You stand at the midpoint of the Bund at 7:10am. The National Geographic named it one of the world’s great waterfront promenades. The street is almost empty. The morning light comes from behind you, from the west, and hits the cream and grey facades of the colonial buildings with warm horizontal light. Across the river, the Pudong towers are silver-grey in the early haze. The river is carrying a barge south toward the sea. This is the correct version of the Bund.
It is available every morning, it costs nothing, and you just have to wake up slightly earlier than everyone else. For Shanghai context: Shanghai Travel Guide.
Key Takeaways
- Morning (7 to 8am): quiet, good light, almost no crowds.
- Evening (6 to 9pm): golden light on buildings, busy but atmospheric.
- ¥2 ferry to Pudong crosses the river and gives you the view from both sides.
- 1.5 km walk. North to south or south to north. Both work.
- Best photograph spots: Chen Yi Square (mid-Bund, most classic angle), Waibaidu Bridge (north end).
- French Concession is 20 minutes south on foot or 10 minutes on metro Line 10.
The Buildings Worth Knowing
| Building | Year | Style | Notes |
| Fairmont Peace Hotel (和平饭店) | 1929 | Art Deco | Green copper roof. Jazz bar inside. One of Shanghai’s great hotels. |
| HSBC Building (汇丰大楼) | 1923 | Neoclassical | Dome visible from across the river. Now a bank. |
| Customs House (海关大楼) | 1927 | Neoclassical + clock tower | The clock chimes every 15 minutes. |
| Bund 18 (外滩18号) | 1923 | Baroque | Now luxury retail. Roof bar accessible. |
| Meteorological Signal Tower | 1884 | Gothic | One of the oldest buildings on The Bund. |
Getting the Photograph
For the classic Bund photograph with buildings on one side and Pudong towers on the other: stand in Chen Yi Square (the central open area with the statue of Chen Yi, first mayor of the PRC-era Shanghai). Face east toward the river with buildings behind you. Or face west from the riverside railing with the buildings lit behind you. Dawn and dusk are the windows. Midday light flattens everything.
The ¥2 Ferry
The commuter ferry from Pier 4 on the Bund side to Dock 1 on the Pudong side runs every 10 to 15 minutes from around 7am to 10pm. Fare: ¥2, payable by Alipay or transport card. Journey: 10 minutes across the Huangpu River. The view during those 10 minutes is the same panorama as the tourist cruise at a fraction of the cost. From Pudong: walk up to the Riverside Avenue (滨江大道) for the view back to The Bund. This is the photograph on every Shanghai postcard. Ferry: Pay with Alipay.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the French Concession: French Concession Guide. For Shanghai overview: Shanghai Travel Guide. For the 3-day itinerary: 3-Day Shanghai Itinerary.