In planning projects crossing rivers, lakes or sea, we have to consider which of the following schemes, i.e., the bridge scheme, the tunnel scheme or the “bridge+tunnel” scheme, should be adopted. In the paper, first, the Huangpu river crossing projects built in Shanghai in recent years are presented; then, bridges or tunnels crossing rivers that have been built in China and abroad are presented. It is concluded that the following three factors, i.e., the requirements (including the traffic demand, the urban and/or regional planning and development requirements, etc.), the feasibility (including the navigation channel, the hydrology, the meteorology, the technology, the economy, etc.), the safety (including the seismic resistance, the wind resistance, the disaster prevention, the national defense, the sustainable development, the durability, the environment, etc.), should be considered in the comparison of river crossing project schemes. Chongming rivercrossing project built in Shanghai, which consists of tunnel in the south section and bridge in the north section, is a successful project. Finally, the method for the bridge/tunnel scheme comparison is discussed. It is recommended that numerical models suitable for the actual conditions should be established, quantitative and qualitative combined analysis should be made and feasible comparison method should be taken so as to achieve a rational final scheme.