The Bund
The most beautiful and bustling night views in China
The Bund is located on the banks of the Huangpu River in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, with a total length of 1.5 kilometers. The Bund is the first stop for every visitor to Shanghai, as it offers the most beautiful night view of the city in China. The architectural styles of the Bund are diverse, combining European classicism, modernism and post-modernism. These buildings are not only of high artistic value, but also make an excellent backdrop for people to take pictures of the night view.
There is an excellent route to visit the Bund: start at People’s Park, cross the Nanjing Road Walkway and pass the Peace Hotel. Finally, at the end of Nanjing Road, you will find the Bund. This route allows you to experience the matchmaking activities in the People’s Park as well as strolling along China’s most famous shopping walkway and admiring the centuries-old buildings along the way. Finally, walk out of Nanjing Road and enjoy the beautiful night view of the Bund with the wind blowing.
Table of Contents
Highlights
People's Park (Chinese name: 人民公园)
The People’s Park is located in the downtown of Shanghai, with Nanjing Road Walkway to the east.
Starting from 2005, the “matchmaking corner” spontaneously organized by parents of eligible young people appeared in People’s Park. Parents will write various information about their children on a piece of paper and stick it on umbrellas or cardboard. The content includes age, appearance, body shape, education, income, housing, and family background, which serve as the basis for choosing a spouse.
In addition to the blind date corner, there is also an English corner in the park. If you need any help, you can also ask the people at the English corner, they will be very happy to communicate with you.
It’s autumn now, and I’m taking my mom for a walk in People's Park. There’s a pond there, and I remember my dad used to bring me here to play when I was a kid. I kinda remember catching tadpoles, but now it’s just little fish. The sun is shining, and I see some older folks soaking up the sun while kids are playing with frisbees. It feels really nice. There are a bunch of loungers around, so my mom and I just plopped down on one to enjoy a lovely afternoon together.
Nanjing Road Walkway (南京路步行街)
Nanjing Road Walkway is the busiest and most prosperous commercial pedestrian street in Shanghai, with a total length of 1528 meters, known as “the first commercial street in China”. It attracts millions of visitors and customers every day.
In addition to flagship stores of international brands, Nanjing Road is also home to small stores of traditional and long-established brands. Whether it’s fashionable clothes and shoes, or delicious and tempting snacks, you can find it here. Everyone’s face is full of smiles, filled with the desire and pursuit of a better life. Here you can feel the pulse and vitality of the city, as well as people’s love and yearning for a better life.
Peace Hotel (和平饭店)
The Peace Hotel is a five-star hotel located on the Bund in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, built in 1929. The Peace Hotel is the first world famous hotel in China. It is not only a landmark building in Shanghai, but also the first modernist building in the modern architectural history of Shanghai. In Shanghai, the Peace Hotel’s great name can be said to be a household name.
As a hotel with a long history, the “Peace Hotel” in Shanghai has received many important foreign heads of state, politicians and celebrities. Nixon, Margaret Thatcher, Albert Einstein and many others have come to the Peace Hotel.
The Peace Hotel is totally the spot for Shanghai folks to host important guests. It’s such a classic place, with really nice decor that has a chic vibe. It feels a bit vintage, but everything’s super clean, and they’ve really nailed all the little details. The food is delicious, too—the smoked fish is crispy, and the steak is super tender and packed with flavor, which I really like. Each dish is loaded with good stuff. The whole place has this strong scent, kind of like sandalwood, and it’s really intense. At first, I thought it was a bit much, but after I left, I found myself missing that smell!
The Bund (外滩)
The Bund has the most beautiful night view in China. Here stand 52 classical revival buildings, which once housed many international banks, merchant houses, general associations, newspapers and so on. At night, the buildings are collectively lit up on the outside. The architectural styles of the complex vary from English Classical, English Renaissance, French Classical, Gothic, Baroque …… as well as East-meets-West, making it a veritable coexistence of architectural styles from all over the world.
Across the river is the modernized Lujiazui in Pudong. You can see Shanghai’s landmarks: the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower, Shanghai Tower, and the Shanghai World Financial Center.
The Bund along the Huangpu River at night is totally packed with tourists. It’s really hard to find a spot near the railing, let alone just chill and enjoy the river breeze. I feel like I have to twist and turn with every step just to weave through the crowd. The lights on the buildings are definitely impressive. We also checked out the nearby pedestrian street, which was just as crowded, with prices on the high side. We ended up wandering around for an hour or two over by Nanjing West Road.
Attraction Surprises
Huangpu River Cruise (黄浦江游船)
On the cruise, travelers can enjoy the stunning views of the Bund’s international architecture on the Puxi side and the Lujiazui Financial Center on the Pudong side, making it an immersive experience for those visiting Shanghai. Boats like “Puxi River Cruise No. 1” also offer venues for various activities, including business meetings, waterfront weddings, and gatherings with friends.
The price ranges for Huangpu River cruises are as follows:
- Standard Cruises: Priced between 80 and 150 yuan (approximately $11 to $21), these cruises last about 45 minutes and are suitable for general tourists looking to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Huangpu River.
- First-Class Cruises: Priced around 130 yuan (approximately $18), these cruises are ideal for sightseeing and photography, also lasting about 45 minutes.
- Luxury Cruises: Prices range from over 200 to 400 yuan (approximately $28 to $55), which include the cruise fare and a buffet dinner, with a duration of approximately 2 hours.
Practical Travel Tips
- The best time to visit is from evening to night, when you can enjoy the light show along both sides of the Huangpu River. To avoid the crowds, consider going on a weekday or early in the morning.
- The suggested route is to start from Nanjing East Road subway station, stroll along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, and walk all the way to the Bund. You can enjoy iconic landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Jin Mao Tower along the way.
- Bund 3 is one of the most beautiful Neoclassical buildings on the Bund in Shanghai. It features several high-end restaurants where you can enjoy dinner while admiring the stunning views of the city.
Hours and Fees
Hours
- Open all day.
Admission
- No admission fee required.
How to Get to the Qianmen Street
By Bus
- You can reach the Bund by getting off at the Guangdong Road station on buses 576, 317, 868, and others.
By Subway
- Visitors can take Line 2 or Line 10 of the subway to Nanjing East Road Station and then walk to the Bund from there.
