River tours set for an upgrade

Water tours along the Huangpu River are to be improved to provide tourists with more options and to showcase more of the city's history, Shanghai's top tourism official said.

Xu Weiwan, director of the Shanghai Tourism Administration, said during a media briefing that tours of different lengths will be introduced in the near future.

These will feature an extended route that allows visitors to view the historical buildings and skyscrapers on both sides of the main section of the river as well as the city's former industrial sites and contemporary museums.

Currently, water tours take tourists along a standard route that spans the main section of the Bund.

Xu added that the planned short route could be similar to the current one that boats are taking, while the medium route would take passengers on a tour of the area between Yangpu Bridge and Lupu Bridge.

The long route may begin at Fuxing Island Park in Yangpu district before ending at Xupu Bridge in Xuhui district. Xu said the details of the projects are still being discussed.

"With such a plan, water tours on the Huangpu River will undoubtedly compete with other river tours in cities worldwide," Xu said.

Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong said at a news conference in January that the nature and quality of water tours on the Huangpu River, as well as the lighting on both banks, will be upgraded this year to turn the area into a world-class tourism spot.

zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn