Pearl River Night Cruise: Piers, Prices, How to Book
Last checked October 19, 2026 against official sources. How we check
Quick answer
A Pearl River night cruise is a boat ride of about 60 minutes past the lit-up skyline. The Canton Tower operator sells tickets in the 广州塔珠江游 WeChat mini-program and at its first-floor desk. Guides report ¥88 to ¥398 depending on boat and deck; hours differ by pier.
Key facts
| Price | Reported ¥88–110 for a basic ticket, ¥138–350 for open-deck, VIP or buffet boats (guides, 2025–2026) reportedOnly secondhand sources report this so far; no official source confirms it yet. Check before you go. |
|---|---|
| Time needed | About 60 minutes on the water |
| Nearest metro | Canton Tower 广州塔站, Lines 3 and APM; leave the APM line by the 广州塔景点出口 |
| ID | One guide says bring your original passport; check when you book |
| Official tickets | WeChat mini-program 广州塔珠江游 |
| In Chinese | 广州塔财富码头 广州市海珠区阅江西路222号广州塔东北侧珠江堤岸边 |
What is the Pearl River night cruise and why go?
The Pearl River night cruise (珠江夜游, Zhūjiāng Yèyóu) is a boat ride on the river that cuts through Guangzhou, timed for the evening when the towers and bridges are lit. It is the easiest way to see Canton Tower and the Zhujiang New Town skyline together.
Photo: Andrews Garory · CC BY-SA 4.0 DetailsWhich pier and boat should you choose?
Several piers run boats, including one run by the Canton Tower operator.
| Pier | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Canton Tower Fortune Pier (广州塔财富码头) | 阅江西路222号, north-east of the tower on the river bank | Beside the tower; tower-and-cruise combo tickets (江塔联游) |
| Haixinsha east pier (海心沙东区码头) | Tianhe District, Haixinsha Park | Home of the Red Boat (珠江红船) theatre boat |
| Dashatou pier (大沙头码头) | 沿江东路466号 | Per Dahepiao; adult 1st or 2nd deck from ¥98 in 2025, 3rd-deck open air from ¥138 |
| Tianzi pier (天字码头) | Linked to Beijing Road (Dahepiao) | Travel-ticket site |
The Red Boat (珠江红船) is a 52 m by 15 m theatre boat that mixes a staged show with the cruise, according to the tower’s page. Other boats on the tower’s list are the Pearl River Prince and Princess. If you only want to see the skyline, a basic seat on the lower deck is the usual choice.
Photo: TONY LU · CC BY-SA 4.0 DetailsHow much does it cost and what time do boats run?
No price is published on the official tower pages we could read. Third-party sources report these figures:
| Ticket type | Reported price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Basic seat | About ¥88–110 | Cities Insider, February 2026 |
| Open deck or VIP | About ¥150–220 | Cities Insider, February 2026 |
| Buffet cruise | About ¥250–398 | Cities Insider, February 2026 |
| Dashatou adult | From ¥98 (decks 1 and 2), from ¥138 (open deck) | Dahepiao, 2025 |
Dahepiao (May 2025) lists Dashatou 18:00–22:30, Tianzi 11:10–21:50 and Haixinsha west 11:50–22:30, with Haixinsha west boats about every 10 minutes. Timetables change, so check on the day.
How do you book?
The Canton Tower operator lists three ways to buy:
- Go to the ticket desk on the first floor of the tower (the “江塔游” ring desk).
- Search “广州塔” on Ctrip, Qunar or Meituan and open the cruise or combo product.
- In WeChat, search the mini-program 广州塔珠江游 and follow the steps.
Foreign visitors may need a Chinese phone number for some apps. See Alipay and WeChat Pay for foreigners and no Chinese phone number for workarounds. One 2026 guide says to bring your original passport to board.
How do you reach the Canton Tower pier?
Take Metro Line 3 or the APM line to Canton Tower Station (广州塔站). The tower’s page says to leave the APM line by the 广州塔景点出口 (Canton Tower attraction exit) and walk to the pier. A tram also stops at 广州塔东站 (Canton Tower East), from which you reach the Fortune Pier. For Haixinsha, leave the APM line at Haixinsha Station and walk to the east pier. Show: 广州市海珠区阅江西路222号.
The Canton Tower guide covers the tower’s own decks, and the metro guide covers fares.
What are the tips for a first evening?
Go early enough to be on the water as it gets dark, since most boats start about 18:00. Choose an upper open deck only if the weather is dry and clear. Check the evening timetable before you travel, and see the Guangzhou at night guide for what to do afterwards. For a drink after the cruise, the bars and craft beer guide covers the riverside and Zhujiang New Town bars.
Traps and how to avoid them
- Booking the wrong pier
The tower pier, Haixinsha, Dashatou and Tianzi piers are different places. Check the pier name in Chinese on the ticket before you travel.
- Buying a ticket on the day without checking the boat
Prices run from about ¥88 to ¥398. Open-deck, VIP and buffet boats cost more than a basic seat. Look at which deck and boat the ticket names.
- No passport at the pier
One 2026 guide says the original passport is needed to board and electronic copies are not accepted. This is one source; carry the original.
FAQ
How long is the Pearl River night cruise?
About 60 minutes on the water. Dahepiao lists a Dashatou cruise of about 60 minutes; check the time on your ticket.
Where do you buy Pearl River cruise tickets?
The Canton Tower operator lists the WeChat mini-program 广州塔珠江游, online platforms such as Ctrip, Qunar and Meituan, and its ticket desk on the first floor of the tower. Piers also sell tickets.
Which pier is best for first-timers?
The Canton Tower Fortune Pier suits a tower-and-cruise evening because it is beside the tower and the metro. It is not the only option; Dashatou is on the north bank (Yuexiu District), and Tianzi connects to Beijing Road.
What time do the cruises run?
It differs by pier: Dahepiao lists Dashatou 18:00–22:30, Tianzi 11:10–21:50 and Haixinsha west 11:50–22:30 (May 2025). Check the timetable for the day you go.
Sources
- Canton Tower official: Pearl River cruise pier page (archived September 12, 2025)
- Canton Tower official: Red Boat (珠江红船) page (archived July 17, 2025)
- Cities Insider: Pearl River nightlife guide 2026 (prices, passport, hours)
- Dahepiao: Guangzhou Pearl River night cruise tickets, 2025
- Newsgd: Eight classic one-day routes in Guangzhou
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.
