If someone asks me that, if there’s one place in Shanghai that shows the city in one look, I would say it’s the Bund. On one side there is a line of old buildings from the colonial time that shine golden when the sun goes down. On the side of the Huangpu River there are shiny tall buildings in Pudong looking like something from a science fiction movie.
I have walked this path at sunrise, at sunset, and very late at night. I still think it is one of the best free things to do in Shanghai. If you are getting ready for your trip and looking for things to know before visiting the Bund Shanghai, this guide has everything I wish someone had explained to me before I came.
What Exactly Is “The Bund”?
Shanghai’s Waitan (which the English refer to as the Bund Shanghai) is really nothing more than the promenade which skirts the Huangpu River on the west side. “Bund” is an Indian-English term derived from a type of embankment wall on any body of water and that is exactly what was so important about this area – at one time this particular stretch was the money area for the foreign trading enterprises and banks that sprang up in Shanghai’s foreign concession era during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
And the classic European-designed (and the now protected historical buildings still house some foreign firms) financial structures on the west have been matched by modern marvels across the river. Walking on the Bund, you’re walking into the old and staring straight into the new.
A Little Bit of History Worth Knowing
The visit to the Bund Shanghai Bund is really something when you know a little bit about what happened there. So the Bund Shanghai was made to open up to countries for trade back in the mid-1800s. Big countries came in and set up their own areas along the river, and they built lots of buildings like banks, trading houses, and customs offices. They all wanted to make their buildings look the best, which is why you see so many different styles all in one place.
After 1949, the government and state-owned banks started using these buildings and over time the area went through some times and then got fixed up again. Now the Bund is really nice and pretty for tourists. That is because of the big renovations they did before the 2010 World Expo. They made the walkway bigger, added some plants and trees. They made the lights and displays really cool, which is what you see when you visit the Bund today. The Bund is really something to see. The Bund has a lot of history and is a great place to visit when you are in Shanghai.
Best Time to Visit the Bund in Shanghai
It can make an amazing difference to the whole experience depending on when you go to the Bund Shanghai, so it’s one of the very first places you have to decide on schedule: Sunset (roughly between 6-7 PM as the seasons may vary). This is when the historical buildings along the side of the Bund are beginning to glow with amber-colored light, and sky can be seen with an orange & blue hue for pictures.
(After 7:30 PM). Once both sides have lit up, the highlight in view across the river is Pudong’s modern and shiny skyscraper buildings.
Here people come in droves and you will get the best pictures, though beware of crowds as well. Early morning (before 8 AM). The best photo opportunities would be before the crowds start their day. Walking down the promenade is like walking amongst ghosts! (spring and autumn would be perfect weather when the skies clear well, and you can go explore).
Summer months have lots of humidity to reduce the view of Pudong. Winters will have more biting air.
Avoid a weekend if you can! The Bund is one of the busiest spots in China and people pack there during holiday periods too.
How to Get to the Bund
Reaching the Bund Shanghai without knowing Chinese isn’t difficult. You just want to hop on an Eastern or Western metro line to either the East Nanjing Road (Lines 2 & 10) or the Tiantong Road (Line 10) stations and you’re just a short walk from the waterfront (about a 10-15 min walk) and from those stations and other such access points from the Pudong side, like People’s Square or the Lujiazui train station (depending on which bank you might decide to start from).
You’ll want to become aware of the Bund, as there are very different ways to spend your first visit to the Bund so that may alleviate some needless concerns you can possibly consider beforehand!
- Puxi side (where the historic buildings are): This is the “postcard” side, home to the old colonial buildings, the clock tower, and the main walking promenade.
- Pudong side (across the river): This is where the futuristic skyline is, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and Shanghai Tower. Many travelers cross over using the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel or a short ferry ride to get both perspectives.
What to See Along the Bund
When you walk along the promenade at the Bund Shanghai, you will see a lot of buildings. There are more than 50 buildings and they are all different styles. You will see Gothic, Renaissance, and Art Deco buildings.
Some buildings are really special.
- The Customs House is one of them. It has a clock tower that looks like Big Ben. At night it is all lit up. It looks really nice. You can see the clock face and everything.
- The HSBC Building is another one. It has a roof that is shaped like a dome and it has big columns too.
- The Fairmont Peace Hotel is an old hotel. It has been open since the 1920s. This Fairmont Peace Hotel is special because it still has a jazz bar.
- The Bank of China Building is also very interesting. It has a roof that’s like a traditional Chinese roof but the rest of the building looks Western. This Bank of China Building is like this because of the way it was built and the people who built it wanted to make it special.
The Riverside Promenade
The walkway itself is 1.5 kilometers long and it is completely free to walk. There are benches placed along the way if you want to sit and watch the boats go by on the Huangpu River. On weekends, you will also see locals doing morning tai chi, couples taking wedding photos, and street photographers with camera gear waiting for the perfect sunset shot.
The View of Pudong
This is honestly the star of the show for a lot of visitors. Standing on the Puxi side and looking across the water at Pudong’s skyline, especially once the lights come on, is one of those moments that makes you stop scrolling your phone and just look up.
River Cruises
If you want a different angle entirely, get on one of the Huangpu River cruise boats that depart from docks along the Bund. A short evening cruise, 45 minutes to an hour, lets you see both skylines from the water, and the boats themselves are lit up too, adding another layer to the whole scene.
Things to Know Before You Visit the Bund
This is the section I think matters most, because these are the details that actually affect your visit, not just the sightseeing highlights.
- It’s completely free. Walking the Bund promenade doesn’t cost anything, which makes it one of the best budget activities in Shanghai.
- Bring a portable charger. You’ll be taking a lot of photos, and between navigation apps and photo apps, your phone battery drains faster than you’d expect.
- Weather affects visibility a lot. Shanghai can get hazy or foggy, especially in colder months, which can dull the view of Pudong across the river. Check the forecast before you plan a sunset visit.
- Watch out for the “tea ceremony” scam. This is a well-known tourist trap around the Bund and Nanjing Road area, where friendly strangers invite you to a “traditional tea ceremony” that ends with an outrageous bill. Politely decline any unsolicited invitations from strangers who approach you speaking English.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Between walking the promenade, crossing to Pudong, and exploring nearby Nanjing Road, you’ll easily rack up several kilometers on foot.
- Public restrooms are limited directly on the promenade, so it’s worth using facilities at a nearby mall or metro station before you start your walk.
- The Bund connects easily to other attractions. Nanjing Road pedestrian street is right nearby for shopping and street food, and Yu Garden is a short taxi or metro ride away, so you can easily build a full day around this area.
- Language isn’t a big barrier here. This is one of the most tourist-friendly parts of Shanghai, with plenty of English signage and staff at nearby hotels and shops used to helping foreign visitors.
Getting the Best Photos at the Bund
If photography is a deal for you, I have learned a few things that might help.
The Puxi skyline with the clock tower looks superb in a shot, and the best place to take this picture is from the other side of the river near the Riverside Avenue promenade in Pudong.
If you want to get the Pudong skyline, which has the Oriental Pearl Tower and other buildings in your picture, you need to stand on the Puxi side and look across the river.
The time after the sun sets, which is called blue hour, is the best time to take pictures because the colors in the sky and the lights on the buildings are really rich and nice. This time is about twenty to thirty minutes after the sun sets before it gets completely dark.
You do not need a tripod to take pictures, but if you have a phone with night mode or a small tripod that you can take with you when you travel, your pictures will be sharper when it is not very bright.
Try to get to where you want to take your picture at least thirty minutes before you want to take it because the good spots near the railing fill up quickly when the sun is setting.
Where to Eat and Drink Nearby
After a walk beside the river at the Bund Shanghai, you might feel hungry. The Bund area offers choices. There are rooftop bars that have views of the city. There is also food just a few blocks back from Nanjing Road. If you want to spend money, some hotels near the Bund have rooftop restaurants. You can have dinner there. Look at the Pudong skyline. If you are trying to save money, walk a few blocks away from the river. The prices are much lower once you are not on the street.
Final Thought
The Bund is not just a place to take pictures. It is the place where you can see the whole story of Shanghai all at once. You can see old things and new things, Eastern things, Western things, and history and big plans all together. If you are there for a time to take a picture of the sunset or if you spend the whole evening walking on both sides of the river, either way, it’s worth it.
The Bund is one of those special places that is really as good as people say it is. I think you should visit the Bund Shanghai twice if you have time, once when the sun is setting and once when it is dark.
If you enjoyed this riverside view of the Bund Shanghai, you’ll also love the Li River, China,
