By evening, the lights come on across the skyscrapers of Lujiazui and reflect in the Huangpu River, while the historic Bund glows directly opposite on the west bank. Visitors often start on the Pudong side of the river and watch the two skylines face each other as the light fades.
Pudong is Shanghai's east bank, a modern district of finance towers, parks, expo grounds and resorts rather than a traditional bar quarter. Its nightlife suits travellers who want views, performances and large-scale attractions, and who are happy to move between them by metro or taxi rather than wander from bar to bar on foot.
1. Lujiazui and the skyscraper district
This is the financial zone at the western tip of Pudong, where the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Jin Mao Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center and the Shanghai Tower stand along Century Avenue and face the Bund across the river. An evening here is about height and outlook: the towers are lit, the river traffic is visible below, and the west bank is directly in front of you.
It suits a quiet, view-led night rather than a late one. One practical point from the sources: power to the buildings in Puxi is turned off at 23:00, which is described as an optimal time to be present for the view.
2. Hotel bars with a view
Some of the highest places to drink in Shanghai are inside the Lujiazui towers. Cloud 9, in the Grand Hyatt in the Jin Mao Tower, is named in the sources as the highest you can legally get in Shanghai, with nighttime views, particularly from a seat facing Puxi. Non-guests are charged a minimum of ¥110 plus 15% per head, roughly the price of a drink and a half cigar.
If that does not appeal, the sources note two cheaper alternatives in the same building: the lobby on the 54th floor for the view, or the lobby cafe, where a soda is ¥45. Treat these as reported details from the source rather than current prices, and check before you go.
3. Bars and casual drinking spots
Beyond that, the practical approach is to look for drinking venues attached to hotels, malls and entertainment complexes rather than expecting a single street of bars.
This suits a low-key drink before or after a show or a tower visit. Because the sources give no opening hours, prices or rules for these venues, confirm locally rather than relying on any listing.
4. Performing arts venues
The Oriental Art Center is a performing arts complex with three theatres of various sizes and an exhibition area. An evening here means a scheduled performance rather than a spontaneous night out, so it works best when planned around a specific show.
It suits visitors who want a seated, timed evening and a straightforward route home afterwards. Check the programme and start time in advance, as the sources do not list them.
5. Shanghai Romance Park
On Shibo Avenue, this is a performing arts park combining immersive themed streets with stage shows. Its main feature is a one-hour performance, the "Romantic Show of Shanghai", using acrobatics, singing and dancing and high-tech effects, including a scene with 3,000 tons of water standing in for the Huangpu River.
It suits an evening built around a single ticketed spectacle, and pairs naturally with the expo grounds nearby. Book ahead and confirm the day's show times, which the sources do not give.
6. Shanghai Disney Resort
The resort, including Shanghai Disneyland, opened in 2016 and is reached by metro at Disney Resort Station. The park has eight themed areas, among them Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle, Tomorrowland, Toy Story Land and the City of Zootopia, with rides found at no other Disney park such as the Tron Lightcycle roller coaster.
This is a full-day and evening commitment rather than a night out in the usual sense, and it suits families and groups. The source lists park hours of 08:00–20:30, but hours change with the season, so verify before travelling.
7. The former Expo grounds and Century Park
Pudong hosted the main venues of the Shanghai Expo in 2010, and the grounds now form a public park; Century Park is also in the district. In the evening these are open-air spaces for a walk rather than venues with programming.
They suit an early, quiet part of the night before moving on to a tower, a show or a hotel bar. As with any park, opening arrangements can vary, so check locally.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not describe local dining or going-out times for Pudong, so no fixed pattern can be given. What they do indicate is that several of the district's evening options are scheduled rather than open-ended: the Disney park is listed with closing at 20:30, the Romance Park show runs about an hour, and performances at the Oriental Art Center depend on the programme. The one late marker in the material is the 23:00 switch-off of building power in Puxi, noted as an optimal moment for the view from the Pudong side.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- National Day and the National Day Golden Week — early October, with the holiday running across the first week of the month.
- Double Ninth Festival — mid-October.
- Christmas Day — 25 December.
- New Year's Day — 1 January.
- Spring Festival Eve and Chinese New Year — early February.
Is there a legal drinking age I should know about?
The sources do not state a legal drinking age or any local alcohol rules for Pudong, so no figure can be given here. Check current local regulations on arrival.
Where can I get a drink with a view?
Cloud 9, in the Grand Hyatt in the Jin Mao Tower, is named in the sources for its nighttime views, with a minimum charge for non-guests. The same building's 54th-floor lobby and lobby cafe are noted as cheaper ways to take in the view.
What can I do in the evening besides drink?
The Oriental Art Center offers theatre and exhibition space, Shanghai Romance Park stages a one-hour main performance, and Shanghai Disneyland runs into the evening, with listed hours of 08:00–20:30. The former Expo grounds and Century Park are open-air options.
How late do things run?
The sources give no general closing times for Pudong's nightlife. The only specific timing they mention is the 23:00 switch-off of building power in Puxi, which is described as an optimal moment to be on the Pudong side for the view.
Decide whether your evening is about the skyline, a performance or the resort, then plan your transport and timing around that one anchor.