Direct answer
For a first Shanghai visit, choose the sightseeing bus route that matches the area you want to see. Tourist Line 1 focuses on classic Puxi sights such as People’s Square, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden and Xintiandi. Tourist Line 2 connects Puxi and Pudong, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower, the North Bund and Yuyuan Garden. Tourist Line 10 links the Bund area with modern Pudong landmarks such as Shanghai Tower.
The official Chinese Shanghai tourism listing gives these operating hours: Line 1, 09:00–19:00; Line 2, 09:00–20:30; and Line 10, 10:00–20:30. Its passenger notes say Line 10 runs Tuesday to Sunday and does not operate on Monday. The English route descriptions differ by one minute. Confirm the current schedule with the operator before travel; some routes offer night service between 16:30 and 20:30.
Which route fits your plan?
| Route | Best for | Landmarks in the current route description | Current listed hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist Line 1 | A first look at classic Puxi | People’s Square, the Bund, City God Temple and Yuyuan Garden, Xintiandi | 09:00–19:00 in the Chinese listing |
| Tourist Line 2 | Crossing between Puxi and Pudong | Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower, Dongchang Road Pier, the North Bund, the Bund and Yuyuan Garden | 09:00–20:30 in the Chinese listing |
| Tourist Line 10 | The Bund plus modern Pudong | Oriental Pearl Tower, Pudong Development Exhibition Hall, Jinmao Tower and Shanghai Tower | 10:00–20:30 Tuesday–Sunday; no Monday service |
These are route descriptions, not a promise that every attraction can be visited within one loop. Allow time to get off, walk, queue and return to a stop.
Route cards
Use these route cards as a visual planning reference. They preserve the stop order from the photographed route booklet; current operating hours, departures, boarding points and reservation availability must be checked against the official listing before travel.
How to read the day and night map
The route booklet separates daytime and night services with solid and dotted route lines. It also marks transfer points and stops with special time restrictions. Treat the map as a planning aid, then confirm the current stop list and first and last service through the operator’s current channel.
Some night services run between 16:30 and 20:30. The passenger notes describe night service as city-light viewing; it does not necessarily provide the same stop-off guided explanations as a daytime route. Night stops can be limited to marked locations.
Ticket information
The current official listing shows a RMB 60 one-day ticket and a RMB 80 two-day ticket. Online sales are listed through the City Sightseeing WeChat Mini Program, Meituan, Ctrip, Douyin, Tongcheng and Klook.
A valid one-day ticket can be used for unlimited rides within the stated 24-hour operating period after first activation, subject to the operator’s current terms. The exact product, validity window and available sales channel should be checked before payment.
A QR code printed in a screenshot or photo is not a valid riding voucher according to the current passenger notes. Use the QR code delivered by the booking platform or SMS instead.
Before you board
- Arrive at the designated stop about 10–15 minutes early.
- Match the stop name and route colour with the current map or sign.
- Keep the booking QR code or original ticket available for scanning.
- Scan as instructed when boarding and getting off.
- If the route, weather or traffic-control notice changes, follow staff and on-site signs.
The passenger notes also remind riders that the vehicle is air-conditioned and that personal belongings and children remain the passenger’s responsibility.
A simple first-visit plan
- Classic Shanghai: start with Line 1 for the Bund, People’s Square, Nanjing Road, Yuyuan Garden and nearby Puxi landmarks.
- Puxi plus the Pudong skyline: compare Line 2 if the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower and Shanghai Tower are on your list.
- Modern Shanghai after the Bund: check Line 10 for the Pudong-focused route and its current stop restrictions later in the day.
Do not build a tight attraction timetable from the bus map alone. Traffic, queues, weather, temporary controls and the time you spend at each stop will change the actual day.
Check before you leave
Open the current City Sightseeing listing on the Official Shanghai China Travel Website and confirm the route, hours, stop list, ticket price, sales channel and QR-ticket rules for your travel date.
CHINA CLEARLY is an independent travel information site. This guide explains how to use the route information; it does not sell tickets, guarantee a departure or replace the operator’s current instructions.
Source and scope note
The route map and passenger notes were photographed in Shanghai on October 4, 2026 and used as the visual source for this draft. Current operating hours, prices and sales channels were checked against the official Shanghai tourism listing on October 4, 2026. The photographed booklet contains timetable blocks that differ from the current online listing; the online official listing controls the public wording above until the next refresh.