The Bund
Address
Zhongshan Rd (E-1), Waitan, Huangpu, Shanghai
GPS
31.2357911, 121.4867543
The Bund (or Waitan), in central Shanghai, is a waterfront neighborhood. The area is based on a portion of Zhongshan Road within the former Shanghai International Settlement that runs along the Huangpu River’s western bank in the eastern part of Huangpu City.
Quick facts
- Name: The Bund
- Location: Shanghai, China
- Type of attraction: Neighborhood
- Built: 1860
- Ticket price: Free
The river-side area faces Lujiazui’s new skyscrapers in the Pudong District. Typically, the Bund refers to the buildings and wharves on this road portion, as well as some adjacent areas. It was the rich and powerful center of the international community in Shanghai from the 1860s until the 1930s, functioning as a legally protected treaty port.
The most classic way to explore the Bund is either wandering from the north end to the south, or the other way around. Along the way, you’ll see the Bund’s most famous and attractive sight, namely 26 colonial-era buildings of various Western architectural styles, giving the Bund Shanghai China fame as an’ international architecture museum.’
The Bund is an absolute must-see when visiting Shanghai, much like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. The Bund is Shanghai’s most recognizable sight, and the region immediately surrounding it is the city’s busiest tourist district.
The Bund is known as “An Exhibition of International Buildings” because it features 52 structures designed in a wide variety of different styles. There are dozens of structures on the Bund that are modelled after the classical Renaissance architecture of the old ‘Far East Wall Street’, including the famous Bank of China building, Heping Hotel, customs building and HSBC skyscraper.
These structures were not created by the same architect or constructed during the same time period, but they all have a remarkable harmony. The Bund features buildings in a wide range of architectural styles, from French classical to Gothic and beyond.
Along the Huangpu River, you may find some of the most magnificent landscapes in China, comprised of iconic buildings and significant historical monuments.
The Bund is an excellent starting point for discovering modern-day Shanghai and gaining insight into the city’s promising future because of the unique way in which it blends Western and Chinese traditions.
The neon signs on either side of the strait sync up once night falls. The growth of Shanghai is being witnessed on the Bund, and the Lujiazui district has become an iconic symbol of the city’s modern architecture. Seeing the vibrant city from the water gives you a new perspective on its beauty.
The Bund, located on the western bank of the Huangpu River, is 1.5 kilometers long. Crossing Suzhou Creek from north to south, it begins at Waibaidu Bridge and finishes at Yan’an Road. Located in eastern Huangpu District, the region is centered on East Zhongshan No. 1 Road, opposite the ultra-modern towers of Pudong.
It is a starting point for exploration of Shanghai and cannot be missed.
Interesting facts about The Bund
Here are some interesting facts about this amazing area:
- The buildings alongside The Bund are built in Baroque, Gothic, Classicism, Romanesque, and Renaissance styles.
- It is one of the most photographed area of Shanghai
- It is actually not that big – the length is about one mile and there are total of 52 buildings in the Bund area.
