One of Best-known Landmark in Shanghai: Never Miss the Bund (Wai Tan)

Taking a stroll along the avenue, watching the sunset on Waibaidu Bridge and going on a cruise on Huangpu River are among few of the million things that you can do at the Bund. This article is all about the Bund, which will let any tourist understand the place better and make an informative visit. Go through the article completely before you decide to travel to the Bund - one of the most exciting places in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Bund was opened as a treaty port in the 1840s after China lost the First Opium War. Before the the 1840s Shanghai was a small seaside town. And the Bund was a muddy towpath for boats along Huangpu River. After that, one by one the western powers like the British and the French seized the Bund and formed the British Concession and French Concession.

Gradually the Bund became a bustling trade center with western powers constructing their firms and buildings, making it a major prosperous foreign trade center. When you visit the Bund, you can see major banks, headquarters, consulates and trading houses from the United Kingdom, United States, France, Italy, Japan, and Germany. Under this, the Bund is aptly called the “Financial Street” of Shanghai.

The Shanghai Bund is a 1.5 km long waterfront along Huangpu River that faces the newer part of Shanghai which is Pu Dong. The Bund lies in the center of Zhongshan road. From the Bund one can see modern skyscrapers of Lujiazui as well. On its west are many buildings in various architectural styles like Gothic, Classical, Baroque, Renaissance and neoclassical. With a total of 52 such buildings, it is rightly referred to as a museum of buildings.

In the morning the Bund is a place for exercise by the locals, and in the afternoon, it is a buzzing tourist spot. The Shanghai Bund can be summed up as a landscape of streets view from the river, the long beach, green belt, and the statuesque buildings. As the evening falls, this place gets lit up by various buildings like the crystal palace. The Bund has a very important cultural significance. You can witness true Chinese culture here and is an exotic place to shop around if you are a shopaholic.

Apart from the pleasurable walk along the Bund promenade, it has a lot of other stuff to offer to the tourists. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting things to do while on the bund Shanghai:

It gives you a feel of the past and its contrast with the present modern life. When the night comes, and the buildings light up, the play of lights on the river sets it ablaze with beauty and mystery and a stunning vista. One can choose from half an hour to a 3 and half hour cruise options.

Watch the Sunset on Waibaidu Bridge – Considered as a romantic place for lovers, Waibaidu Bridge is also a famous spot for shooting many TV series and films. With the setting sun and the golden hue on the bridge, creating a romantic aura, it is a perfect place to capture the moment in your cameras.

Watch locals doing their morning exercise – If you want to know the lifestyle of the locals, go to the Bund in the early hours of the morning as the local's practice Tai chi, jogging or flying kites.

Spend some time in Huangpu Park – Situated at the northern end of the river, Huangpu Park is a lovely lush green area. It is like a breath of fresh air since greenery is not usually seen in this part of Shanghai. A great place to rest and click some photos.

Stroll along the waterfront promenade – The best way to explore the Bund is to take a walk along the north end to the south end or vice versa. This walk will give you the attractive sight of the 26 colonial-era buildings depicting different western cultures which affected and influenced the Bund.

Experience the Bund sightseeing tunnel – It’s a short and unique experience, of about 3-5 minutes on a speed train through the tunnel. One can see colorful lights all around as the trains speed through.

As you walk along the bund Shanghai, here is how you would come across various buildings and sites on your way. The walk begins with the Broadway Mansions on one side and the Russian Consulate and Astor House Hotel on the other. After this, you would come across the Waibaidu Bridge and walk towards the China Baptist Publication Building while crossing the Union Church and The Former British Consulate on your way to the left.

From the China Baptist Publication Building, you would walk down to the Jardine Matheson, then bank of China and Fairmont Peace Hotel to finally come to the promenade. From the promenade you can see the Bund 18 and North China Daily news buildings.

Walking up from the promenade you would come across the business area like the customs house and Hongkong and Shanghai bank. You would then be walking on the Zhongshan East 1^st road to go to the Three on the Bund building. Crossing that leads you to the Shanghai Club and the meteorological signal tower which brings you to the end of the Bund trail.

Though the bund Shanghai is full of beautiful views and picturesque locations. There are certain prime points where one can capture the essence and grandeur of the place. The top picks would be the Waibaidu Bridge during the Sunset, Oriental Pearl Tower, the Promenade and the Monument to the people’s heroes in Huangpu Park.

Some of the other interesting areas would be Pudong Binjian Avenue while you are on the Huangpu cruise, Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai Tower. It would be a good idea to hire a knowledgeable guide who could give you an idea of the best places to go and take pictures, based on the weather. If you wish to take a picture of Sunrise over Pudong, then you must get up early and be there as that is another beautiful sight to capture.

The experience of visiting the Bund during the day is in stark contrast to the atmosphere that envelops the Bund in the night. During the day one can watch the locals doing exercises and jogging at the Bund. One can also find some of them practicing Tai Chi and flying kites in the early hours. This is the best time to witness the lifestyle of locals here.

During the day, one can look across the Huangpu River towards the east bank to see the modern landmark buildings very clearly. The view towards Pudong is that of colonial architecture and during the day the buildings are open for a visit.

One could get inside the buildings during the night and explore the splendid history of Shanghai. Then there is the 1700 meters high Lover’s wall along the Bund to look at in the day time and also visit the Bund history museum.

When the buildings close at the onset of night, the night life at the Bund comes alive. In the evening the Bund could be deemed as a place of lovers since spectacular lights. And the cool riverside breeze surely pervades the atmosphere with a feeling of romance. The stunningly illuminated night view of the Pudong is simply awe-inspiring. The numerous riverboats gently sailing in the Huangpu River makes the scene even more alluring and dreamlike. The light-flooded buildings in the night, reflected by the river in tiny sparkles create magical moments on the Bund.

As the sun sets, the view of the skyline from the Bund will leave you speechless. It can boast of the most spectacular skyline in the world with the breathtaking view of Pudong business district skyline. The towering giants of commerce line up the eastern side and the skyscrapers stand in their majestic glory, with the world’s second-largest building (Shanghai Tower) in your sight.

The most beautiful of them being the iconic Pearl Tower bathe in light. The other splendid architectures to dominate the skyline are the World Financial Center and Jin Mao Tower. You could also opt to go to any of the rooftop bars and restaurants on the Bund, which would provide you with one of the best views of the gorgeous skyline.

The twilight is the time for you to soak up the entire beauty of Shanghai dispersed in its old-world charm, modern style buildings, and skyscrapers and the tranquil River.

From Shanghai, one could take the Shanghai Bus or the Metro. The Shanghai Metro Line 2 or Line 10 crosses the Bund. Since there are no bus stops at the Bund one would need to get down at East Nanjing Road station which is just a 10 minutes’ walk on the East Nanjing road to the Bund.

There is also the bus service like City sightseeing buses to Waitan handgun Dalou and Zhongshan Dongyilu Hankoulu. One should take buses such as 147, 305, 307, 330, 33, 37, 55, 65, 921 and get down at East Zhongshan 1st Road / East Nanjing Road; Take 123, 135, 145, 576, 934 and get off at East Zhongshan 1st Road, Take Bus 42, 71, 311, 316, 320 and get off at East Yan’an Road / East Zhongshan 1st Road.

To travel between the Bund and Pudong across Huangpu river, one can use the bund sightseeing tunnel which is a tourist attraction with the light effects projecting along the tunnel, but the charge for the tunnel is 10 or 20 times as compared to other modes of transport.

There are also regular ferry services at scheduled timings between Dongchang Road Ferry Dock in Pudong and East Jinling Road Ferry Dock at the Bund.

The Bund, without doubt, is a bedazzling sight in the night, so the best time to visit The Bund is between 7 PM – 8 PM. It is better to reach early so that you can secure a good spot for yourself for taking pictures of the landmark monuments all around The Bund because as the night falls the place gets swamped by tourists almost all time of the year.

It is a sight to behold in the night when The Bund is sandwiched between illuminated ultra-modern buildings and historic concession ones and the boats lit up in the Huangpu River.

If you are an early riser, then an early morning stroll would be another terrific time to visit The Bund. Experience the early morning sunshine and watch the glorious sunrise over the maze of high rises at The Bund in the morning.

10. Other surroundings

The Bund is the epitome of Shanghai history. With so many western societies having their trade centers and banks, it is also nicknamed as “The Oriental Wall Street.” Surrounding the Bund, you could see the Oriental Pearl Tower, which rises a whopping 468 meters.

It is the third tallest TV and radio tower in the world. True to its name, the tower gives a poetic impression of large and small pearls dropping on a plate. It has 3 spheres of three different sizes, connected in series giving it its unique architecture. The Oriental Pearl Tower has 15 layers which involve a revolving restaurant and the main observation deck. Visitors can relax at different levels getting different snapshots of the Shanghai city. Along with exhibitions, dining, and shopping, this tower is a great place for a visit during your tour to the Bund.

The Shanghai Tower, 2^nd largest tower in the world, is another place of interest around the Bund. This skyscraper is located in Lujiazui, Pudong and is 632 meters tall. This building is used in mixed ways like office space, hotel, or observation deck for tourists. The Shanghai tower is connected at the base to a subway station, and you can directly arrive here by taking Line 2 metro.

You could also roam around on the Nanjing road, which is Shanghai’s most popular and busiest shopping area full of top-end malls to eating joints and old-styled stores.

Near to the Bund is also Yuyuan or the “happiness garden” which is believed to have been built in the Ming dynasty. It is believed to be more than 400 years old. The exquisite architecture and artistic layout make this garden a jewel in the crown for the Shanghai city.

The Bund can be best defined as nostalgia from the past, mingling with futuristic establishments and buildings, making it one of the unique sites to visit in Shanghai. Full of history and culture the Bund is surely the pride of Shanghai which apart from its glorious past and modernism is also a great place to dine and shop with its profusion of restaurants, bars, and hotels. You witness the marriage of east and west at the Bund. It is the magnetic and majestic place to be where the river, the colonial architecture, and the skyscrapers create a melodious orchestra for the tourists. So do not miss the Shanghai city’s most famous smile, which is the Bund.