RIVER TRIPS · CHINA RIVER CRUISES

China River Cruises: the 15 to Book First

26 tours  ·  from $15 a head

The 15 best china river cruises you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

Huangpu Night Cruise: Cozy Vibe & Modern Shanghai Glow - What you see during the 45-minute route
China River Cruises, Shanghai River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

Huangpu Night Cruise: Cozy Vibe & Modern Shanghai Glow

1.Huangpu Night Cruise: Cozy Vibe & Modern Shanghai Glow

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 520 reviews · 1 day · from $21Our pick

Cruise the Huangpu River for about 45 minutes, passing the Bund, Lujiazui towers, Oriental Pearl Tower, and historic waterfront buildings. Choose a daytime or evening departure, then use the indoor, semi-open, or open-air deck. Tickets require in-person collection, and the correct code comes by email or chat, not the GetYourGuide QR code.

“My husband and I had a wonderful time. We had to pay an extra ¥100 if you want to sit on the 3rd/4th floor and you’ll get a free Cashmere scarf.”

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Shanghai Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining Experience - One hour on the Huangpu River
China River Cruises, River Cruises, Shanghai River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shanghai Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining Experience

2.Shanghai Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 324 reviews · from $155Top rated

Spend about three hours seeing Shanghai by private car, Huangpu River boat, and local Xinjiang restaurant. Your guide, such as Caroline, Queena, or Kalvin, handles transport, menu translation, and landmark commentary. The cruise and dinner are separate, with pickup and return included.

“Our experience in Shanghai was absolutely incredible, thanks to our fantastic guide, Queena. From the moment we met, she was friendly, organized, and full of fascinating knowledge about the city’s history, culture, and hidden gems. We went to the River Cruise and to a very nice and delicious dinner. She introduced us to delicious local food we never would’ve found on our own. I would recommend this guide if you want a truly memorable and personalized experience in Shanghai!”

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Shanghai: Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining - At the cruise terminal and on the water
China River Cruises, River Cruises, Shanghai River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shanghai: Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining

3.Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 210 reviews · 3 hours · from $153

Spend three evening hours with a private guide such as Caroline, Queena, or Snow, cruising the Huangpu River past the Bund and Pudong towers before a Xinjiang halal dinner. Private pickup, menu help, bottled water, and a soft drink or beer are included.

“We had a wonderful cruise and dinner. Even though the weather was wet and windy we had a great cruise and could see all the city lights perfectly. Our guide Xin was absolutely wonderful and took us to a delicious restaurant with lots of vegetarian options. Would definitely recommend doing this activity while in Shanghai. The only difficulty with our evening was the larger number of steps to get to the boat as my husband is on crutches and it was slippery in the rain but both the guide and the coordinator were very good at communicating regarding our needs and updating the accessibility for this activity.”

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Private Evening Tour: VIP Huangpu River Cruise and Shanghai Lights - The Huangpu cruise and the best photo window
China River Cruises, River Cruises, Shanghai River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

Private Evening Tour: VIP Huangpu River Cruise and Shanghai Lights

4.Private Evening Tour: VIP Huangpu River Cruise and Shanghai Lights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 150 reviews · from $128

Start around 7 PM with private hotel pickup and a guide such as Tom, Mary, Autumn, or Linda. Walk Yuyuan Old Street, cruise the Huangpu River from the VIP deck, then see Lujiazui and Xintiandi. Your guide can tailor the evening, help with photos, and return you to your hotel.

“We highly recommend this tour. Our guide, Mary, was excellent and gave us wonderful insight into the area and the culture. Her English was excellent and she's a very well traveled guide. The river cruise was truly spectacular and afterwards we were taken, by a luxury van to other locations including Yu Garden, French Concession and walked through these areas to see them beautifully lit. It is definitely worth taking this evening tour as the city really lights up! Also the seeing Shanghai from the river cruise is spectacular!”

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1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver - A simple Chinese buffet served while you cruise
1-Day Tours, China River Cruises, Guided, Guilin River Cruises, Private Drivers, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver

5.1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 148 reviews · from $209

You’ll cruise the Li River for about four hours from Guilin to Yangshuo, with a private English-speaking guide and driver, lunch on board, a countryside tour, and time on West Street. Tony is one guide praised for patient help, but the boat itself is shared and can be busy.

“1-Day Guilin Tour to Reed Flute Cave, Xianggong Hill, Bamboo Boat & Night Show This tour was truly amazing, made even more special by our excellent English-speaking guide, Mr. Jeff. He is caring, attentive, and took very good care of us Read more”

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Guilin: Li River Cruise with Transfer to Yangshuo - The 8:00 am pickup keeps the morning simple
China River Cruises, Private Drivers, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

Guilin: Li River Cruise with Transfer to Yangshuo

6.Li River Cruise with Transfer to Yangshuo

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 89 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $82

Start with hotel pickup in Guilin at 8:00 am, then cruise four hours from Zhujiang Pier to Yangshuo. Andy’s team arranges transport and tickets, while the 3-star boat includes a box lunch and the 4-star option includes a buffet. You can take luggage aboard if Yangshuo is your next stop.

“Great pick up from hotel. Good communication via WhatsApp. English speaking, good humoured organiser. The boat trip itself was very comfortable. Great seats. The food was a bit overpriced. Note a lot of the people on the boat took their own food and drink The scenery is sooooo beautiful. Really really beautiful Boat staff great It is pricey but this is the cheapest you can get it! Thanks Andy we had a very memorable day”

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Ayutthaya Temples Tour from Bangkok with Grand Pearl River Cruise - The early pickup and journey from Bangkok
Bangkok River Cruises, China River Cruises, River Cruises, Thailand River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

Ayutthaya Temples Tour from Bangkok with Grand Pearl River Cruise

7.Ayutthaya Temples Tour from Bangkok with Grand Pearl River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 83 reviews · from $143

Travel from Bangkok to Ayutthaya by air-conditioned vehicle, visit Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, and the reclining Buddha, then enjoy a buffet lunch and return by Grand Pearl river cruise. Guides Donna and First are especially noted for clear, friendly explanations.

“Great day! Our guide First was very nice and easy to understand. The bus was comfortable and the sites were great. I didn’t expect the boat to be about an hour from the last site, but it was a nice trip. There was lots of seating and you could stay inside in the a/c or go out on the deck. One of the guides on the boat was difficult to understand when he was telling us what we were passing, but the woman was very good and clear. My kids enjoyed the boat time to relax.”

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From Guilin: 4 Star Luxury Li River Cruise with Buffet Lunch - Leaving Guilin for Zhujiang Pier
Buffet Experiences, China River Cruises, Guilin River Cruises, Lunch Experiences, Luxury River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

From Guilin: 4 Star Luxury Li River Cruise with Buffet Lunch

8.4 Star Luxury Li River Cruise with Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 80 reviews · 4 hours · from $92

Travel from downtown Guilin to Zhujiang Pier, then cruise four hours toward Yangshuo through China’s famous karst country. You get hotel pickup, a buffet lunch, observation-deck views, and multilingual audio via a QR code, but no English-speaking guide or hotel drop-off.

“Beautiful river! But really overpriced, we have paid 3 times more than the actual price of the tickets! The first class toilet was broken.”

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Chongqing: Two Rivers Night Cruise- Yangtze & Jialing Rivers - From Hongyadong pier to the open river
China River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

Chongqing: Two Rivers Night Cruise- Yangtze & Jialing Rivers

9.Chongqing: Two Rivers Night Cruise- Yangtze & Jialing Rivers

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 64 reviews · 1 day · from $38

Board near Hongyadong for a nighttime cruise on Chongqing’s two rivers. You’ll see the lit city, Grand Theatre, modern buildings, and riverbanks from the water, with onboard commentary. The trip lasts about 45 minutes, and an upper-deck VIP seat costs about 80 yuan extra.

“The cruise was very nice and I would recommend to buy the vip package for 80 Yuan on board.”

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Shanghai Night River Cruise VIP Seat with Authentic Dinner - Seeing the Bund and Pudong from the river
China River Cruises, River Cruises, Shanghai River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Shanghai Night River Cruise VIP Seat with Authentic Dinner

10.Shanghai Night River Cruise VIP Seat with Authentic Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 3 hours · from $168

Spend three hours seeing Shanghai after dark with an English-speaking guide such as Michael, Cassie, Lucy, or Sunny. Ride 50 minutes on the Huangpu River in an upgraded VIP area, hear the stories behind the skyline, then eat local dishes at a downtown restaurant.

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A seamless, premium experience with Sunny Tour. Pick-up was in a large luxury electric car — quiet, spotless, and very comfortable. Our guide, Ms. Shirley, was warm, professional, and knowledgeable, sharing insights about Shanghai while giving us space to enjoy the evening. Dinner featured hygienic and delicious Chinese local cuisine at a well-chosen restaurant — every dish was flavourful and authentic. The highlight was the river cruise, where we had our own private seating area offering stunning views of the Bund and Pudong skyline. Peaceful, crowd-free, and beautifully lit — it felt truly special. This tour was a perfect blend of comfort, culture, and thoughtful touches. Highly...”

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Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Private Day Tour from Guilin - What the scenery is really like from the boat
China River Cruises, Guilin River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Private Day Tour from Guilin

11.Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Private Day Tour from Guilin

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 53 reviews · from $132

Spend about four hours on the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking driver-guide, and lunch on board. Enjoy views near Xingping, then choose free time in Yangshuo, a return transfer to Guilin, or an overnight stay there.

“Dont get me wrong, the Li-river itself is beautiful, you should definitely visit this beauty of nature. But be wiser than me and choose an other operator. The guide barely speaks english and the informations are mostly provided in the chinese language. It also is said, that the Read more”

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Guilin Highlights Tour Li River to Yangshuo and Xianggong Hill - Four hours among the Li River karst peaks
China River Cruises, Guilin River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

Guilin Highlights Tour Li River to Yangshuo and Xianggong Hill

12.Guilin Highlights Tour Li River to Yangshuo and Xianggong Hill

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $79

Spend a full day cruising the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, then visit West Street and climb Xianggong Hill. A private English-speaking driver-guide handles hotel transfers and boat tickets, while you pay separately for the cruise and hill entrance.

“Great experience, 4 hours cruise in river see the beautiful views . One of best experiences I had. Thanks”

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Hong Kong: 3-Hour Lan Kwai Fong Pub Crawl - Starting at Dead& Bar or the Lan Kwai Fong Amphitheatre
3-Hour Experiences, China River Cruises, Drinking Tours, Nightlife, Pub Crawls, Tour Reviews

Hong Kong: 3-Hour Lan Kwai Fong Pub Crawl

13.Hong Kong: 3-Hour Lan Kwai Fong Pub Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 45 reviews · from $20

Join guides such as Vivian or Jun for a three-hour Friday or Saturday night through Lan Kwai Fong. Visit three bars and one club, collect a welcome shot at each stop, use drink deals, and meet locals, students, and international visitors.

“We were a group of 6 visiting Hong Kong, this was a fantastic night, guides were excellent and such a great way to meet people, thumbs up 👍🏼”

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Guangzhou: Pearl River 1-hour Night Cruise (Optional Piers) - Choosing the right pier for your evening
1-Hour Experiences, China River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Yangtze and Li River Cruises

Guangzhou: Pearl River 1-hour Night Cruise (Optional Piers)

14.Guangzhou: Pearl River 1-hour Night Cruise (Optional Piers)

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 39 reviews · 1 day · from $15Best value

Board a one-hour Pearl River night cruise from one of six Guangzhou piers. You’ll see Canton Tower, Haixinsha, historic waterfront areas, and the city lights from an open-air seat. Check your email for the exact pier, sailing time, ticket method, and boarding instructions.

“You have sent the real tickets when I was already in China, although you must be aware that due to the China Firewall it would be impossible to open the tickets! Besides your guidelines how to reach the boat were totally out of place. "Exit A of the Canton station", you wrote namely, "after a few steps there we are". Who?! Where?! Very inadequate guidelines. Upon your confirmation for the tour the ticket office did not issue the tickets, so we had to buy new tickets on our own. We will definitely not use your services any more. It is very unclever to send the tickets by mail after so…”

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Din Tai Fung Dinner and VIP Class River Cruise Experience in Shanghai - Meeting the guide at the Bund
China River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Din Tai Fung Dinner and VIP Class River Cruise Experience in Shanghai

15.Din Tai Fung Dinner and VIP Class River Cruise Experience in Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $173

See Shanghai by night on a private four-hour tour with a guide and driver, VIP seating on a 60-minute Huangpu River cruise, and a Din Tai Fung xiaolongbao dinner. Guides such as Sunny and Mason have earned strong praise for friendly, careful service. Central hotel pickup is included.

“Sunny is a wonderful guide. Our group (traveling for business) had a fantastic time. Highly recommended this tour!”

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New in China River Cruises

★ 5.0Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise and Illuminated Night TourFrom $13111 reviews
★ 4.54D3N Yangtze River Cruise: Chongqing to Yichang by Century CruiseFrom $76811 reviews
★ 4.7Li River Cruise with Yangshuo Countryside ToursFrom $12813 reviews
★ 4.8Li River Cruise with Buffalo and Tour of YangshuoFrom $22212 reviews
★ 4.8One Hour Chinese Calligraphy or Painting Lessons in YangshuoFrom $1910 reviews

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