The Bund Promenade - Shanghai, China

The Bund in Shanghai, China, is one of the most prominent features of the city. It is a popular tourist attraction. There is a wide, concrete promenade that runs along The Bund, filled with vendors shilling a variety of wares. The day we visited was a blustery March day, with a cold breeze coming off the water. We had some beautiful weather in China during March, but this particular day I remember as being cold. Luckily, there is a coffee shop and restrooms near the People's Memorial. There are also street vendors located on the promenade selling gifts and refreshments. Because of the cold weather, the area was relatively quiet on the day we visited.

The Bund was meticulously maintained, with concrete flower gardens sprinkled along the promenade. Although it was cold during our visit, the flowers were already in bloom. On the street side of the Bund are historic buildings that date back to the nineteenth century. You can see flags from many countries flying from the buildings beyond the Bund. The most spectacular view, though, is of the blossoming modern city that lies across the Huangpu River. The city marks a stark contrast to the older, more traditional buildings common to Beijing. The view from the Bund offers the picture perfect Shanghai Skyline photo op.

The Bund is a great place to get some morning exercise, particularly to keep warm on a cold morning like the day we visited. The promenade stretches one mile, following the contour of the river. I snapped photos as we navigated the promenade, capturing both sides of the river and the contrast in architectural styles from the opposite banks.

Another prominent feature of the Bund is the Monument to the People's Heroes erected to honor revolutionary martyrs. The monument is located in a park area at the northern end of the Bund.

The Bund is located at Zhongshan East 1st Rd, WaiTan, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200000.
Two hours should be plenty of time to walk the Bund, depending on your pace and how frequently you stop to observed the various architectural styles. There are said to be fifty-two different styles of architecture located along the promenade. Below is a map taken from China Highlights travel agency, which offers local tour packages for those who are visiting and are not on an organized tour. I have not used this agency. The map is a good way to identify the buildings you can see along the way.

The photos in this post are all my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.