Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Shanghai has redefined the tourist experience by launching a powerful all-in-one travel pass and an immersive new river cruise, offering international visitors seamless access to transportation, top attractions, and scenic waterfront views. These initiatives are designed to elevate inbound tourism by blending culture, convenience, and natural beauty—ensuring travelers can explore the city’s dynamic charm with greater ease, value, and enjoyment.

Monday marked China Tourism Day, and Shanghai unveiled a major boost to its inbound tourism strategy by launching a new three-day digital tourist pass along with an exciting new cruise route on the West Bund. These initiatives aim to enhance the travel experience for international visitors, especially those utilizing the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, making Shanghai more accessible, enjoyable, and connected.

To coincide with the celebration of China Tourism Day, Shanghai introduced a comprehensive three-day travel pass specifically designed for foreign passport holders and residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. This digital ticket, known as the Shanghai Pass, offers seamless access to public transportation and entry to over twenty of the city’s top attractions.

The pass can be conveniently accessed through the bilingual ShanghaiPass Alipay mini program. Tourists can now explore Shanghai without the hassle of purchasing individual tickets for each venue or worrying about transportation logistics. The package includes access to buses, Metro lines, and ferries, creating a smooth and connected travel experience across the city.

Among the twenty-one iconic attractions covered by the pass are the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, a Huangpu River cruise, the Shanghai sightseeing bus, and Madame Tussauds Shanghai. Visitors can immerse themselves in the cultural, historical, and modern highlights of the metropolis all through a single, user-friendly digital pass.

The three-day pass goes beyond transportation and attraction access. It includes exclusive deals and discounts in major commercial hubs around the city. From popular dining spots to shopping districts, pass holders enjoy privileges that make their visit more affordable and dynamic. Whether it’s enjoying a riverside meal or shopping at Nanjing Road, travelers can now experience more for less.

Designed with the international traveler in mind, the ShanghaiPass Alipay mini program features a tourism-focused AI customer support service available in nine languages. This real-time assistance enhances accessibility and supports travelers as they navigate the city’s rich offerings.

Currently, the pass is available to holders of foreign passports and individuals with mainland travel permits from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Its target audience includes short-term visitors taking advantage of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, which encourages more spontaneous and short-term tourism in Shanghai.

In addition to the ShanghaiPass, the city unveiled a new cultural and scenic experience: a river cruise departing from Longhua Quay in Xuhui District. The quay, once home to Asia’s largest cement factory, has undergone a dramatic transformation. It now features two new berths for two-thousand-ton cruise ships and a modern waterfront terminal that retains the original industrial charm while embracing contemporary aesthetics.

The cruise sails from Longhua Quay to Lupu Bridge, turning around at the M2 Quay near the former Shanghai World Expo site in Pudong. This hour-long journey along the Huangpu River links several key destinations, including the West Bund, Qiantan business district, and the Shanghai Expo Culture Park.

More than just a river cruise, this new route offers a “breathing waterfront” experience that fuses urban life with nature. It allows passengers to enjoy Shanghai’s skyline and green spaces from a floating observation platform. The immersive nature of the cruise encourages relaxation and visual delight.

Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise Co. announced that the service would initially operate once every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting this summer. Tickets will be available for purchase through the official Huangpu River ticketing WeChat mini program.

To add cultural depth to the journey, the nearby Shanghai West Bund Theater will collaborate with the cruise service to offer small-scale performances and guided art tours onboard. This integration creates an artistic corridor on the water, turning every cruise into a cultural voyage.

As part of the riverfront rejuvenation, the city plans a variety of public events that will take place along the banks and on board the cruises. These include deck yoga sessions, night runs along the Xuhui riverwalk, summer skateboarding festivals, and pet-friendly gatherings. These events are designed to encourage locals and tourists alike to engage with the city’s riverside in new and dynamic ways.

Shanghai is enhancing its global tourism appeal with a new all-in-one travel pass and scenic river cruise, offering international visitors seamless access to top attractions, transport, and cultural experiences. These innovations aim to deliver greater convenience, value, and immersive exploration across the city.

Together, the launch of the three-day ShanghaiPass and the West Bund cruise route reflect Shanghai’s commitment to reinventing itself as a global tourism destination. By offering integrated transport, cultural engagement, shopping perks, and scenic exploration, the city is setting a benchmark for urban tourism experiences in Asia.

These new offerings address the evolving expectations of modern travelers—who seek not only convenience but also immersive experiences that blend culture, comfort, and connection. Whether it’s a short visa-free layover or a multi-day trip, Shanghai now offers a cohesive, traveler-friendly system that maximizes time and enhances exploration.

As China Tourism Day marks another year of growth and innovation in the country’s travel industry, Shanghai’s forward-thinking strategies highlight its position as one of the most visitor-centric cities in the region.