Pudong Riverside Cycle Greenway: Yangpu to Xupu Bridge

Start at the 'North Wall' marker under Yangpu Bridge (entry near the Xiepu Road ferry pier or Line 14's Xiepu Road station) and head south on the segregated cycling lane. The north stretch is the quietest and richest in industrial heritage: the Minsheng Road Art Wharf (former granary silos with a reported 14 m skywalk looking back toward Yangpu Bridge — verify on site), Shipyard 1862 — the 1862 Shanghai Shipyard halls remade by Kengo Kuma into a 26,000 m² art-and-retail complex with the 800-seat '1862 Fashion Art Center' theatre — and then the front-row run of the Lujiazui skyline mirrored in the river, the showpiece of the north section, before the Dongchang Riverside Green and the Museum of Art Pudong. The lane passes under Nanpu Bridge at the section's end. The Oriental Fisherman's Wharf, per AMap across the river on the west bank, is visible from the greenway rather than on it. On big holidays part of the Lujiazui section may close to cyclists — be ready to detour on the parallel roads.

Caution: The greenway lanes are separated but shared with walkers and runners at crossings — slow down at the speed humps and pedestrian crossings.

Photo suggestion: The mirrored Lujiazui trio is the shot of the north section; the Minsheng silos and Yangpu Bridge cable stays read well in late-afternoon light.

Brief but dramatic: from under Nanpu Bridge, the lane runs south along the river to Lupu Bridge — the two crossings are barely a kilometre and a half apart at this latitude — with the Pearl Roundabout area near the Oriental Pearl Tower visible ahead. Just beyond the Lupu crossing stands the saucer-shaped Mercedes-Benz Arena, where the busiest stretch of the ride begins: pedestrians, skaters and street musicians share the front, so slow down, watch for people, and expect crowds on weekends.

Caution: Weekend crowds concentrate around the arena frontage — ride at walking pace and keep a hand on the brakes.

Photo suggestion: The Nanpu–Lupu corridor at blue hour — two cable-and-arch spans over the mirrored river in one frame.

Past the arena the crowd thins. Ride through World Expo Park, Houtan Park's constructed wetlands and reed beds, the Qiantan Friendship Park and Qiantan Leisure Park, with the Eel-Mouth green and Sanlin green before the 'South Wall' marker at Xupu Bridge. The metasequoia-ringed Wangjiangyi No. 14 pavilion sits in the Houtan section — three glass sides, bamboo and dawn redwoods, reported to be at its best at sunset (verify the number on site). The light is best of the day here, and the final stretch is the most restorative part of the ride.

Caution: The route's last ~1.4 km to the South Wall is not on AMap's routable network — follow the riverside path and the South Wall signs; the lane can be poorly lit after dark.

Photo suggestion: Wangjiangyi No. 14 at sunset, with the metasequoias framing the river, is the south section's signature stop.

The greenway passes ten or more ferry piers; three crossings make good loops. 泰公线 (Gongping Road ↔ Taidongzhan, reported 06:00–21:40, every ~20 min, bikes on the lower deck) drops you at the Lujiazui waterfront with North Bund and Oriental Pearl views. 东金线 (Jinling East Road ↔ Dongchang Road, reported 07:00–18:30) is the classic Bund-to-Lujiazui crossing with the best skyline framing but the biggest queues, and its air-conditioned boats reportedly do not take bicycles — verify. 东复线 (Fuxing East Road ↔ Dongchang Road, reported ~07:00–21:00) puts you back on the greenway near the Nanpu Bridge end. Check current schedules at the pier; pedestrian fare ¥2, bicycles ¥2.80.

Caution: Ferry timetables change and some lines restrict bikes — check the pier's posted schedule before committing to a loop.

Photo suggestion: The 东金线 crossing at blue hour gives the definitive Bund-to-Lujiazui skyline frame from the water.