The Bund

Welcome to the Bund, the definitive threshold between Shanghai’s storied past and its meteoric future. Known in Mandarin as Wai Tan, which literally translates to the Outer Bank, this stretch along the western bank of the Huangpu…

Standing before the former HSBC Building and the adjacent Customs House, one is struck by the sheer scale of colonial ambition. The HSBC Building, completed in 1923, was once touted as the most luxurious building between the Suez…

As we continue north, we encounter the green-pyramid roof of the Peace Hotel, an Art Deco masterpiece that has defined the Shanghai skyline since 1929. Originally known as the Cathay Hotel, it was the brainchild of Sir Victor…

The Bund is not just about the buildings; it is defined by the Huangpu River, the 113-kilometer-long waterway that connects the city to the Yangtze and the world beyond. This river is Shanghai's lifeline, and the promenade we are…

Gazing across the Huangpu River toward Pudong is like looking into a kaleidoscope of modern achievement. Just thirty years ago, this area, known as Lujiazui, was largely composed of rice fields, villages, and warehouses. …

At the northern end of the Bund, we reach the Waibaidu Bridge, a historic all-steel truss bridge that crosses the Suzhou Creek. Completed in 1908, it was the first of its kind in China and has become an enduring symbol of Old…

Turning away from the river, we stand at the entrance to East Nanjing Road, the busiest and longest shopping street in the world. This thoroughfare has been the commercial heart of Shanghai since the mid-19th century, evolving…

As our journey along the Bund comes to an end, take a moment to look back at the skyline one last time. This waterfront is more than just a collection of buildings; it is a living chronicle of Shanghai's transformation. …