Shanghai and the Bund

Shanghai is China's dazzling, cosmopolitan global city, where the country's imperial past, colonial history and hurtling future collide. Its most famous sight is the Bund, a sweeping riverside promenade lined with grand European colonial banks and hotels, which gazes across the Huangpu River to the futuristic, neon-lit skyscrapers of Pudong, a spectacular skyline that captures the city's soaring ambition, alongside classical gardens and buzzing modern life.

History

The Bund began as a British settlement north of the old walled city; the British and American settlements joined into the International Settlement in 1863, and around the turn of the 20th century Beaux Arts banks and trading houses rose along the Huangpu as it became a financial centre of East Asia, some of them echoing Liverpool's Three Graces. By the 1940s most major financial institutions in China had their headquarters here; from the late 1970s its buildings returned to their old uses, a levee was raised along the river after typhoon floods, and in the 1990s Zhongshan Road was widened to ten lanes (Wikipedia, The Bund).

The main sights

• The Bund - the grand colonial waterfront promenade.
• The Pudong skyline - the futuristic skyscrapers across the river, lit at night.
• Yu Garden - the classical Ming-dynasty garden and old bazaar.
• The French Concession - the leafy streets, cafes and boutiques.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather; the Bund and Pudong skyline are most spectacular after dark, when the towers blaze with light. A river cruise gives a fine view of both sides. Summer is hot and humid, winter grey and chilly.

What to expect

It is a huge, fast-paced modern city, so its appeal is the energy, skyline and contrasts rather than ancient monuments, most of which are in Beijing and beyond. The Bund and Yu Garden get very crowded. It is one of China's easier cities for first-time visitors, with good metro and some English, though a China visa and payment apps take planning.

Nearby

The water towns of Zhujiajiao and Suzhou's classical gardens are within reach.

Key facts