Walking around Shanghai: The Bund. Bund (Bund) in Shanghai - free tourist attraction

Shanghai's most famous landmark is its Bund, whose name literally translates as “coastal shoal.” Locals They don’t like to remember the colonial past of this place, so they also call this street Zhongshan Dong. Tourists in this area can see amazing buildings past centuries, located on one bank of the river, and on the other side of the Huangpu there are modern skyscrapers and a TV tower contrasting with them.

Time travel

The area in which the Bund (Shanghai) is located is called the Bund and means “pier at the dirty shore.” Europeans came up with this designation for this place, since there used to be an English settlement here, which later became international.

The first building here was erected in 1846 by a British company that opened its office in the area. After that, consulates, banks, and hotels, mostly in European style, began to actively line up along the embankment. Thus, by the end of the nineteenth century, the Bund had become a real Finance center East Asia.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Art Deco style came here, and many people, in order to admire the grandeur of these structures, sailed on excursions along the banks of the Huangpu, renting junks. Shanghai, the Bund of the Bund (50s) became a symbol of elegance and success of this time. After the communist revolution, many offices of trade organizations were closed, and hotels and clubs changed their original purpose.

In recent decades, in addition to all historical buildings, a large number of buildings already in modern style and a wall was built to prevent flooding. It has a height of more than 750 meters, so it also serves as a wonderful place for exploring the surrounding attractions.

Description

Currently, for the Chinese and visiting tourists, the Bund is an architectural symbol of the city. It is one and a half kilometers long and is located on the western bank of the Huangpu River.

In the southern part of this place there is a tourist marina where you can rent boats and boats for boat trips. Some people say about the Bund that it is a small piece of Europe in the very center of China. There are buildings built in the ancient Greek style, as well as with Renaissance architecture.

At night, you can see hundreds of neon lights with the names of the world's most famous brands burning above the embankment, as well as brightly lit skyscrapers rising and a large variety of exotic plants and trees growing around all the buildings.

In order to preserve such a unique exhibition of world architectural heritage, construction in this area is strictly prohibited. Therefore your historical appearance The Bund of the Bund does not change over the years, but only becomes more attractive and spiritual.

Majestic buildings

Among the buildings located in this area, the most popular buildings are:

The Shanghai Foreign Trade Department is a massive structure erected in the twenties of the last century. Its distinctive features are Roman arcades and columns.

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower has the brightest lighting and consists of several spheres. This building was the first high-rise building in this area.

Shanghai World Financial Center - it is popular among tourists due to its unusual shape. That’s why people also call it a “bottle opener” among themselves.

The building of the Bank of the People's Republic of China, built in 1936 in the style of rational modernism. At the time it looked very interesting and unexpected. After this construction, many high-rise buildings with similar architecture began to appear.

Shanghai Customs Building, erected in 1927. It is recognizable due to the large clock located on its walls.

HSBC Bank is a luxurious, impressive building. Previously, the municipality was located here, and in this moment is a financial institution in Pudong.

The Peace Hotel is considered one of the most popular buildings in the area. Once upon a time there was an office and apartment here for the so-called owner of half of Shanghai - Sir Ellis Sassoon. Tourists love to take pictures in front of this hotel.

What to see?

But the Bund of the Bund attracts not only architecture connoisseurs. There are many other local attractions located here. Among them, the most famous are the following:

A monument erected in honor of national heroes. It was installed at the end of the twentieth century and consists of three large rifles leaning towards each other.

A monument dedicated to the Shanghai Uprising of 1927. It is located in Huangpu Park and looks very powerful.

Bund of the Bund. Museum. The photographs in its galleries will tell the whole history of this area, as well as tell many interesting facts and details of its development.

In addition, there is a huge number of various shops located here.

It turns out that when foreigners lived in these places, they were not very respectful of the real owners of the country. This is evidenced by a sign hanging in the mid-nineteenth century at the entrance to Huangpu Park, on which it was written: “Chinese and dogs are prohibited from entering.”

More interesting fact about this area is that a film by the famous director and screenwriter Steven Spielberg, called “Empire of the Sun,” was filmed here.

Tourist impressions

People who were lucky enough to visit this embankment speak extremely enthusiastically about it. They say that the Bund is especially beautiful in the evening, when it is illuminated by the lights of a huge metropolis. This place is filled with its own vibrant life and flavor.

Many argue that it is impossible to imagine Shanghai without this area. This embankment amazes with its grandeur, skyscrapers, colorful buildings and majestic structures. Therefore, even those tourists who have already been there more than once, still, when coming to the capital of China, want to get into it again amazing place, where the Bund is located. We will tell you how to get there further.

Directions

There is not a single metro station in this part of Shanghai. But there’s nothing wrong with that, since you can walk to the Bund at the Bund. The closest station to it is the station. Nanjing Road (East Line), located at the intersection of the second and tenth lines capital metro. The exit from it leads to Nanjing street, from which you can immediately see a building with a large clock, in the direction of this building you need to go.

Anyone who has already seen the Bund of the Bund really considers it an island of European culture in the heart of the capital of China.

Description of the attraction by interest category

The most popular tourist spots Must see r

We can say that the Bund is a tourist symbol of the city, familiar to everyone. Well, or almost everyone. In fact, this is a piece of Song Yat Sen Street, which is located along the Huangpu River. By the way, the site is not that big - only one and a half kilometers. It starts from Baidu, the most famous bridge in Shanghai. From this side of the river there is a stunning panorama of the most atypical area not only of Shanghai, but of China in general - Pudong. It is the center of business and cultural activity of the city. If there is a more progressive place on the map of China, it is the Bund itself. The history of this place is quite interesting. At one time there was a kind of “forbidden zone” here. Not exactly off-limits, but the area was intended to house foreign companies, offices and public organizations. There are also residential buildings here, but until recently, purchasing objects here, be it residential apartments, offices, or plots of land, was only allowed foreign citizens. The “reservation” status, of course, is a thing of the past, but the “modest charm of the bourgeoisie,” although not so clearly, can still be seen in the appearance.

If we consider the architectural styles that are represented on the Bund, we can take a real excursion into the history of world architecture. This is true: neo-Gothic, classicism, baroque, postmodernism and art deco, bozard and renaissance. There are buildings that intricately combine several styles and have a very eclectic look. In this regard, the Bund is called the “Kaleidoscope of the World”, the “Fair of Architecture” and even the “Museum of Architecture of a Thousand States”. The Russian heart skips a beat at 15 Zhonghan Road. Here stands the Russian Bank, a building built in 1901.

By the way, returning to the mixture of styles and eclecticism - the Chinese name of the street has been redone in the American style, and the main architectural attraction is the building of the Russian Bank. This is what the Bund is all about. In order to understand the scope and scale of the area, of course, you need to visit here. But one cannot resist the temptation to at least briefly talk about the main attractions. Therefore, in a nutshell about the main thing. And this, of course, is the Peace Hotel, or Sasoon Building, built in 1923. The building was erected by Victor Sassoon, who at one time was called nothing less than “the master of Shanghai,” and I must say, there were reasons for this. Or the HSBC Building - the Hong Kong-Shanghai Banking Corporation was located here, which wanted to buy the building in 1990, when the lease term came to an end. But the Chinese government refused the proposed amount.

In the 20s of the last century, another building was erected, which can be called one of the architectural dominants of the area. This is the Shanghai Customs building, built in 1927. In its place, by the way, there was a building in the classical Chinese style. The building is reminiscent of London's Big Ben, and many compare its general appearance to the Leningradskaya Hotel in Moscow. Well, in general, the standard situation for China is that communist symbols coexist with completely bourgeois realities: the “Monument to the People’s Heroes” is located on the northern part of the embankment. It is dedicated to the memory of those killed during the revolutionary events in China.

The Bund acquires a special charm at night. Skyscrapers illuminated, unique architectural ensemble, which is formed by the facades and silhouettes of buildings, turns into a real light show. Opposite, the lights of the Pudong skyscrapers are burning, and the river area is filled with boats and pleasure boats. The spectacle is amazing, I must say.

The Bund of the Bund is the hallmark of the city of Shanghai, as it is here that you can enjoy that incredible view of skyscrapers and the legendary “Pearl of the Orient” television tower, which is talked about all over the world!

When you approach the embankment and a view of the city’s financial center opens up in front of you - Pudong district— for a couple of minutes you are simply under a powerful impression of the power of the metropolis and the majesty of the buildings. But all this was created by man!

The Bund is located in the center of Shanghai and is a huge pedestrian street 1.5 km long, which is surrounded on the city side by buildings in the baroque, classicism, gothic styles - well, everything has nothing to do with Chinese culture, and on the other side - the financial center of Shanghai - Pudong district.

Why were the buildings built in architectural styles completely uncharacteristic of Chinese culture?

Since this area was previously allocated for development to foreign citizens. And during the military invasion of the French and British in China, it became the center of their foreign concessions.

Nowadays, in the center of Shanghai you can see more foreigners than you will find anywhere else in China. In terms of the number of foreigners living permanently in China, only Guangzhou can compete with Shanghai, since it is closely connected with international trade.

Bund of the Bund how to get there?

The nearest metro station is “East Nanjing Road” (南京东路) - 2nd line.

After leaving it, you need to walk all the way to the embankment, about 600 meters. You need to walk in a straight line all the time, following the majority of people who are constantly moving in an uncontrolled flow.

Here you will be offered copies of famous brands, become friends for mutual language learning, massage, and even intimate services. Therefore, we turn on “full frost” and move to the planned place.

What to see in the Bund?

In addition to admiring the view of the skyscrapers, the Bund in Shanghai can also be walked along the embankment, travel through an underwater tunnel to the other side of the city and ride on tourist ferries.

Regarding the underwater tunnel, I hasten to upset you - this is an attraction for tourists that is not worth the money ( 80 yuan). You are simply seated in a glass cart and sent through a tunnel that is illuminated by lasers. Better move to the other side of the city by metro - it will be more spectacular!

In principle, that’s all from the activities, so I recommend you begin your excursion from People's Square Station "人民广场" (Exit 2) and immediately cover, in addition to the Bund, the central pedestrian street of Shanghai - "East Nanjing Road". Here you can immerse yourself in the world of shopping, buy edible (for Chinese taste) potions, sweets and candies.

Also, don't miss one of the world's largest stores "M&M's"- this is a paradise for little and big sweet tooth)

Take a walk and feel the scale of the city with population of 24 million people.

What time of day is best to visit the embankment?

The Bund is such a beautiful and mesmerizing place that I recommend you visit it twice, if time permits. During the day - one beauty, in the evening - another. So both options are good)

The Bund of the Bund is located next to the “old city” of Shanghai. This attraction is considered a must-see for tourists in the city. It has its own characteristics, which we will discuss in this article.

How to get there

There are no stations directly near the Bund, so you will have to walk to get there. The closest station is East Nanjing Road (East Nanjing Street), which is at the intersection of lines 2 and 10 of the Shanghai metro.

After exiting the metro station you will find yourself at, which is a landmark in itself. You will find yourself at the intersection of two streets, and many tourists at this moment get lost because they do not know where to go. You need to go towards the building with the clock, it is located on the Bund.

Important warning! The metro in Shanghai operates until 22:30, after which time you can take a train, but this is not guaranteed. If you are delayed, you will have to go back to.

Another option is to get to the People's Square metro station and walk along the same Nanjing Street. It's longer - about 30 minutes' walk, but you definitely won't get lost, since Nanjing Street starts at the square and ends at the embankment. In addition, you will see Nanjing Street (Shanghai Arbat) in its entirety.

What to see on the Bund - illumination of skyscrapers in Pudong

This is what tourists come here for. But it is worth remembering that skyscraper lighting operates at full power only a few days a week. In 2013, the schedule was: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and on other days it was lackluster. We happened to see both options, and we can say with authority that the difference is indescribable.

The Bund of the Bund or Shanghai Bund is a section of Sun Yat-sen Street, one part of which borders the former international settlement in the eastern part of Huangpu District. The name of the embankment also includes buildings and piers located on it and adjacent territories. On the opposite bank of the river is Shanghai's famous business district - Pudong.

Name

The name of the Bund of the Bund in Shanghai is translated from Chinese language as "outer bank". You can often hear the second name of this architectural ensemble - bund. This English word in Asian countries it means “quay” or “pier”. IN English language the word comes from Hindi, meaning "shore". In India, China and Japan there are a lot of places with this name, but only the proper name of Band is always called a section of the Shanghai embankment.

Story

Dozens of buildings owned by European states are concentrated on the territory of the Bund. In each of them there are banks and offices of different trading companies, including international ones. The British Consulate was once located here, and the Russian Consulate General is still located here.
The embankment area is located north of the old city. It began as a British settlement, but after a construction boom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it became the main financial center of East Asia.

Architecture

The territory of the embankment stretches for more than one and a half thousand meters, along which there are more than fifty diverse buildings, made in a variety of architectural styles. Because of this diversity, the Bund in Shanghai is often called the “museum of world architecture.” By the way, Shanghai has a lot of Art Deco buildings.
The most notable buildings on the embankment include the Peace Hotel, the HSBC Building, and the Shanghai Customs Building. The hotel building is called the Sasoon Building, it was built by Sir Victor Sassoon, the so-called “master of half of Shanghai”. His personal apartments were located on the top floor of the building.
The second building houses the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and was once the headquarters of the Hong Kong-Shanghai Corporation. Builders of the building in 1923. At that time, this building became “the most luxurious building between Bering Strait and the Suez Canal."
Shanghai Customs joined the architectural ensemble of the Bund in 1927.
The northern end of the territory is designated by the "Monument to the People's Heroes", erected in memory of those who died during the revolutionary struggle in China.