The Bund : info and guided tour

Introduction to the Bund

The Bund is Shanghai’s famous riverside promenade, on the west bank of the Huangpu, in Huangpu, near Zhongshan Rd (E-1). This long row of historic buildings faces the towers of Pudong and perfectly captures the contrast between the city’s colonial heritage and its contemporary urban landscape.

The site developed as Shanghai’s financial and commercial center during the era of the international concessions. It still features many 19th- and 20th-century buildings, constructed in a variety of styles, including Neoclassical, Art Deco, and Beaux-Arts. This architectural diversity has made the Bund an iconic ensemble in the city’s urban history.

Among its most striking features are the monumental facades of banks, former shipping company headquarters, and administrative buildings lining the promenade. The area is also valued for its views of the river, its open squares, and the very clear picture it offers of Shanghai’s evolution, between preserved heritage and a modern skyline.

Today, the Bund is one of China’s most famous sites for its historical value, architectural identity, and role in Shanghai’s international image. It attracts visitors both for the promenade and for the buildings themselves, several of which have become major landmarks of the urban landscape.

Discover Shanghai with a private guide

A private guide can help you understand how the Bund fits into Shanghai’s history by providing insights into the buildings, their original uses, and the architectural styles visible along the promenade. This approach also helps place the site in the broader context of the old riverside and the modern city.