The classic dragon-shaped Huangpu River cruise ship, designed in ancient Chinese architectural style with two magnificent dragon heads standing upright, was formally put back into operation under the name of No. 1 Sightseeing Cruise Ship as it departed from Qinhuangdao Road Cruise Dock in Yangpu District on July 12 at 7 pm. This marks the city’s first step in its current push to make the iconic Huangpu River cruise a world-class attraction.

The four-story dragon-shaped ship can accommodate 1,000 passengers and its dining rooms can seat 650 passengers at one time. The ship was originally built in 2005, and went into operation in 2007. The ship has undergone a major renovation recently due to its old age and the homogeneous competition within the tourism market. It has drawn wide attention since its brand-new appearance in early May, thanks to its thrilling styling.

The cruise tour will take two hours and starts from the Qinhuangdao Road Cruise Dock, returning to the dock after passing through Lupu bridge. The cruise will feature a bilingual audio guide. During the tour, tourists can enjoy the night view of Lujiazui and the Bund. The ship operates once daily between 7pm and 9pm, with buffet dinner included in the price. The cruise route and catering services will be subject to further improvement, depending on the feedback during its trial operation.

Currently, there are 34 cruise ships offering Huangpu River sightseeing tours. Prior to 2017, cruise tours on the Huangpu River attracted just over 3 million visits per year, or around 8,200 tickets per day. While this might sound impressive it generated only 0.05% of the total tourism revenue of the city, which is miniscule compared to such global cities as Paris and New York, whose river tours contribute more than 10% of their total tourism revenues. Therefore, there is still much room for improvement in terms of river tour products’ diversity and the quality of tourist public services and supporting facilities. Authorities are taking such measures as renovations, upgrading ships, and mergers of small operators to improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of Huangpu River sightseeing cruises.