The Bund, Shanghai: Must-See Landmarks, Skyline Views & Tips

Written by Clementine | Updated October 23,2025

What is the Bund in shanghai, China? The Bund is a walking sightseeing zone on the west bank of the Huangpu river in the center of Shanghai. About 1.5 kilometers long, it is one of the most symbolic attractions of Shanghai. To the east is the Huangpu river – the mother river of Shanghai, and on the other side of the river stands the Oriental Pearl Tower, Lujiazui Three-Piece Set (Jinmao Tower, World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower) and other famous skyscrapers in Shanghai Pudong.

To the west, there is a concentration of financial and foreign trade institutions of old Shanghai. There are 33 buildings in different styles on the Bund from the Waibaidu Bridge in the north to the Jinling Donglu in the south. They are also known as the “Exotic Building Clusters in the Bund of Shanghai”.

So, why is the Bund so famous? It is because of its unique history of being the century-old financial center and the stunning landscapes of exotic building clusters and skyline in Lujiazui. And,why is the Bund so popular? Nowadays, the Bund is a significant and splendid historical site and representative complex which integrate the classicism and modernism in modern China. Its unique geographical location, rich historical background, modern urban landscape and beautiful night view all attracts people travel to Shanghai.

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Fast Facts about the Bund, Shanghai

Chinese Name: 外滩
Location: Waibaidu Bridge to the north, Shiliupu Pier to the south, along Zhongshan Dongyilu, Huangpu District, Shanghai City
Opening Hours: All Day(Opening time of landscape lights: 19:00-23:00 in summer, 17:00-21:00 in winter)
How long should you spend there: 2 -4 hours will be a comfortable duration to explore.
Tickets: free to visit all day.
Highlights: light night, Waibaidu bridge, Oriental Pearl Tower.

Private Shanghai Tour at the Bund — The Bund

Best Things to Do on the Bund

It is a pleasant and rich experience to take a walk on the Bund. But, what are the top things to do besides walking? Below, we recommended 5 featured experiences.

Walk Along the Riverside Promenade

Walking is the core experience of the Bund. Slow down your pace, feel the city’s unique nostalgic and futuristic feel. See the grand historic buildings on one side and the futuristic skyline of Pudong on the other side, including Oriental Pearl Tower. The walk is a simple sightseeing, it’s about the atmosphere.

Specially Designed 2-Hour Efficient Walking Route

There are many attractions in the Bund Shanghai, and you can cover a lot in a single walk. Here’s a 2-hour walking route which allows you to see the highlights.

Route:

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street → collection of international architecture → The Bund Observation Deck → Waibaidu Bridge → The Bund Source (外滩源)

Distance: ~5-3km
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Start: Metro Line 2/10 – Nanjing East Road Station
End: The Bund Source / Waibaidu Bridge

Tips: The collection of international architecture include 33 buildings of different style, each narrates a story, a piece of history. It starts from No.1 Asia Building (亚细亚大楼) and ends at No.33 Former British Consulate General Building (also called No.1 Waitanyuan). This route allows you to see most of them.

Must-see 8 Buildings during Your Walking Tour

Building Address (Zhongshan East First Road)	Former Name	Current Name	Architectural Style	Past Primary Use	Current Primary Use
No. 1	Asia Petroleum Compan / McBain Building	China Pacific Insurance Company Headquarters	Eclectic Style, predominantly Baroque	McBain Trading Company, Asia Oil Company office	Commercial office building
No. 2	Shanghai Club	Waldorf Astoria Hotel Shanghai on the Bund	Neoclassical, with ornate interior decoration	A club and social venue for British expatriates in Shanghai	High-end hotel
No. 12	HSBC Building	Shanghai Pudong Development Bank	British Neoclassical Greek Revival architecture	HSBC headquarters in China	Bank
No. 13	Jiang Hai Customs Building	Shanghai Customs	Classical style, with a large clock tower on top	Customs office	Shanghai Customs office
No. 18	Standard Chartered Bank	Bund 18	Eclectic Style of Renaissance	Standard Chartered Bank headquarters in China	High-end flagship stores, restaurants, art galleries
No. 20	Sassoon House / Cathay Hotel	Peace Hotel (North Building)	Chicago School Gothic Architecture	Luxury hotel, hosting high society	Luxury hotel
No. 23	Bank of China Building	Bank of China Shanghai Branch	Chinese-Western fusion, Art Deco style with traditional Chinese elements	Bank of China office	Bank of China Shanghai Branch office
No. 27	Jardine Matheson Building	Roosevelt Mansion	Retro style	British Jardine Matheson Trading Company office	High-end restaurant, bar, luxury goods store

the-bund-walking-route — The Bund Walking Route

Enjoy the Night View

The Bund truly comes alive at night. Lights usually turn on around 19:00, illuminating buildings on both sides of the river. This is the most iconic moment of the Bund, with glowing reflections of skyscrapers will dance on the water.

Shanghai the Bund at night — Night view of the Bund

Catch a Huangpu River Cruise

Besides walking, one of another best things to do in Shanghai at night is taking the Huangpu River cruise at the the Shiliupu Pier and sail along the Huangpu River to enjoy the buildings and scenery on both sides of the river. The night cruise on the Huangpu River allows you to experience the ultimate charm of Shanghai’s night scenery. The whole journey takes about 45 minutes.

Watch the Sunset at Waibaidu Bridge

This is one of the best spots to catch sunset views. The historic bridge, river, and skyline come together under warm evening light. Consider arriving before sunset and enjoy the transition from day to night.

Try the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel

With a length of 646.7 meters, the tunnel connects the Bund in Puxi and the Oriental Pearl Tower in Pudong. You can take a fully-transparent sightseeing train to cross the Huangpu River in a tunnel with constantly changing colors, as if traveling through time and space.

Tip: Single trip: CNY 50/person

Round trip: CNY 70/person

Take Iconic Photos of Shanghai

The bund provides opportunities for you to take the most iconic pictures, as many of Shanghai’s major attractions and landmark buildings are concentrated here, a lot of Oriental Pearl TV Tower’s are taken here, and don’t miss the clonial-era architecture. Here are some of the best locations you can go:

Recommended Photo Locations:

Huangpu Park/Bund Viewing Platform: spacious and suitable for taking amazing
Waibaidu Bridge: an iron bridge with a sense of time, suitable for taking photos in a retro style.
At the end of East Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street: The street view is matched with the background of the Bund, creating a strong atmosphere.
Chen Yi Square: Take a photo with the statue of Mayor Chen Yi, with the background of the Bund architectural complex.
Yanan DongluPedestrian Overpass: With the Lujiazui Three-Piece Set as the background, it is easy to capture amazing photos.

2 DAYS

2 Days Shanghai Highlight Tour Excluding Hotel

Top Hotels on the Bund

Fairmont Peace Hotel Shanghai: Established in 1929 and renovated in 2010. As one of the iconic buildings on the Bund, the Peace Hotel is an excellent choice to experience Shanghai classic style.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund‌: The hotel was formerly the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce. Adjacent to Exotic Building Clusters, backed by the beautiful scenery of Huangpu River, with a typical British style.
The Shanghai EDITION: Located on the bustling Nanjing Road pedestrian street, it takes only 5 minutes to walk to the Bund. The room offers beautiful views of the Bund and Lujiazui, known as a peaceful oasis in the metropolis for its modern, simple and fashion design.
W SHANGHAI – THE BUND: Located on the North Bund, it has oversized floor-to-ceiling windows, which can provide a glimpse of the bustling urban landscape and the beautiful scenery of Huangpu River. Unique design and cultural charm, comprehensive leisure experience.

Best Restaurants on the Bund

Jean-Georges (Bund No.3): Legendary French chef Jean Georges Vongerichten’s flagship restaurant in China. As a benchmark of French restaurants, it is luxurious and elegant, with french windows facing the skyline of Lujiazui.
Mr & Mrs Bund (Bund No.18): Upgraded version of French chef Paul Pairet’s pub. One of the most famous Western restaurants in Shanghai, renowned for its elegant environment and top-notch cuisine. The terrace with river views needs to be reserved several months in advance.
Mercato: High-end Italian countryside style, open kitchen + industrial style design, suitable for business banquets and dates. Recommend black truffle pizza and seafood platter.
Hongling Restaurant: Address: No. 29 Sichuan Nanlu. This is a vintage local restaurant hidden deep in the alleys of Shanghai, where every dish showcases the Shanghai people’s dainty lifestyle and taste!

When is the Best Time to Visit?

Is the Bund better at night or day?

Visit the Bund at daytime

Visiting the Bund during the day allows for a clearer appreciation of architectural details, Huangpu River views, and the surrounding urban scenery. At this time, the flow of people is relatively low, making it suitable to take a slow walk and savor the history and culture of the Bund. During the day, you can also visit the interiors of some open historical buildings.

Visit the Bund at night

The Bund at night is a different scene, with dazzling lights and great viewing value. The night view of the Bund is a major highlight of Shanghai. So the recommended visiting time of the Bund Shanghai is toward evening (19:00-20:00), because the Bund becomes more attractive and charming with decoration of neon lights. It is likely for tourists to feel shuttling between the past and today with the modern high-tech neon lights and a variety of classical architecture enhancing each other’s beauty and charms.

Tips: The Bund Shanghai has strong winds at night, so it is recommended to bring a jacket to keep warm.

Time to avoid visiting

Visitors had better avoid the official holidays in China, because many Chinese citizens choose to travel on official holidays to ease the pressure of their work. As a result, many Chinese tourist attractions are overcrowded and traffic jams are common. Therefore, visiting China at this time will bring tourists a less pleasant travel experience.

Official Holidays in China

Chinese New Year	Around January or February
Winter vacation	January-February
Labor Day	May1^st -3^rd
Summer vacation (for students)	July-August31^st
Mid-Autumn Festival	Around mid-September
National Day	October 1^st-7^th

Practical Travel Tips of The Bund

Comfortable to wear: The Bund tour takes a long time, and the area is windy. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and clothing.‌ Related reading: 15 Shanghai Facts You Need to Know Before You Go
Facilities and services” Public toilets are available every 300 meters along the Bund, with benches and cafes for rest. Wheelchair users can access ramps at Gates 1, 3, and 10, with staff help and Braille maps..
How to Buy Entrance Tickets: The Bund is free, while the 7 classic historical buildings on the Bund Shanghai need free appointment (NO.1 Waitanyuan, Shanghai Peace Hotel, Bank of China Building, Pudong Development Bank Building, The Bund Hall of Shanghai Municipal Archives, Shanghai Telecom Museum, and Shanghai Bund Historical Memorial Hall).

Shanghai Huangpu River night cruise — Huangpu River night cruise

How to Get to the Bund?

By Bus

Take Bus No.37, 307, 330 and 868 and get off at Zhongshan Dongyilu Beijing Donglu Station.
Take Bus No.33, 55, 65, 305, 307 and 317 and get off at Zhongshan Dongyilu Nanjing Donglu Station.
Take Bus No.33, 55, 65, 123, 135, 145, 305, 317, 576 and 934 and get of at Zhongshan Dongyilu Hankoulu Station.
TakeBus No.20 and get off at Hankoulu Sichuanzhonglu
Take Bus No.71and get off at Yanan Donglu Waitai Station.
Take Bus No.311, 316 and 320 and get off at Yanan Donglu Zhongshan Dongyilu Station.
Take City Sightseeing Bus Line 1, 3 and 5 and get off at Waitan Haiguan Dalou Station.

By Subway

Take Line 2 or Line 10 and get off at East Nanjing Road (Metro Station), then walk along the East Nanjing Road to get to the Bund.

How to get from shanghai airport to the Bund?

Departing from Hongqiao Airport: Take Metro Line 2 or 10 to East Nanjing Road Station (Exit 7) and walk there. The entire journey takes about 50 minutes.
Departing from Pudong Airport: Take Metro Line 2 to East Nanjing Road Station (Exit 7) and walk there. The entire journey takes approximately 75 minutes.

How to Travel between Puxi and Pudong across the Huangpu River?

Though Pudong and Puxi are separated by one river, they stand for the two completely different aspects of Shanghai. Puxi is the past of Shanghai. The architecture there witnesses the history of the last century.

While Pudong represents the present and future of Shanghai. The extremely visually striking modern skyline of Oriental Pearl and Lujiazui Three-Piece Set is the most trustworthy evidence. To experience its charm, you can board the viewing platform on the top floors of the building to overlook the whole city.

While some of you may ask, can I cross the river to travel between these two areas? The answer is yes, you can take the ferry to cross the river (CNY 2). Or, cross via the sightseeing tunnel by a fully-transparent sightseeing train beneath the water (CNY 50 – 70).

History of the Bund

Let’s first find out what the meaning of the Bund is. In the past time, there was a branch called Shanghaipu River before entering the old Shanghai County. With its outlet as the boundary, the upper reaches of the river beach are called “Li Huangpu Beach” and the lower reaches are called “Wai Huangpu Beach”, simply “Wai Tan”. This is the origin of its name.

The Bund was in British concession from 1844, which is also the starting point of the concession district of Shanghai in old times and the modern city of Shanghai. Since the 1840s, concession was occupied by Britain, France and other countries, and then these countries operated, managed and constructed this area in their own ways. When business and financial enterprises had a solid foundation in the Bund, they began to construct different kinds of buildings. And the majority of buildings of the Bund have been reconstructed for three times or more until now.

In the 20^th century, with the development of architectural technology and the growth of economic strength, there were many multi-storey and high-rise buildings in various styles springing in the Bund area, such as classic style and neo-classic style of Britain, the Asia Building in Renaissance style of Britain, Shanghai Club Building, the building of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Classic style of France, Gothic style, Baroque style and so on, showing a coexistence picture of different styles of architectures from all over the world. These buildings have become the epitome of Shanghai’s century-old history.

Attractions Nearby the Bund, Shanghai

Yuyuan Garden: The Best Place to Explore Ancient Shanghai
Oriental Pearl TV Tower: The Most Photographed Landmark in Shanghai
Nanjing Road: The Best Street to Go Shopping in Shanghai

Plan a Shanghai Tour including the Bund with China Xian Tour

Shanghai is a city blending the history and modernity perfectly. Travel with China Xian Tour, we will take you to experience the charm of this strong contrast. To ensure the itinerary can meet your demands, our travel consultant can customize a trip for you and adjust it flexibly based on the actual situations. So you will enjoy a smooth and satisfactory trip with us. Just contact us now to plan your Shanghai tour.

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Fast Facts about the Bund, Shanghai