China · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips & River Cruises in China

48 tours  ·  from $15

The Huangpu at night, the Li through the karst, the Pearl under the Canton Tower. These 15 are priced by deck and duration, with a note on which sail after dark and which include a meal worth eating.

Hong Kong: Dolphin Cruise, Big Buddha & Lantau Island Tour - Searching for dolphins off Lantau
Big Buddha & Lantau Tours, Boat Trips in Hong Kong, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dolphin Watching, Hong Kong Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hong Kong: Dolphin Cruise, Big Buddha & Lantau Island Tour

1.Dolphin Cruise, Big Buddha & Lantau Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,512 reviews · 7 hours · from $35Our pick

Spend seven hours exploring Lantau Island with an English-speaking guide such as Grace, Lok Lok, Eva, or Becky. Ride the train and bus, cruise for dolphins, visit Tai O’s stilt houses and floating market, see the Big Buddha, and choose the cable car for wide island views. Lunch and cable car access depend on the option selected.

“Grace was very organised and her enthusiasm is infectious. Very good value for money,”

Check availability →Read our full review

Shanghai Private Tour: Zhujiajiao Water Town and Boat Ride - First steps through the 1,700-year-old town
Boat Trips in Shanghai, Cruises & Boat Tours, Shanghai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Water Town Tours, Water Town Tours in Shanghai

Shanghai Private Tour: Zhujiajiao Water Town and Boat Ride

2.Shanghai Private Tour: Zhujiajiao Water Town and Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 661 reviews · from $148Top rated

Leave Shanghai by private air-conditioned vehicle for Zhujiajiao, a 1,700-year-old water town. Your guide, such as Snow, Kalvin, Caroline, or Xin, leads you through old streets, gardens, markets, historic bridges, and canals. A boat ride, entrance fees, hotel transfers, and optional lunch or dinner are included.

“We had a very pleasant half-day trip with an excellent guide, a cozy boat ride and a delicious local lunch. Highly recommended to everyone, thank you Xin!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Huangpu Night Cruise: Cozy Vibe & Modern Shanghai Glow - What the 45-minute route actually shows
Boat Trips in Shanghai, Cruises & Boat Tours, Night Tours, Night Tours in Shanghai, Shanghai Tours, Tour Reviews

Huangpu Night Cruise: Cozy Vibe & Modern Shanghai Glow

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 520 reviews · 1 day · from $21Best value

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 sailing, then watch Shanghai glow from indoor, semi-open, or open-air decks. Tickets must be exchanged in person, and the correct code comes by email or chat.

“Beautiful night View of the city skyline from the water going at a very peaceful pace on the boat”

Check availability →Read our full review

Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Private Tour w/ Boat Ride & Garden - A smooth ride from central Shanghai
Boat Trips in Shanghai, Cruises & Boat Tours, Shanghai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Water Town Tours, Water Town Tours in Shanghai

Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Private Tour w/ Boat Ride & Garden

4.Zhujiajiao Private Tour w/ Boat Ride & Garden

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 460 reviews · 5 hours · from $139

Travel from your Shanghai hotel to Zhujiajiao in a private air-conditioned car with an English-speaking guide such as Michael, Cassie, Robert, or Sunny. Walk old markets, visit Qing-era Kezhi Garden, sample local snacks, and ride a private boat through the canals. The five-hour tour suits families, couples, and short layovers.

“Our tour with Clair was fantastic. The transportation to the water village was smooth and very comfortable. We walked through the various shops, toured the private garden, and took a boat ride. Clair shared so much information with us about history and culture, she was an excellent guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Shanghai: Private Zhujiajiao Tour with Boat Ride - Bridges from the Ming and Qing periods
Boat Trips in Shanghai, Cruises & Boat Tours, Shanghai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Water Town Tours, Water Town Tours in Shanghai

From Shanghai: Private Zhujiajiao Tour with Boat Ride

5.Private Zhujiajiao Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 334 reviews · 5 hours · from $171

Travel from your central Shanghai hotel to Zhujiajiao in a private air-conditioned car with an English-speaking guide such as Snow, Kalvin, or Caroline. Walk old lanes and markets, see Ming-Qing bridges, visit traditional gardens, try local food, and take a calm canal boat ride before returning to Shanghai.

“My tour guide Snow was the best! Very friendly, knowledgeable and in good spirits all thru the 5 hour tour. She even thought me a little Chinese. And the Tour itself was fantastic. Highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Shanghai Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining Experience - Boarding the Huangpu River cruise
Boat Trips in Shanghai, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dining Experiences in Shanghai, Shanghai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shanghai Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining Experience

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

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

Spend about three hours seeing Shanghai by private car, riverboat, and restaurant table. Your guide, often Caroline, Queena, Kalvin, Kiki, or Xin, handles transport, cruise tickets, menu translation, and dinner ordering. The boat passes the Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, World Financial Center, and Shanghai Tower before a halal Xinjiang meal in Pudong.

“I had an absolutely wonderful time on this river cruise! The scenery was breathtaking, but what made the experience truly special was our guide, Caroline. She was knowledgeable, engaging, and had a great sense of humor that made the entire tour enjoyable from start to finish. Caroline shared great insights along the way, answered every question with patience, and made sure everyone felt comfortable and included. Thanks to her, the trip felt both relaxing and enriching. Highly recommend this tour—and if you’re lucky enough to get Caroline as your guide, you’re in for a treat!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hong Kong: Dukling , Antique Boat Tour in Victoria Harbour - What you see during the 45-minute harbor route
Boat Trips in Hong Kong, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hong Kong Tours, Star Ferry & Harbour Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hong Kong: Dukling , Antique Boat Tour in Victoria Harbour

7.Dukling , Antique Boat Tour in Victoria Harbour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 233 reviews · from $30

Spend about 45 minutes aboard the Dukling, a 70-year-old Chinese junk and floating museum. Cruise Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, hear about the boat and harbor heritage, enjoy one soft drink, beer, or packaged drink, and photograph Hong Kong’s skyline. Weekend sailings include in-person commentary, while weekday trips use an audio guide.

“Sadly this was not a great 45 minutes of my time in Hong Kong. We would have rather watched it from shore. The boat is covered in touristic decorations and there is little place to actually see the show. There was no human interaction other tRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Shanghai: Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining - Boarding the cruise and finding the best view
Boat Trips in Shanghai, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dining Experiences in Shanghai, Shanghai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shanghai: Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining

8.Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining

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

Spend three hours seeing Shanghai by private car, night cruise, and Xinjiang-style dinner. Your English-speaking guide, such as Caroline, Queena, Snow, or Kelvin, handles transport, explains the Bund and Pudong skyline, helps choose halal dishes, and returns you to your hotel or another city location.

“Queena was a fantastic tour guide. She is very knowledgeable and energetic. Very friendly and accommodating. I recommend her to anyone. I will book her again. The boat trip was fantastic. Shanghai is a very beautiful city. The night scene is a must see, with VIP style transport. The restaurant had a beautiful view of Shanghai. The food was fresh and tasty. Queena is a delightful person to have dinner with.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hong Kong Fisherman’s Wharf: Aberdeen Fishing Village Boat Tour - Starting at Aberdeen Fisherman’s Wharf Pier 6
Boat Trips in Hong Kong, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hong Kong Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hong Kong Fisherman’s Wharf: Aberdeen Fishing Village Boat Tour

9.Hong Kong Fisherman’s Wharf: Aberdeen Fishing Village Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 202 reviews · from $30

You’ll meet at Aberdeen Fisherman’s Wharf Pier 6 for a 20-minute ride on a Chinese-style teak boat, with pre-recorded commentary on selected packages. The tour includes the Aberdeen Houseboat floating museum, snacks, drinks, sachima, and time at Pier 6. Optional meals may include fish-based boat noodles or seafood.

“Good way to get an initial look at Aberdeen. The prerecorded English guide was a little off of the progress, but it the end we could figure out what they were talking about”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Water Town Private Tour with Boat Ride - The drive from downtown Shanghai
Boat Trips in Shanghai, Cruises & Boat Tours, Shanghai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Water Town Tours, Water Town Tours in Shanghai

From Shanghai: Zhujiajiao Water Town Private Tour with Boat Ride

10.Zhujiajiao Water Town Private Tour with Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 173 reviews · from $139

You’ll travel from downtown Shanghai to Zhujiajiao in a private air-conditioned van, then walk old lanes, visit Kezhi Garden and a traditional temple, and ride a wooden boat through the canals. Guides such as Robert, Jun, Lucy, Shirley, and Michael tailor the pace and explain local life. Lunch or dinner is optional.

“We had a fantastic tour of the water town with our guide Cassie. She spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable about Chinese history. She took very nice photos of my wife and I during our tour, and knew all of the best locations and angles. Highly recommend this service if you’re looking for an English speaking tour guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Aqua Luna: Evening Cruise at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong - On Board Aqua Luna’s Traditional Junk
Boat Trips in Hong Kong, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hong Kong Tours, Star Ferry & Harbour Cruises, Tour Reviews

Aqua Luna: Evening Cruise at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong

11.Aqua Luna: Evening Cruise at Victoria Harbour Hong Kong

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 160 reviews · from $30

Spend about 45 minutes aboard Aqua Luna, a restored traditional Chinese junk, cruising Victoria Harbour at sunset or after dark. Depart from Tsim Sha Tsui or Central, settle on an alfresco deck or in the modern cabin, and enjoy one included drink while Hong Kong’s skyline lights up. Choose from several departure times, including 6:30pm, 6:45pm, and later evening sailings.

“Boat ride was comfortable and the night view from the harbour is amazing. Recommend this 45-minute experience for first timers.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong - Why the Aqua Luna makes Hong Kong’s skyline feel different
Boat Trips in Hong Kong, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hong Kong Tours, Star Ferry & Harbour Cruises, Tour Reviews

Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong

12.Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 155 reviews · from $42

Board the traditional Aqua Luna junk at Tsim Sha Tsui Pier 1 for a 45-minute evening cruise around Victoria Harbour. You’ll watch Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights at 8 p.m. from the water, hear synchronized music, enjoy one complimentary drink, and return to the same pier. The boat has lounge-style seating and strong photo angles.

“This was overall a phenomenal experience. The boat ride was very smooth and for someone who can become easily seasick, that says a lot. I must say the staff members were excellent and the music on the boat was absolutely superb. I would highly recommend this activity to travelers visiting Hong Kong as a way of concluding their evening with a special event. Tom”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private Evening Tour: VIP Huangpu River Cruise and Shanghai Lights - Lujiazui shows Shanghai’s modern scale
Boat Trips in Shanghai, Cruises & Boat Tours, Night Tours, Night Tours in Shanghai, Shanghai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Evening Tour: VIP Huangpu River Cruise and Shanghai Lights

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

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

Start with a private pickup, then walk Yuyuan Old Street, cruise the Huangpu River from the VIP upper deck, see Lujiazui’s skyscrapers, and finish in Xintiandi. Guides including Autumn, Tom, Mary, Linda, and Roy tailor the evening to your interests. The tour lasts about three to four hours and includes private transport, bottled water, and return drop-off.

“What a beautiful way to capture the city. This night tour is a must. The ever colour changing of the buildings is magnificent! Linda was our guide, and what a great one she was. Her knowledge in the culture ,history and traditions of China haves of a clear understanding about the country and city”

Check availability →Read our full review

1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver - What the shared cruise is really like
1-Day Tours, Boat Trips in Guilin, Cruises & Boat Tours, Day Trips in Guilin, Guilin Tours, Li River Cruises, Tour Reviews

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

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

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

This 8 to 9-hour private tour pairs a 4-hour Li River cruise with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, lunch on board, Yangshuo countryside, and West Street. Your guide joins you on the boat, explains the scenery, and helps manage the return drive to Guilin. The cruise uses large motorized boats, not small private vessels.

“The river cruise was a fantastic way to see the famous Guilin karsts, and the visit to Yangshuo and the charming surrounding countryside was wonderful. Tony was a great guide, patiently answering our questions and giving us plenty of time to enjoy our walk after the cruise. Highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Half-Day Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride from Shanghai - The one-hour drive and private pickup
Boat Trips in Shanghai, Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Shanghai Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Water Town Tours, Water Town Tours in Shanghai

Half-Day Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride from Shanghai

15.Half-Day Private Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour with Boat Ride from Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 144 reviews · from $160

Travel from Shanghai with a private guide and driver to Zhujiajiao, a 600-year-old water town. Walk its lanes, cross Fangsheng Bridge, visit Kezhi Garden and the old post office, and ride a canal boat. Guides such as Tom, Vicky, David, and Jamie are praised for clear English, local insight, and flexible pacing.

“Vicky was excellent. Driver performed safe handling of vehicle with care. Went with 2 kids 5yrs and 9yrs that enjoyed it much treating through the village. I do however recommend upgrading the boat ride to a longer one.”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Cruises & Boat Tours

★ 4.4Imperial Waterway Boat+Summer Palace SelfGuidedTourFrom $406 reviews
★ 5.0Amazing Shanghai Night Lights:River Cruise &Private TransferFrom $1268 reviews
★ 4.5Private Guangzhou Night Tour Pearl River Cruise & Dim-Sum DinnerFrom $11010 reviews
★ 4.5Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou with Private TransferFrom $6913 reviews
★ 5.0Private Shanghai Night River Cruise and Hot Pot Dining ExperienceFrom $16815 reviews
★ 5.0Hot Pot Dining Experience with Hot Spring Bathing or River Cruise in ShanghaiFrom $13513 reviews
★ 4.5Yangtze River Cruise from Chongqing to Yichang Downstream in 4 Days 3 NightsFrom $5998 reviews
★ 4.54D3N Yangtze River Cruise: Chongqing to Yichang by Century CruiseFrom $76811 reviews
★ 4.04D3N Yangtze River Cruise:Chongqing to Yichang by Victoria CruiseFrom $5504 reviews
★ 4.44D3N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Chongqing to YichangFrom $6479 reviews
★ 3.5Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River CruiseFrom $1553 reviews
Nanjing By Night: Qinghuai River Cruise with Authentic Dining ExperienceFrom $1385 reviews
★ 4.0Night Cruise on Outer Qinhuai River for AdultsFrom $214 reviews
★ 5.0Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Canton Tower Private TourFrom $14039 reviews
★ 3.8Pearl River 1-hour Night Cruise (Optional Piers)From $1539 reviews

Keep browsing

Yangtze River Cruises6Water Town Tours32Night Tours29
Scroll to Top

Where to go in China

Pick a dynasty, a mountain or a kitchen.

Imperial

Forbidden CitySummer PalaceTemple of HeavenMing TombsMuseums

Walls and mountains

Great Wall DaysTianmen MountainGlass BridgesCable CarsHikes

Food and tea

Food ToursCooking ClassesStreet FoodTea CeremoniesPeking Duck

On the water

River CruisesLi RiverWater TownsYangtze CruisesPearl River