The Bund

Imagine standing on a 1.5km waterfront promenade, where 100-year-old colonial buildings stand tall opposite the futuristic Pudong skyline, that’s The Bund, Shanghai’s most iconic landmark. 

What is The Bund?

People also call The Bund Waitan. It goes along the Huangpu River for 1.5 kilometres from Yan’an East Road in the south to Wai Baidu Bridge in the north. This was the part of Shanghai’s International Settlement a long time ago.

The Bund has 52 beautiful old buildings that were built a long time ago. These 52 buildings in the Bund were very important for finance and trade. A time ago in the 1940s, the Bund was where you could find the main offices of most of the big banks and financial companies in China including the big four banks from the Republic of China era.

The best part about the Bund is that you can go and see all these things without spending any money.

How to Get to The Bund?

Tip: The ferry is much cheaper than river cruises (which cost ¥100+) and offers the same stunning views of The Bund and Pudong.

Best Things to Do at The Bund

Walk Along Riverside and Take Photos

When you walk along the riverside you will see a lot of new things together. You can take a lot of pictures.

The best places to take pictures at The Bund are:

• Near the Peninsula Hotel: This is the place to take a picture of the Pudong skyline. You can see all the buildings like the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower with the Huangpu River in front of them.
• Nanjing Road Intersection: This is a place to take a picture of the old buildings and the new Pudong skyline at the same time. You can also watch people walking around because it is a place that connects The Bund to Nanjing East Road.
• Wai Baidu Bridge: The bridge is special. If you stand on it, you can take a unique picture of the north part of The Bund with the Huangpu River flowing underneath.

Admire Historic Landmarks and Architecture

Key buildings to note at The Bund:

• The former HSBC Building at number 12 is a beautiful building. It has a dome and nice designs inside. People say it is the beautiful building east of Suez.
• Custom House at number 13 has a clock tower called "Big Ching”. It looks like London’s Big Ben. Every 15 minutes it makes a sound that you can hear all along the walkway.
• Sassoon House, also known as Peace Hotel at number 20 is a building with a green copper roof. Inside there is a jazz bar called the Peace Hotel Jazz Bar.
• Bank of China Tower, at number 23 is a mix of old European styles. It has Chinese designs, which makes it stand out from the other European-style buildings.

Go for Cruises and River Activities

The cruise that people like the most goes out every day from 18:30 to 21:30. It leaves every 30 minutes and takes about 45 minutes. The cruise starts from Shiliupu Wharf. It is close to The Bund you can walk there in 10 minutes from the end. You can sit down and see The Bund and Pudong all lit up.

Some tips for going on a cruise: You should go on a cruise when the sun is setting or early in the evening from 18:30, to 20:00. This is the time to see The Bund light up. You can see the light of the sun and the lights of the buildings at the same time.

Besides river cruise, you can walk along the Huangpu River and enjoy the view. The path goes from The Bund to the North Bund and Yangpu Riverside. You can take a walk and have a good time.

Try Local Food Nearby

If you want an experience near The Bund you should try some of the high-end options with river views.

For example:

• Jean Georges is a restaurant on The Bund. It is a Michelin-recommended restaurant with good food that is a mix of French and Asian spices. The outdoor terrace at Jean Georges has views of Pudong, which makes it a great place to go for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries.
• Another great place to eat on The Bund is Canton Table. It is a Michelin-starred restaurant that serves food with a modern twist. The menu at Canton Table has dishes like dim sum and roasted meats and you can enjoy them while looking at the river.

If you do not want to spend a lot of money you can try some eats.

You can walk to Nanjing East Road, which's about 10 minutes away from The Bund. On Nanjing East Road you can try some street food like xiaolongbao, which are steamed dumplings and shengjian mantou, which are pan-fried pork buns. These food are all very cheap they cost than ¥20 per dish.

Shop Till You Drop

Luxury shopping:

• Nanjing East Road has top international stores in old buildings. You can find Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Gucci.

One-stop shopping malls:

• New World Daimaru is near The Bund. It has high-end fashion brands and beauty counters. Don't miss its rotating dragon escalator. Many people take pictures there.
• BFC Bund Finance Centre has streetwear, high fashion and Chinese designer items. You can also find home decorations and gifts.

Authentic local souvenirs:

• First Foodmall has yummy Shanghai treats like crispy pastries and pork snacks.
• Shen Da Cheng has rice cakes and Shanghai-style dim sum.

Hidden trendy finds:

• Walk down the streets, behind The Bund and Bund Central Plaza. You can find Pop Mart, handmade jewelry and vintage ornaments. There are also city postcards and exclusive gadgets.

Best Time to Visit The Bund

• Seasons: Spring (March–May) and Autumn (September–November) are the ideal seasons. The weather is mild (15–25°C), with clear skies and minimal rainfall – perfect for walking the promenade and taking photos.
• Time of day: 
• Early morning (6:00–8:00am): This is the quietest time to visit, with almost no crowds. 
• Sunset (17:30–19:30): Golden hour is magical here.
• Evening (18:30–22:30/23:00): The Bund truly comes alive at night, thanks to its stunning building illumination (often mistaken for a “light show”). 

Recommended Itineraries at The Bund

Route 1: The Bund First Facade Architecture Walk (1.5km, 1–1.5 hours)

This route focuses on the waterfront “Bund First Facade”.

• Start: Nanjing East Road Intersection
• Stop 1: Nanjing Road Intersection – Capture the blend of colonial buildings and Pudong skyline.
• Stop 2: HSBC Building (No. 12) – Admire the neoclassical exterior and free interior mosaics.
• Stop 3: Custom House (No. 13) – Listen to the Big Ching clock chime (every 15 minutes) and take photos of the clock tower.
• Stop 4: Peace Hotel (No. 20) – Marvel at the Art Deco green copper pyramid roof and historic lobby.
• Stop 5: Bank of China Tower (No. 23) – Notice the unique blend of Chinese motifs and Art Deco style.
• End: Wai Baidu Bridge – Capture vintage-style photos of the bridge and the Bund’s northern end.

Route 2: The Bund Second Facade Hidden Gems Walk (2km, 1.5–2 hours)

• Start: Yan’an East Road (southern end of The Bund)
• Stop 1: 九江路 (Jiujiang Road) – Visit 九江路36号 (Former China Post) and 九江路219号 (China Christian Council) for historic architecture.
• Stop 2: 江西中路 (Jiangxi Middle Road) – Explore 江西中路138号 (Former Xiangtai Bank) and 江西中路222号 (Former Zhejiang First Commercial Bank) to see restored financial buildings.
• Stop 3: 虎丘路 (Huju Road) – Admire 虎丘路20号 (Former Asia Society Building) and 虎丘路128号 (Former Guangxuehui Building) for unique cultural heritage.
• Stop 4: 汉口路 (Hankou Road) – Visit 汉口路309号 (Former Shenbao Newspaper Office) and 汉口路193号 (Old Municipal Building) to learn about Shanghai’s media and administrative history.
• End: 圆明园路 (Yuanmingyuan Road) – Relax at a boutique café in a restored heritage building, then walk back to the Bund promenade.

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