Shanghai City Sightseeing Bus

Shanghai’s sightseeing bus gives you a useful first look at a city that can feel enormous from sidewalk level. From an upper-deck seat, you can trace the contrast between the Bund’s older waterfront buildings and Pudong’s modern towers, then get off near places you want to explore on foot.

I like two things most: the freedom to hop off at major sights, and the chance to rest between walks while the city passes by. The audio guide comes in eight languages, and the 24-hour ticket starts at $8.99, with 48-hour and combo options available at higher prices.

One caution: traffic and bus waits can eat into your day. Routes overlap, schedules vary by line, and some riders report long waits or changed routes. Treat the bus as a flexible sightseeing tool, not a precise way to make timed appointments.

Shanghai City Sightseeing Bus: the essentials

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• A city overview from the upper deck: Ride past the Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Garden and Pudong’s landmark towers.
• Four numbered daytime routes: Lines 1, 2, 3 and 9 serve different areas, though several stops and corridors overlap.
• A 24-hour pass starts at $8.99: A 48-hour option starts at $11.99. Prices and packages can vary.
• Eight audio-guide languages: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, German, Korean and French are listed.
• Paper ticket required: Exchange your voucher at a designated booth, then show the physical ticket when boarding.
• Traffic is the big variable: Bus frequency is listed as roughly 20 to 30 minutes on some lines, but delays can happen.

👉 See our pick of the 25 Best Guided Tours In Shanghai

Start with the city’s big picture

This works best as an orientation ride on your first day, or as a way to save your legs when Shanghai’s distances start to add up. The routes connect several districts and landmark areas, so a ride helps you understand how the city’s central sights relate to one another before you decide where to spend more time.

The open-top double-decker is part of the appeal, but the roof may be closed depending on conditions. Some buses have air conditioning, though comfort can vary by vehicle and seat. On a clear day with the upper deck open, the elevated view is a pleasure; in heat, rain or poor air quality, a lower seat may be the wiser choice.

There is no named live guide listed. Instead, you get an audio guide through a headphone, with a short commentary in one of eight languages. It can add context to the ride, but the quality is not guaranteed on every bus, and some language versions may be less clear or natural than others. I’d use it as a helpful extra, not the main reason to book.

Four routes, with some useful overlap

Line 1 is the broad central-city loop. Its stops include Shanghai Museum, the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Nanjing Road, Shanghai Customs House, the Huangpu River Cruise Terminal, City God Temple and Yu Garden, Xintiandi and Huaihai Road. It’s a good first route if you want to connect several well-known places without building your own transit plan.

Line 2 focuses on the riverfront and Pudong skyline. It links the Oriental Pearl Tower and Jinmao Tower with the Bund, Magnolia Plaza, ferry terminals and Yu Garden. This is the most direct choice if your priority is the iconic view across the Huangpu River, though it shares parts of its circuit with other lines.

Line 3 is a shorter route around the Bund, river cruise terminal, Yu Garden and nearby ferry stops. It runs from 09:00 to 16:00, with buses listed about every 30 minutes. Because it covers fewer areas and finishes earlier than Lines 1 and 2, check its hours before planning a late-day stop around it.

Line 9 connects several sites tied to the history of the Communist Party of China, including the First and Second Congress sites and the Memorial Hall of the Fourth Congress site. It runs at set departures of 08:30, 11:00, 13:30 and 16:00, and is closed on Mondays. This is the route to choose for those specific historical sites, but it is not a frequent, all-day service.

The advertised experience also refers to five routes. The detailed operating information names four numbered lines and a night tour, so check which routes and services are running when you redeem your ticket. The night tour has a different set of boarding points and is not simply a late version of every daytime loop.

The stops that reward a hop off

The Bund and Garden Bridge are among the strongest places to leave the bus. The waterfront’s historic buildings face the high-rise skyline across the river, a view that makes Shanghai’s different eras easy to read. You can also board near the Huangpu River Cruise Terminal, but a river cruise is a separate activity unless it is included in a specific package.

Nanjing Road gives you a busy pedestrian stretch and a practical place to join Line 1. The route also stops at Nanjing Road Century Plaza and the east side of the pedestrian street. If shopping is your main aim, note that the bus is designed around sightseeing landmarks, not as a dedicated shopping shuttle.

City God Temple and Yu Garden bring you into an older, more traditional part of the city. The bus stop is useful for reaching the area, but the bus ticket itself does not include admission to attractions. Leave time to explore on foot, and don’t assume that a stop means an attraction entrance is covered.

The Oriental Pearl Tower and Jinmao Tower are the key Pudong stops. They offer a chance to get off and visit the towers separately, but entry is not included with the basic bus ticket. Some ticket combinations add admission to Madame Tussauds Shanghai or Jinmao Tower’s 88th-floor observation hall, so compare the package details if you already plan to visit one of them.

Xintiandi and the Communist Party sites make Line 1 and Line 9 more than skyline circuits. Xintiandi is a stop on Line 1, while Line 9 is aimed at sites connected with early party history. The latter’s fixed departure times mean you should plan around the bus rather than assume you can catch another one shortly after.

Plan around the clock, not just the map

Line 1 is listed from 09:00 to 19:00, usually every 20 to 30 minutes. Line 2 runs from 09:00 to 20:30, about every 30 minutes, while Line 3 ends at 16:00. Line 9 has four scheduled departures and does not run on Mondays. These hours make the 24-hour pass more useful for some routes than others.

The night tour runs between 16:30 and 20:30, with boarding points listed on Line 1 at Nanjing Road Century Plaza, the east side of Nanjing Road, Shanghai Customs House, and City God Temple and Yu Garden. On Line 2, the listed boarding points are the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Monument to the May Thirtieth Movement. Ask staff which service is arriving, since daytime and night routes differ.

The ticket is valid for 24 or 48 hours from redemption, rather than simply through the calendar day. For example, a ticket redeemed at 10:00 is valid until 09:59 the following day. That rolling window can help you spread a ride across two mornings, but the route operating hours still apply.

Where the bus saves time, and where it doesn’t

The strongest value is convenience. Stops are near major attractions, and you can rest between walks instead of crossing the city on foot. If you want to sample several districts in one day, the pass can be a straightforward way to do it, especially when you use the routes for orientation and combine them with walking, the metro or taxis.

The weakness is predictability. Shanghai traffic can slow a loop, and the stated intervals are not a promise that a bus will arrive exactly on schedule. Some passengers have found it hard to tell where to wait or how long the delay will be. If you have a timed reservation, use another form of transport rather than trusting the bus to get you there on time.

Route overlap is another planning issue. Lines 1, 2 and 3 share some places, so buying 48 hours does not necessarily mean seeing twice as much. It may suit you if you want a slower pace, a repeat ride at night or a second chance to visit missed sights. If your itinerary is compact, a 24-hour pass may be enough.

Audio, comfort and the small print that matters

The audio guide is available in Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, German, Korean and French. You receive a headphone for listening, but equipment and language availability can vary by bus. Commentary may also finish before you reach the sight it describes, so keep an eye out rather than waiting for the narration to announce every landmark.

The buses are double-deckers, but don’t count on an open roof. The upper deck can be closed, and air conditioning has not been consistent across every vehicle. If weather is unpleasant or you’re sensitive to heat, the bus still offers a seated way to see the city, but the upper deck may not deliver the breezy ride you pictured.

A voucher is not enough to board. Exchange it for a paper ticket at the booth near the Monument to the May Thirtieth Movement at 68 Nanjing West Road, or at the booth by the Oriental Pearl Tower at 1416 Lujiazui Ring Road. Redemption hours are listed as 09:00 to 18:00, so don’t leave this step until after the booths close.

All visitors on one booking share a paper ticket and must board together. Keep it clean, dry and unfolded so its QR code can be scanned. A photo or screenshot of the ticket is not accepted, and a lost, stolen or damaged paper ticket cannot be used for hop-on service.

Children up to 130 cm tall ride free, with one free child allowed per adult. The child must be accompanied by an adult. The bus only passes attractions; standard admission fees are not included, despite the appeal of using one pass to reach many sights.

Is the pass worth the price?

At the listed starting price of $8.99 for 24 hours, the bus can be good value if you use it for several rides and want a comfortable overview of central Shanghai. The 48-hour pass starts at $11.99, while a two-person 24-hour ticket starts at $13.65. Combo tickets add Madame Tussauds or Jinmao Tower admission, with listed starting prices of $28.19 and $20.69 respectively.

Value depends less on the number of routes than on how often you ride. If you plan to hop off at multiple stops and use the bus to rest between walks, the pass has a clear purpose. If you only want one ride, or your plans center on places outside the routes, taxis and the metro may fit better. Some visitors find the bus cheaper at local ticket booths, so compare the price and convenience before booking online.

I’d book the 24-hour ticket for a first visit, especially if you want an easy overview and a few flexible stops. Choose 48 hours only if you have a deliberate plan for both days or want to spread sightseeing at a slower pace. Expect a scenic, useful ride, not a clockwork transport network.

FAQ

How long is the ticket valid?

The 24-hour or 48-hour period starts when you redeem the voucher for a physical ticket. A 24-hour ticket redeemed at 10:00 is valid until 09:59 the next day.

Where do I exchange my voucher?

Exchange it at the booth near the Monument to the May Thirtieth Movement at 68 Nanjing West Road, or at the booth by the Oriental Pearl Tower at 1416 Lujiazui Ring Road. Redemption hours are listed as 09:00 to 18:00.

Which languages are available for the audio guide?

Audio commentary is listed in Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, German, Korean and French. A headphone is included, but availability and sound quality can vary by bus.

Does the bus ticket include admission to attractions?

No. The basic ticket covers bus rides and stops, not entry to the attractions. Separate combo options include Madame Tussauds Shanghai or Jinmao Tower’s 88th-floor observation hall.

Which routes operate on Mondays?

Line 9 is closed on Mondays. The other listed lines have their own operating hours, with Line 1, Line 2 and Line 3 running on the schedules provided.

Can children ride for free?

Children up to 130 cm tall ride free when accompanied by an adult. Each adult may bring one free child.