An icon of Shanghai during the concession era, the Bund was the city’s Wall Street, the site of frenzied commerce and wealth. Originally a towpath for hauling rice barges, the Bund (an English inscription for muddy waterside causeway) has gradually been transformed into an epic loop of Shanghai’s most powerful banks and trading houses . The best activity here is to stroll through the contrasting bones of the past and the futuristic geometry of Pudong’s skyline.
Most of the Art Deco and Neoclassical buildings here were built in his early 20th century and are impressive to those – if not noticeably Chinese – who enter the bustling port town by boat.
provided a view of Today, it has evolved into a designer shopping and dining district, with the city’s most exclusive boutiques, restaurants and hotels considering the Bund the only place. Evening visits are rewarded with stunning views of Pudong and the lit-up splendor of the Bund. Other options include Huangpu River cruises and relaxing in great bars and restaurants. At the northern end of the trail, Huangpu Park is home to the modest Bund History Museum, which houses a collection of old photographs and maps.
Come here early to enjoy the mesmerizing spectacle of morning gymnastics.