Huangpu and Yangzi River Boat Trip

The Huangpu River is the southern California freeway of transport routes.  At just a smidge over 68 miles long, it hosts a collection of every imaginable water vessel - military, cargo, coal, and grain carrying boats, each slicing their way through all manners of debris, ranging from rusty 5 gallon drums of paint to plastic Pepsi cola bottles. It comes as no surprise that there aren’t any kayaks or swimmers found in the shallows of the river’s greasy waters. 

While there are several choices for boat trips to take visitors past the gracefully aged waterfront of the Bund and the modern metropolis of Pudong – we chose the long trip: three hours gliding up and down the Huangpu in a cushioned, air conditioned boat to rendezvous with the Yangzi River, one of the most politicized rivers in world history.  

Perhaps it was mere coincidence but for three hours Muzak was artfully piped into the cabin, featuring apropos songs such as the “Titanic” theme and Steven Nick’s “Love is Like a River”.   E handled the first hour like a trooper, pointing madly at construction cranes and cargo boats and mucky dredges. 

Soon we passed lazy fish farms and were even more elated when we saw what looked to be lush vegetation along the riverbank.   “Nature!  Nature!”  I wanted to scream, followed by a quick jump into the water to gobble up these rare and tiny pieces of plant life.   We are Colorado kids and while grateful for this new adventure we often grow hungry for a taste of chlorophyll to supplement our daily diet of cement, glass and asphalt.

We reached the raging, harried Yangzi in no time and caught a glimpse of what seemed to be schizophrenic currents carrying boats in all cardinal directions as if nothing more than primary colored toys bobbing in a bathtub.  

E appreciated the sights and sounds but was ready to head back when we reached the confluence of the Yangzi and the Huangpu. On the return the sun came out from behind the clouds to reveal the skyline of Pudong scrubbed brilliant by the recent rains.  There are more than enough impressive skyscrapers in Pudong but there’s still something about the Oriental Pearl Tower with its bulbous pink design that steals the show and makes even a sleepy toddler smile goofily.