Pearl River (Zhujiang) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Pearl River. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Guided Cycle Tour of Guangzhou

• Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Canton Tower Private Tour

• Guangzhou Private Tour of Canton Tower and Pearl River Cruise

• Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou With Private Transfer

• Private Guangzhou Night Tour Pearl River Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner

While it’s free to discover the Pearl River on your own, there are plenty of affordable tours that can help you make the most of the scenic Guangzhou waterway. Nighttime boat tours are a popular way to explore, and start from as little as US$29 per person (or US$69 with a private transfer included). Bike tours that include a river stop start at US$82.

Yes, the Pearl River is worth visiting. Although the river system stretches for more than 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) in southern China, it notably passes through Guangzhou shortly before emptying into the South China Sea. The waterway is a major feature and a sightseeing route throughout the city, and at night it offers impressive views of its skyscrapers lit up after dark. While it's easy to spot on your own, booking an evening boat tour is really the ultimate way to experience the river.

Per one customer who booked the Guangzhou Private Tour of Canton Tower and Pearl River Cruise, "A wonderful cruise, staff very helpful. Loved being on the top deck—the view of the city was spectacular."

Yes, the Pearl River is near Hong Kong. It runs through Guangzhou, the capital of China’s Guangdong province, into the Pearl River Delta and out to sea at the Pearl River Estuary. Hong Kong and Macau sit on either side of the entrance to the Pearl River Estuary.

Prices for Pearl River cruises in Guangzhou vary according to the time of day, the boat, your position, and food options such as buffet dinners. Tickets can cost around 70 RMB and can be bought in person at the pier, with cruise packages including transfers costing US$70.

Night is the best time to visit the Pearl River and take a Pearl River cruise. Spectacular lighting displays take over the Canton Tower and surrounding buildings soon after dusk, so timing your cruise for just before or after sunset will let you see the skyline with and without lights.

Guangzhou has hot, rainy summers and cooler, dry winters. October and November are great months to take a Pearl River cruise, as the nights are still reasonably warm, but the weather is drier and clearer. Avoid the first week of October, China’s biggest week for tourism.

No, Guangzhou’s Pearl River is not safe to swim in. It’s polluted, the water quality is poor, and there are currents and boat traffic to contend with. However, thousands of brave souls have swum across the Pearl River at organized crossing events and lived to tell the tale.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the Pearl River. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Guangzhou:

• Canton Tower

• Chen Clan Academy

• White Cloud Mountain

• Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

• Shamian Island

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Guangzhou.