5 Things to Know before you explore the Bund, the Modern Waterfront of Shanghai
janaline's world journey

5 Things to Know before you explore the Bund, the Modern Waterfront of Shanghai

On sunny days the Bund in Shanghai the ideal place to soak in the diverse atmosphere of the city. I love to go for walks along this modern waterfront early mornings, before the tourist crowds arrive. As a visit to Shanghai would not be complete without a stroll along this beautiful waterfront, this place gets really packed in the afternoons, especially on smog free days.

5 Things to Know before you explore the Bund, the Modern Waterfront of Shanghai
View of Shanghai from the west Bund

Here are some random facts about the Bund that I have learnt during my many walks along this promenade.

1. The Bund translates to ‘Outer Beach’ and is situated along the western bank of the Huangpu River, the main river that runs through Shanghai. From here you have the ideal view of the modern Pudong skyline for which Shanghai is famous.

2. Yes, this riverfront boardwalk is touristy, but part of the fun of strolling down the Bund is checking out the people checking out other people. Local people often start their day by doing exercise at the Bund. Getting up early and joining them is a pleasant way to take in the real lifestyle of locals as this boardwalk gets extremely crowded in the afternoon or on public holidays.

3. The architecture along the Bund is a living museum of the colonial history of the 1800s on the one side contrasting with the hyper modern buildings on the opposite river bank. I have not yet explored these old buildings, I will leave that for cold winter days.

4. Due to the historical nature of the architecture along the Bund, there are limitations on the architecture of the surrounding area, so as not to mar the view or the architectural beauty of these grandiose old buildings that have finally been restored to their former glory. The buildings are a mix of several designs, including Baroque, Gothic, Classicism, Romanesque, and Renaissance styles.

5. In the evening, it is a world for the lovers. Whenever night comes, the light-flooded buildings on the Bund, like Crystal Palace, amaze both local and overseas visitors.

Where is your favourite waterfront area to go for a stroll to soak in the local atmosphere?

17 comments

  2. Such beautiful spots you portrayed there. My favourite water-side location is the “Kordon”, a promenade in Izmir (Turkey) just next to the Aegean sea. You can observe marvellous sun sets from there and it’s also a great place for people-watching. 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

Please share your thoughts,I would love to know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.