Shanghai - Bund

The Bund (外滩 Wàitān) is Shanghai's stately street of old colonial-era buildings and the first port of call for many visitors. Shanghai's Old Town (南市 Nanshi) is located next to the southern part of the Bund.

Culture and History

Located on the west bank of the Huangpu River, there are excellent views of Pudong's skyscrapers from the perennially packed promenade of the Bund. Nanjing Road, the main shopping street, heads west from the Bund's centerpoint.

Travel to Shanghai - Bund - Visa Requirements

Surprisingly there are no metro stations on the Bund. The closest you can get is the Nanjing Dong Lu stop on Line 2.

Shanghai - Bund tourist attractions and sightseeing

• The Bund - The Bund alongside Huangpu River once was the financial center of the Far East. It is considered the city's symbol since the 1920s. It is often referred to as "the museum of buildings", as many different styles of European buildings can be found here. Now it is even more attractive as you can also see modern skyscrapers just opposite the Huangpu River. That gives you a strong contrast between modern life and the past.

• Customs House- Featuring a highly visible clocktower nicknamed "Big Ching". An eight storey building on the Bund. Built in 1927, it is seen as one of the symbols of the Bund.

• HSBC Building- The grandest building on the Bund is now home to the Pudong Development Bank.

• Huangpu Park (黄浦公园 Huángpǔgōngyuán)) at the northern tip of the Bund, was the legendary home of the "No dogs or Chinese" sign — which in fact never existed, although Chinese not accompanied by foreigners were indeed banned until 1928. The Bund Historical Museum located here is also worth a quick visit.

• Yuyuan Garden (Garden of Contentment)(豫园), ☎ 021-63282465, 021-63260830, [1]. A traditional Chinese Ming style private garden, originally built in 1559 but ransacked and restored several times since then. Entry to the garden is an expensive Y30, but worth it for the many exquisite Chinese pavilions, seemingly never-ending paths, and sculpted gardens within. Near the garden, the famous zigzag bridge and its teahouse (see Drink) can be visited. The bazaar near the garden is always crowded with both Chinese and Western tourists.¥40.  

• Temple of the Town Gods(城隍廟Chénghuángmiào), 249 Bangzhong Road, Huangpu District, [2]. A well-known Taoist temple not far from Yuyuan, the biggest example of traditional Chinese architecture in Shanghai. You can find local snacks and food, as well as other traditional Chinese decorations. 

Shanghai - Bund city tours

• Huangpu river cruise - Available at the Bund's southern end ferry port in a large variety: One hour, two hour and three hour cruises on the Huangpu. There is a large number of ticket offices and the prices differ slightly. A one hour trip should cost around Y25. The three hour trips leave at 2PM.
• Huangpu river ferry - For those on a budget or short on time, you can take the ferry across to Pudong. This costs 3RMB and takes about 15 min.
• Bund Tourist Tunnel - Fun for kids and just plain odd for adults, the Bund Tourist Tunnel is the quickest way to get from the Bund to Putong on the other side of the river. It is however quite expensive and not recommended for those sensitive to the strobe lights. Visitors ride it like an amusement park ride but don't expect anything too culturally enriching.

Shanghai - Bund souvenirs and shopping

The area around the Bund, while touristy, is not traditionally a shopping area like nearby Nanjing Road. This has changed a bit in the early 2000's with the successive restoration and opening of No.3 and No.18 on the Bund. Each houses top-of-the-line couture houses, spas, expensive bars & restaurants and art spaces. They have become something of a destination in and by themselves, especially with the newly rich jetset. Dress well or expect curt service.

3 on the Bund houses the flagship store of Armani in China as well as several critically-acclaimed restaurants. [3]

Shanghai - Bund Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

• M on the Bund (5, The Bund; [4]) - One of Shanghai's newest and trendiest restaurants. Attention to detail is given to freshness, quality and presentation. There is an excellent selection of wines to complement your meal and the desserts are extremely tempting. Conde Nast magazine considers it one of the best 100 restaurants in the world.Also has magnificent views of Pudong from the 7th floor on the waterfront.

Shanghai - Bund nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

• Captain Hostel, located on No. 37 Fuzhou lu. Situated on the top floor of this hostel is a wonderful terrace and bar that overlooks the Bund and Pudong. If you are a traveller on a budget, this is the place to go.
• Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse (湖心亭 Húxīntíng), in the Yuyuan Gardens and reached by a 9-legged zigzag path to stop evil spirits. One of the most famous tea houses in all of China. A glass (not even a pot) of your tea of choice will cost you a steep Y20-25 downstairs and nearly ridiculous Y40-55 upstairs — but upstairs you'll get nice views, respite from the crowds, "free" snacks and even a souvenir or two.
• Bar Rouge, on the Bund, close to "M on the Bund". A magnificent bar with a great terrace on the 7th floor, overlooking the Huang Pu river. If you order their signature drink, they set the bar alight (hence the name "Bar Rouge").

Shanghai - Bund cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Budget

• Captain Hostel, 37 Fuzhou Rd, ☎ +86-21-63235053, [5]. Located just off the Bund. Good rooms (each with a boat style theme), cheap dorms, unbeatable location & can be booked directly from Hostelling International [6]. Rooms are very clean and there is a fantastic rooftop bar directly facing the Bund and the river. You should be aware that while the Bund is swarming with tourists by day, affordable nightlife is sorely lacking in the surrounding area. A taxi ride to the more happening French concession area is about 20 Yuan.70RMB/night (dorm) 400RMB/night (twin/double).  

• Le Tour Shanghai [7]. 上海乐途白兰国际青年旅舍 A youth hostel in the Putuo District. While it is not in the most beautiful section of Shanghai, the place is clean, the people are friendly, the Metro is close, and there is a supermarket right across the corner from the hostel. Dorms usually run about the 8-11 USD/night range. Between Caoyang Rd. and JinShaJiang Rd. Metro Stations (lines 3 and 4). See map on the site for specifics. +86-21-52510808. They also newly built another hostel near Jing'an Temple,Le Tour Traveler's Rest Youth Hostel (上海乐途静安国际青年旅舍）+86-21-62671912.

• Hiker Youth Hostel Shanghai, Middle Jiangxi Rd. No.450, ☎ +86-(0)21-63297889. Close to the Bund. Excellent beds, friendly staff (several with good English skills). Relaxed atmosphere, bar with free pool and DVDs. Three free internet terminals. Hot water is turned off between 12PM and 7PM. This hostel will also arrange train/aeroplane tickets. Airport pickup is possible.50 RMB.  

• Hongkong Hotel [8], 31 Hongkong Street. Phone: 02163390183-0 and 02163390186. If all the youth hostels are fully booked, which happens frequently, this is the next cheapest option on the Bund, with singles from RMB 130.

Mid-range

• Astor House Hotel [9], No. 15 Huangpu Rd. Phone: +86 21 63246388, sales@astorhousehotel.com. A cheap but classy option, formerly known as Pujiang Fandian, placed right next to The Bund in a building full of history. Established in 1846, it was the first Parliament of China, had the first electric light in China and once housed Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin. The hotel has a wide range of prices, including a Youth Hostel in its 5th floor. In room internet is 60 per day. Some 5th floor rooms have views and most have wood floors and 12' celling. Price range: 1,280-4,800.

• Magnificent International Hotel [10], 381 Xizang South Road, Huangpu District. The hotel offers 182 rooms, of which 13 are suites, this hotel boasts of one of the best locations in the Huangpu District. It's a 15-minute walk from the Huang Pi Road Subway Station, and is within close proximity of business and conference venues, shopping districts, and cultural attractions such as The Bund and the Yuyuan Garden. Room rates start at CNY 297.80.

• Metropole Hotel Jin Jiang [11], 180 Jiang Xi Road (Central), Huangpu District. This hotel offers 137 rooms and has facilities such as a Chinese restaurant, a lobby bar, and number of conference and meeting facilities. Centrally located, just 0.5 km. away from The Bund, and easily accessible from Shanghai International Convention Center. Also within Shanghai's shopping area, the Huangpu District. Visit the Metropole website for more information on rates and online reservations.

• Shanghai Yinbo Hotel (alt 上海金波大酒店), 135 Tiantong Road (80 Wusong Road). Phone: 021-63566288, fax: 021-63257555. Typical nondescript mid-range hotel located across the bridge on the north side of the Bund. Price for singles: 338.

Splurge

• Peace Hotel (和平飯店 Heping Fandian; Nanjing Donglu; tel. 6321 6888 [12]). Shanghai's grand old hotel, in 1930s Art Deco style and ideally located on the Bund. Discount rates for doubles start around US$100, perhaps somewhat overpriced given the lacklustre facilities and the spotty service. It has, however, a great cafe where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, as well as some jazz music played by the famous "Old Men's Jazz Band" made up of old musicians who played in the same hotel in the 1930s.

• Hyatt on the Bund. 5 star hotel opened in 2007 as part of the Grand Hyatt brand. Equipped with state of the art business and meeting facilities including 2 ballrooms and a glasshouse for special events. 

This page was last edited by Peter Fitzgerald. Based on work by djong tan, Timothy Chuter, lic. iur. HBR Lenel, Christian Fernandez, Paul N. Richter, Jani Patokallio, Rob Napier, Siqi Zhu and M. Hogue, Wikitravel user(s) MarinaK, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license