Where Two Centuries Stare Each Other Down Across a River
To understand Shanghai, you must come to The Bund. Stand on this grand waterfront promenade, and you are standing at a crossroads of time, caught in a spectacular staredown between two different centuries. On your side, a parade of magnificent, stone-clad colonial buildings from the 1920s and '30s—the old banks and trading houses that made Shanghai the "Paris of the East." They are a symphony in Art Deco, Gothic, and Neoclassical styles. But across the Huangpu River, the 21st century answers with a defiant, sci-fi skyline of glass and steel that pierces the clouds.
By day, it's a beautiful walk. But as dusk falls, the magic truly begins. A switch is flipped, and both sides of the river erupt in a choreographed spectacle of light. The old colonial buildings are bathed in a warm, golden glow, highlighting their architectural grace. Across the water, the Pudong skyline explodes into a futuristic, neon dreamscape. You’re not just looking at a view; you're watching a conversation between history and ambition, played out on a grand scale every single night.
Insider Tip:
Don't just take photos from The Bund. For the best postcard shot of The Bund's historic architecture, take the cheap and quick public ferry from the Jinling East Road ferry terminal across the river. From the water, you get a perfect, unobstructed view of the entire glorious waterfront.
