The Bund, also called the Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (East Zhongshan 1st Road), is a famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It starts from the Baidu Bridge, which is at the connecting point of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek, to the East Jinling Road and winds a 1500 meters (less than one mile) length. Walking along the Bund, which is at the west shore of the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower can be seen on the opposite side and also the Jin Mao Tower. Being one of the Top Ten Shanghai Attractions, the Bund is a really beautiful and special place which is worth visiting. The newly-built Flood Control Bank takes the function of preventing the oversize flood; the square with the statue of Marshal Chen Yi is an open air podium which gives new views of the Shanghai Plaza Culture; the Cenotaph which stands on the man-made island is a monument of people's heroes; the riverside greenbelt, the Electronic Waterfall Bell, and the Great Mural Carving are all representatives of the Bund. The most famous and attractive sight which is at the west side of the Bund are the 52 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance.
History of the Bund
Before the 1840s, the Bund was a muddy narrow lane with tall reeds. After Shanghai was established as the trading port in 1846, a street was paved there and the bank was reinforced. Then, rows of commercial buildings were constructed. As the UK Concession, the Bund is the starting point at which Shanghai walked into the modern times. It was the centre of Shanghai's politics, economy and culture hundreds of years ago, consulates of most countries and many banks, businesses and newspaper offices were settled there, and that's why we have these art-like buildings. Although they were not designed by the same person or built in the same period, the architectural pattern is similar.
Among the earliest banks established on the Bund, the most powerful ones are Jardine Mathrson & Co., Dent & Co. and David Sasson and Sons Company invested by Great Britain, and Russell & Co. sponsored by the United States. In 1868, today's Huangpu Park was set up there. At that time, it was named Bund Park, which is the oldest park in Shanghai. Until July 1st, 1928, the park started to be open to Chinese people. By 1930, the layout of the Bund had been formed.
On September 30, 1995, the Bund History Museum was opened. The museum collected many historical pictures as well as some representative literatures and tangible objects. It shows the 150 years' developing history of the Bund. Brief Intro to the Famous Buildings on the Bund
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| Map of the Bund of Shanghai |
The current East Wind Hotel on the Bund was founded up at the site of the exclusive Shanghai Club. It's a typical British classical architecture. It owned the longest bar counter at that time in a length of 110.7 inches.
The Grecian igloo was the past HSBC Building. Built in 1923, the British people once said it's the most splendid building from Suez Canal to Bering Strait.
Today's Peace Hotel once was the famous Sasson House. It's a ten-storied building, 77 meters high. In the past, it was the tallest building on the Bund. In 1992, Peace Hotel was entitled the World Famous Hotel.
In order to make these architectures known by people, experts and scholars write nameplates for them both in Chinese and in English. Hereunder are the 25 famous old buildings on the Bund:
| Built in | Currently Used by | Original Name | Designer |
| 1913 | China Pacific Insurance Co. Ltd. | McBain Building | Moorhead&Halse |
| 1910 | East Wind Hotel | Shanghai Club Building | T. Tarrant |
| 1922 | No.3 the Bund (originally No.4 the Bund) | Union Building | Palmer & Turner Group, P & T |
| 1925 | No.5 the Bund | The NKK Building | Lester, Johnson&Morriss |
| 1897 | No.6 the Bund | The Russell & Co. Building | Gabriel James Morrison+ F. M. Gratton |
| 1908 | Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited | The Great Northern Telegraph Company Building | Atkinson&Dallas Architects and Civil Engineers Ltd |
| 1916 | SHIATZY CHEN | The China Merchants Building Company | Atkinson&Dallas Architects and Civil Engineers Ltd |
| Jun. 23, 1923 | Shanghai Pudong Development Bank | HSBC Building | Palmer & Turner Group, P&T |
| Dec. 19, 1927 | Shanghai Customs | The Customs House | Palmer & Turner Group, P&T |
| 1948 | Shanghai Municipal Trade Union Council | The Bank of Communications Building | C.H.Gonda |
| 1910 | Foreign Exchange Trading Center | Russian Asiatic Bank | Becker&Baedeker |
| 1924 | China Merchants Bank | The Bank of Taiwan | Lester, Johnson&Morriss |
| 1924 | AIA.China | North China Daily News Building | Lester, Johnson&Morriss |
| 1922 | No.18 the Bund | Chartered Bank | Palmer & Turner Group, P&T |
| 1908 | South Building of the Peace Hotel | Palace Hotel | Gabriel James Morrison+ F. M. Gratton |
| Sep. 5, 1929 | North Building of the Peace Hotel | Sasson House | Palmer & Turner Group, P&T |
| 1937 | Bank of China | Bank of China Building | Palmer & Turner Group, P&T + Lu Qianshou |
| 1924 | Industrial and Commercial Bank of China | YOKOHAMA SPECIE BANK,LTD. | Palmer & Turner Group, P&T |
| 1920 | Agricultural Bank of China | Yangtze Insurance Building | Palmer & Turner Group, P&T |
| 1922 | No.27 the Bund | Jardine Matheson Building | R S Stewardson + H M Spence |
| 1920 | Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group | Glen Line Building | Palmer & Turner Group, P&T |
| 1914 | China Everbright Bank | Banque de l'Indochine | Atkinson&Dallas Architects and Civil Engineers Ltd |
| 1873 | Peninsula Hotel | General Consulate of Britain | Grossman & Boyce |
| 1934 | Shanghai Mansion | Broadway Mansions | Shanghai Land Investment Company |
| 1907 | The Gutzlaff Signal Tower |
Huangpu River and the Bund Pictures
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Travelers' Voices on The Bund
1.
Sep. 3,2009 21:30 Reply
Mr.BP(cn) said:
Here comes a piece of new:
Sightseeing Paltroof on the Bund will be Closed to Tourists During the Coming October Golden Week
Authority concerned said the sightseeing platroof of the bund will not be open to tourists in the coming golden week although the landscape light will be on. Reasons are as follows: Due before the 2010Expo, the transportation improving work of the bund is heatly undergoing and cann't be stopped at no good reason. In addition, it's not safe to accept tourists as the new sightseeing platroof has not been available yet.
Working staff will introuduce two other routes for tourists: one is at the Bingjiang Dadao of Lujiazui, east of Huangpu River, or via Huangpu river cruise.
As lots of construction is undergoing along the East Zhongshan 1st Road, tourists should go to safe places for sightseeing. Peace Hotel and the Singal Tower of the Bund are currently not recommeded. While other office buildings along the road and the "old dock" are all good sites for sightseeing.
Oct. 18,2009 22:56
Mr.Zack(Malaysia) replied:
Hi BP...
Saw your entry. I'll be visiting Shanghai next week i.e. 22 Oct'09 for 4 nights. Is the sightseeing paltroof on the Bund still closed ? Does the October Golden Week you mentioned consist of the whole October period / longer ? If it is still closed, can you recommend where else I should go to absorb the scenic view of the Bund ?
Can you also recommend some good attractions that I should visit for a 4 days tour of Shanghai. This will be my first visit.
Many thanks.
Oct. 19,2009 23:11
Ms.Daphne replied:
Besides the places posted by BP, you can take a cruise of Huangpu River to absorb the view of the Bund.
Shanghai top attractions are The Bund, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yunyuan Garden, Huangpu River Cruise, Nanjing Road, XinTianDi, Zhujiajiao, Shanghai Museum, Jin Mao Tower.
You can read this page for reference:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shanghai/
2.
Aug. 20,2009 21:49 Reply
Ms.Sandi(Canada) said:
Is the construction for Expo 2010 finished on the Bund yet? We want to find a spot somewhere along the river along the Bund to take photos of the Pudong skyline at night. I heard that HuangPu Park was closed so there is absolutely no access to take photos. Is this true?
Aug. 21,2009 02:45
Ms.Bella(singapore) replied:
Hi,Sandi. You're right. The construction is still undergoing. Huangpu Park is closed. If you really want to view the Bund, you can go to the opposite Bingjiang Park.
Aug. 21,2009 10:22
Ms.Sandi(Canada) replied:
I'm actually more interested in photographing the Pudong skyline at night from the west side of the river, and I need an unobstructed view. Plan B is to ask if anyone knows where there are tall buildings in the Bund area with public roof access so I can take a good photo from there of the Pudong skyline?
Aug. 21,2009 21:44
Ms.Jolin(Shanghai) replied:
Hi, Sandi, try the balcony in No. 5 or No. 18 of the Bund. They are all bars. be cautious to take out your tripod. They may ask you for fees on taking photos.
Aug. 22,2009 19:31
Ms.Sandi(Canada) replied:
No. 5 or No. 18? One of those buildings is the Peace Hotel, is it not? I will certainly make note of those buildings and attempt to get up to as high as I need to be in order to take an unobstructed photo of across the river. Many thanks!
3.
Aug. 15,2009 21:36 Reply
Mrs.Bisson(New Zealand) said:
HI
My partner and I visited Shanghai last year and loved it. We saw lots of pictures of the Cenotaph in the Bund and would like to know more about it. Can anyone help us Please
4.
Mar. 31,2009 19:27 Reply
Ms.Faye(united kingdom) said:
I Am a student studying travel and tourism and i have been asked to research about china, the historical features and day trips which include a range of half day trips, full day trips and evening trips. i have to explain what age group they attract if it possible would you be able to send me some ideas that you have to help achieve this subject. i would be really grateful if you could give up some time to help me in my project. hope to hear from you soon. faye
Aug. 10,2009 03:58
Ms.Song(China) replied:
Hey,Ms Raye
I am now working in Pudong area, Shanghai and have special interest in the buildings along the Bund and I am a frequent vistor to the bund. Yet, I am a layman to the archtecture styles there. But i would like to help you if you dont mind that. Please feel free to contact me whenever you need.fiorna-song@hotmail.com
5.
Jul. 30,2009 15:39 Reply
Ms.Shazlee(Maldives) said:
Wow! I love the place, still want to see the view, it took me to the past the ages of 1920's and 30's i could imagine the life. Its only I was able to see them on movies but visiting Shanghai on the field trip which was organized by Tsinghua University for the international students of IMPA group. What amazed me was the uniqueness of the architectural buildings. Unbelievable!outstanding! Sure would like to go once more there, specially would love to see the scene again.
6.
Apr. 23,2009 20:24 Reply
Ms.Tracey(Australia) said:
Hi,
Beijing – Is a busy city that never sleeps. Beijing has many attractions that you have to stay at least a few days to really enjoy it.
It has the
Forbidden Palace – where 24 emperors have lived over 500 years. The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world.
Great Wall – One of the seven wonders of the world. It stretches over 6,400 kms. Suppose to be visible from space.
Tiananmen Square – largest city sqaure in the world. Tiananmen means Heavenly Peace Gate. This gate is the main entrance to the Imperial and Forbidden Cities in Central Beijing.
Shanghai - another exciting city with lots going on.
Nanjing Road - is the world famous street with over 600 shops.
China offers a diverse and cultural holiday experience, unlike any other mainstream product
- Each region offers it’s own unique historic story
- Ideal for travellers wanting to experience something different,
- Popular with couples, and/or older families and groups
- Excellent shopping from bartering for a bargain at regional
markets right through to top end designer brands
Hope that helps - tracey