The Bund
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality
A riverside promenade lined with colonial-era buildings, facing the futuristic skyline of Pudong across the Huangpu River. Most striking at night when both sides are lit up.
Why visit The Bund?
The Bund's row of early 20th-century buildings were built during Shanghai's era as an international treaty port, when foreign banks and trading houses lined the waterfront in a mix of European architectural styles. Standing on the promenade puts that history in direct visual contrast with Pudong across the river, whose skyline of skyscrapers represents Shanghai's transformation since the 1990s. Few places in China let you see two distinct eras of the city's history in a single frame the way the Bund does, which is why it functions as much as a symbolic viewpoint as a historic district in its own right.
How to experience it
The promenade is built for walking along the river rather than entering most of the historic buildings, many of which are now banks, hotels, or offices rather than public attractions. The contrast between the two riverbanks is strongest after sunset, once the colonial facades are lit and the Pudong skyline's lights and signage are fully on, which is why most visitors deliberately time a Bund visit for evening rather than daytime. It's a popular spot, especially on weekends, so arriving a little before peak evening hours gives more room to find a clear view of the skyline.
Tip
Visit just after sunset, when the colonial buildings are still lit by ambient light and the Pudong skyline lights have already switched on.