Shanghai Sidecar Motorcycle Tours: A Vintage Way to Explore the City
Most visitors to Shanghai spend their days walking the Bund, navigating the subway, or hopping between museums. But there is a way to see this city that almost no guidebook talks about — riding through the streets in a vintage Chang Jiang sidecar motorcycle, the kind that once carried Chinese military officers across the country in the 1950s and 60s.
These three-wheeled machines, based on the Russian Ural M-72 design, have been repurposed by a small community of enthusiasts in Shanghai into one of the most memorable urban touring experiences available anywhere in China. You sit in the sidecar bucket, wind in your face, while the driver weaves through traffic in a way no taxi or tour bus ever could.
This guide covers everything you need to know: where these motorcycles came from, how to book a tour, what routes are worth your time, what you will pay, and how to stay safe while doing it.
The History Behind the Bike
The Chang Jiang 750 is not a replica or a nostalgic reproduction. It is a real piece of Chinese industrial history. The design originated with the BMW R71, which the Soviet Union reverse-engineered in the 1940s as the M-72. China acquired the manufacturing rights and tooling from the USSR in the 1950s, and the Beijing Motorcycle Works began producing the Chang Jiang 750 for the People's Liberation Army.
The military used them for reconnaissance, dispatch carrying, and light cargo transport across rough terrain where jeeps could not easily go. Production continued in various forms for decades, and when the military eventually phased them out, a surplus of these rugged machines entered civilian hands.
Today, a well-restored Chang Jiang 750 is a collector's item, but more importantly for travelers, it is the basis for a niche touring industry in Shanghai that has been growing quietly since around 2015. Small operators — often just one or two people with a couple of bikes — offer personalized tours that take you through parts of the city you would never find on your own.
For more on the industrial heritage of these machines, you can explore the China Motorcycle Sports Association, the official governing body for motorcycle culture and sport in China, which maintains records on historic Chinese motorcycle models.
Why a Sidecar Tour Hits Different
Shanghai is a city of layers. There is the shiny Shanghai of Lujiazui skyscrapers and neon-lit Nanjing Road. There is the colonial Shanghai of the French Concession's plane-tree-lined streets. And then there is the Shanghai most tourists never see — the lanes where residents still hang laundry from bamboo poles, where the corner noodle shop has been run by the same family for three generations, where a temple sits tucked between apartment blocks built in the 1980s.
A sidecar motorcycle can access all of these. Unlike a car, it can slip down narrow lanes. Unlike walking, it covers enough ground to show you multiple neighborhoods in a single afternoon. And unlike a bus tour, you are not trapped behind glass — you smell the street food, feel the temperature change when you pass under a row of trees, hear the ambient noise of the city shifting from district to district.
The experience is also inherently social. Your driver is usually a local who knows the city intimately, and because the tour is private (typically just you and one other person in the sidecar), you can ask questions, request stops, and change the itinerary on the fly. It is closer to having a knowledgeable friend show you around than taking a formal tour.
How to Book a Sidecar Tour
There are a few operators in Shanghai running sidecar tours, and the landscape shifts as enthusiasts move in and out of the business. The most reliable way to find current operators is through:
- Shanghai expat forums and WeChat groups — Search for "sidecar tour Shanghai" in WeChat and you will find several mini-programs and group chats where operators post their availability.
- Travel platforms — Some operators list on TripAdvisor and GetYourGuide, though the inventory is limited.
- Direct contact — Several operators maintain Instagram accounts or websites where you can book directly.
Prices typically range from 500 to 800 RMB per hour (roughly $70–$110 USD), with most tours running 2 to 4 hours. Full-day tours can cost 2,000 to 3,000 RMB. This is not a budget activity, but it compares favorably to private car tours in Shanghai, which often cost the same or more while offering a far less memorable experience.
When booking, ask about:
- The bike model — Most are Chang Jiang 750, but condition varies enormously. Ask for recent photos.
- The route — A good operator will ask about your interests and customize accordingly.
- Weather policy — Tours are usually cancelled or rescheduled in heavy rain. Confirm the policy in advance.
- Insurance — Confirm whether the operator carries passenger insurance. Reputable ones do.
- Helmet provision — They should provide a helmet. If they do not, that is a red flag.
The Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission oversees commercial tour vehicle regulations, and you can verify operator legitimacy through their official portal, which lists licensed tourism transport services.
Recommended Routes
The French Concession Circuit (2–3 hours)
This is the classic sidecar route and the one most operators will suggest by default. You start around Huaihai Road and work your way through the leafy streets of the former French Concession — Donghu Road, Wukang Road, Fuxing Road. The architecture here is a mix of 1920s and 30s European-style villas, mid-century apartment blocks, and trendy new cafes that have moved into renovated old buildings.
Highlights include the Wukang Mansion (formerly the Normandie Apartments), designed by architect László Hudec in 1924, and the quiet lanes around Fuxing Park, where elderly residents practice tai chi in the mornings and the cafes fill up with young professionals by afternoon.
The sidecar experience is particularly well-suited to this area because the plane-tree canopy creates dappled light that you only fully appreciate when you are moving slowly through it at street level. In a car, you are too enclosed. On foot, you move too slowly to cover the full area. The sidecar is the sweet spot.
Old City and Huangpu Riverfront (3 hours)
This route takes you from the Yu Garden area through the old Chinese city — the part of Shanghai that existed before the foreign concessions — and then along the Huangpu riverfront to the Bund.
The contrast here is dramatic. You start in neighborhoods where the buildings are low, the streets are narrow, and the pace of life feels like it belongs to a different decade. Then you cross into the Bund area, and suddenly you are flanked by century-old financial buildings on one side and the futuristic Pudong skyline on the other, across the river.
A good driver will take you through lanes near the old city wall remnants, past the Temple of the City God, and along the riverside promenade that most tourists reach on foot but rarely get to see from this angle.
Yangpu Industrial Heritage Route (half day)
For travelers interested in industrial history and urban regeneration, this route goes north to Yangpu District, where Shanghai's old factories along the Huangpu River have been converted into creative parks, art spaces, and waterfront promenades.
The Yangpu Riverside was once a continuous stretch of textile mills, gas works, and shipyards. Today, much of it has been redeveloped, but the industrial structures — chimneys, crane tracks, loading docks — have been preserved as design features. Riding along this stretch in a vintage sidecar motorcycle, past buildings that were active factories within living memory, creates an odd and satisfying temporal dissonance.
This route is longer and less touristy. It is best for a second or third visit to Shanghai, or for travelers who have already done the main sights.
What to Wear and Bring
The sidecar is open to the elements, so dress for the weather:
- Spring and autumn — Ideal conditions. A light jacket is enough.
- Summer — Hot and humid. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and breathable clothing. Morning tours (9 AM start) are more comfortable than afternoon.
- Winter — Cold on a moving motorcycle, even in Shanghai's relatively mild winter. Bring a warm jacket, scarf, and gloves. Some operators provide blankets.
- Rain — Tours are usually rescheduled. Do not attempt a sidecar tour in rain, even if the operator offers to go ahead.
Bring a camera, but make sure it is secure — a phone in a lanyard case or a small camera with a wrist strap. The sidecar vibration can loosen your grip on loose items.
Safety Considerations
Shanghai traffic is dense but generally orderly by Chinese standards. The sidecar is a large, visible vehicle, which helps. That said, you are on an open motorcycle in a city where scooters, cars, and buses share space in ways that can surprise visitors unfamiliar with Chinese traffic patterns.
Basic safety guidelines:
- Wear the helmet — It is not optional, and Shanghai traffic police do enforce helmet rules for motorcycle passengers.
- Stay in the sidecar — Do not lean out to take photos while the bike is moving. Ask the driver to stop.
- Communicate with your driver — Establish a signal for "stop" before you start. If something feels unsafe, say so.
- Avoid peak traffic hours — Morning rush (7:30–9:30) and evening rush (17:00–19:00) are chaotic and not enjoyable.
- Check the bike before you ride — It should look well-maintained. Worn tires, rusty frames, or engines that struggle to start are warning signs.
Alternatives Outside Shanghai
If you are interested in sidecar touring but not visiting Shanghai, there are small communities of Chang Jiang enthusiasts in Beijing and Chengdu as well. Beijing's scene is more focused on the bikes themselves — club rides, restoration projects, and weekend gatherings — while Chengdu has a more relaxed touring culture that takes advantage of the surrounding Sichuan countryside.
Neither city has as developed a commercial sidecar tour scene as Shanghai, but if you are comfortable reaching out to local motorcycle communities through WeChat, you may be able to arrange a ride.
The Future of Sidecar Tourism in Shanghai
The Chang Jiang 750 is no longer in production. The last factory making them, in Luoyang, shut down the line years ago. Parts are still available through a network of specialist suppliers and fabricators, but the bikes are becoming harder to maintain, and the pool of mechanics who know how to work on them is aging.
This means sidecar tours in Shanghai have a finite lifespan. The operators running tours today are doing so on machines that are genuinely vintage, maintained through passion and specialized knowledge. If this is something that appeals to you, it is worth doing sooner rather than later — not because the tours are disappearing tomorrow, but because the bikes that power them are irreplaceable.
FAQ
Q: Do I need a motorcycle license to ride in the sidecar?
No. As a passenger in the sidecar, you do not need any license. The driver holds the appropriate motorcycle license and commercial touring permits.
Q: Can two people ride together?
The sidecar fits one passenger comfortably. The bike itself has a driver's seat and sometimes a rear seat, but most tour setups are one driver plus one sidecar passenger. If you are traveling as a couple, you can book two bikes, or some operators can arrange for one person to ride pillion behind the driver while the other sits in the sidecar.
Q: Are these tours legal?
Yes, when operated by licensed tour providers. Shanghai has specific regulations governing motorcycle tours, and reputable operators carry the necessary commercial permits, insurance, and vehicle registrations. Unlicensed operators exist — avoid them. If a provider cannot show you their business license and vehicle registration, find another one.
Q: What is the best time of day for a tour?
Morning, between 9 AM and noon, is ideal. Traffic is lighter, the light is good for photography, and temperatures are comfortable. Late afternoon (after 4 PM in summer, after 3 PM in winter) is the second-best option. Avoid midday in summer — the heat and direct sun in an open sidecar can be intense.
Q: Can I drive the motorcycle myself?
Most operators do not allow this, for insurance and liability reasons. If you have a valid Chinese motorcycle license and want to rent a bike, some motorcycle rental shops in Shanghai offer Chang Jiang 750 rentals, but this is a separate arrangement from a guided tour.
Q: Is it safe for children?
Generally, operators set a minimum age of 12 for sidecar passengers, though this varies. The sidecar does not have a seatbelt, and the ride can be bumpy. Use your judgment based on your child's size and temperament.
Q: How far in advance should I book?
Book at least 3 to 5 days in advance during peak travel seasons (April–May, September–October, and Chinese New Year). During quieter periods, 1 to 2 days is usually sufficient.
Q: What happens if the bike breaks down during the tour?
Reputable operators have backup arrangements — either a second bike or a call to a support vehicle. This is another reason to book with established providers rather than informal operators found on social media.
Conclusion
A sidecar motorcycle tour in Shanghai is not the cheapest activity, nor the most mainstream, but it might be the one you remember longest. The combination of vintage machinery, street-level access, and a knowledgeable local driver creates an experience that no bus tour, walking tour, or taxi ride can replicate.
The Chang Jiang 750 is a piece of living history — a machine that was built for a different era and has found an unlikely second life carrying curious travelers through one of the world's most dynamic cities. If you have an afternoon free in Shanghai and want to see it in a way that almost no one else does, find a sidecar and take the ride.