomes particularly useful. If the cruise is not included in your chosen option, you may need to purchase it separately.

The green route focuses on temples and museums

The green Temple Tour runs about every 30 minutes from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Its hours are shorter, so do not leave this route until late in the day.

It begins at Nanjing Road near New World City, then passes the Shanghai Museum. This route is useful if you want a mix of shopping, culture, and city streets rather than another trip along the river.

Huaihai Road follows, offering another view of central Shanghai’s commercial side. The route then heads toward Jing’an Temple on Nanjing West Road.

Jing’an Temple is one of the most memorable stops on the green route because it brings a major religious site into the middle of Shanghai’s modern business district. The nearby Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel stop also serves the Nanjing West Road area, making this route practical for seeing several central districts without walking the entire distance.

The green route later returns toward the Shanghai Art Museum, People’s Square, and People’s Park. Because the route overlaps with some of the red route’s central stops, you can use it as a second look at the city rather than trying to treat all three lines as completely separate experiences.

How to use 24 or 48 hours wisely

The 24-hour ticket begins when you first activate it, not necessarily at the start of the calendar day. That gives you some flexibility, especially if you begin in the afternoon and want to continue the next morning.

The 48-hour option is more useful if you want to get off at several places. Shanghai’s sights are spread out, and the 30-minute service interval means that a one-day plan can become rushed once you include a garden, museum, tower, and cruise.

For one day, I would make the red route your backbone. Ride part of it first, get off at the Bund, then connect with the blue route for Pudong and one observation deck. If time remains, use the red route again for Yuyuan Garden or Xin Tian Di.

With 48 hours, divide the city by district. Use one period for People’s Square, Nanjing Road, the Bund, and Yuyuan Garden. Use another for Pudong, the river cruise, and the tower views. Fit the green route around the shorter operating hours.

Do not plan every connection too tightly. A bus can arrive every 30 minutes, and some stops involve a wait before the next vehicle. The ticket lasts for the full selected period, so the best approach is to allow breathing room.

What the optional tickets add

The basic bus ticket is inexpensive, but the attraction packages change the value calculation. You may be offered a 24 or 48-hour bus ticket with selected additions such as the Jin Mao Tower 88th-floor Observation Deck, the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, a one-hour Huangpu River Cruise, or Shanghai Tower.

The Huangpu River Cruise is the most natural companion to the bus. From the water, you see both sides of Shanghai at once: the historic Bund buildings and the illuminated or towering Pudong skyline. It also gives your feet a rest after walking along the riverfront.

Jin Mao Tower is a straightforward choice if you want a high viewpoint connected to the blue route. Shanghai Tower is another possible option, depending on the package you select, and you should confirm which tower is included before booking.

The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel is a one-way ticket. It is a quick way to cross beneath the river, but it is not the same kind of experience as the cruise or an observation deck. If you are choosing add-ons mainly for views, put the river cruise or a tower first.

Attraction tickets are for single entry on a specific day. You need to exchange your voucher at People’s Square, the Bund, or the Oriental Pearl TV Tower stop before collecting the entry tickets. Do not assume you can show the original voucher directly at every attraction.

Finding the right bus and redeeming your voucher

You can board at any stop on the route, but there is one important extra step: redeem your GetYourGuide voucher at one of the sales kiosks. The approved exchange points are People’s Square, the Bund, and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

The People’s Square stop is at the junction of Nanjing Road and Xizang Road. The Bund stop is opposite the Peace Hotel. The Oriental Pearl Tower stop is outside entrance gate number 2.

This detail deserves attention because the map can place you near, but not exactly beside, the stop. At People’s Square, the stop can be confusing if you follow a map without checking the road junction. Give yourself extra time on your first connection.

The operator is Shanghai City Travel Service Co., Ltd. The buses may not be branded in the same way as better-known international sightseeing companies, so check for the correct bus and ask staff if you are unsure. Staff have been helpful when passengers needed directions, but the stop signs can still take work to identify.

Audio commentary, comfort, and the view from upstairs

Free headphones are provided, and the recorded commentary is available in English, Mandarin, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Korean. This makes the ticket practical for an independent visit, especially if you want basic context without hiring a private guide.

The commentary is not always perfectly timed to the view outside. Treat it as background information rather than a live guide who will point out each building at the exact moment you pass it.

Sit upstairs when the weather is pleasant. Shanghai’s tall buildings can block views from street level, and the upper deck gives you a better sense of the city’s size. The tradeoff is exposure to sun, rain, wind, and uneven air conditioning.

The buses are not always crowded, which helps if you want to stay on for a full route. Still, service is not rapid transit. A five-minute stop can stretch longer, and a 30-minute scheduled interval can feel significant when you are standing in heat or rain.

Is the $12 starting price good value?

At $12 per person, the basic ticket is priced well for a first look at Shanghai. A single day of moving between People’s Square, the Bund, Pudong, and Jing’an Temple can involve several local transport connections, and the bus lets you see the city between stops.

The value is strongest if you use more than one route. A single ride around the red loop will give you an overview, but it will not make full use of the ticket. Add the blue route, a few strategic stops, or a 48-hour pass, and the purchase makes more sense.

The optional packages require closer attention. A tower ticket, tunnel ride, and river cruise can make the total cost worthwhile if you already want those activities. They are less useful if you prefer walking, public transport, or choosing attractions on your own.

Food and drinks are not included. That is not a serious problem in Shanghai, but remember to budget time for meals because the sightseeing schedule can stretch across the day.

Who should book this Shanghai bus tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors, people with a short stay, and anyone who wants a broad city view before choosing which districts deserve more time. It is also useful in rainy weather, when a walking plan can lose its appeal.

Families and older visitors may appreciate the reduced need to navigate every transfer. The bus also suits anyone who wants commentary in a familiar language and the option to stay seated for long stretches.

I would be more cautious if you want a tightly timed itinerary. The routes are relatively short, but the waits and stop times can make it hard to predict exactly when you will reach the next sight. Visitors who prefer walking every street or using local transport may find the bus less efficient.

Overall, this is a practical orientation ticket with a low entry price and strong flexibility. Book it if you want to see Shanghai’s major districts quickly, especially with the river cruise or a tower view added. Choose the 48-hour option if you want to visit several attractions rather than simply ride the loops.

FAQ

How long is the bus ticket valid?

You can choose a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket. Validity begins when you first activate the ticket.

Where can I redeem my voucher?

You must redeem the voucher at a sales kiosk at People’s Square, the Bund, or the Oriental Pearl TV Tower stop.

Can I board at any stop?

Yes. You can board at any stop on the three routes, but you still need to redeem the voucher at one of the designated kiosks first.

How often do the buses run?

The red, blue, and green routes generally run every 30 minutes during their operating hours.

What are the operating hours?

The red route runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The blue route runs from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The green route runs from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Which languages are available for the audio commentary?

Commentary is available in English, Mandarin, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Korean.

Are the river cruise and observation decks included?

They are included only with selected ticket options. Depending on the package, additions may include the one-hour Huangpu River Cruise, Jin Mao Tower’s 88th-floor Observation Deck, Shanghai Tower, or the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel.

Can I use the attraction tickets more than once?

No. Attraction tickets are valid for single entry on a specific day.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket.