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Why the Bund
is special
The Bund is the world's most famous riverside street. It's lined with early 20th Century buildings of European
design that were once the headquarters of major traders and financial institutions from the Western world.
And, it offers a splendid view of the Pudong
modern skyscrapers across the river.
 My favorite time is
during the early evening (see photo). Not only are
the Bund and Pudong buildings strategically
illuminated, the Bund's riverside pedestrian
promenade becomes a hand
holding lovers' lane (shared with slowly strolling families and tourists).
Interesting insights
and tidbits about the Bund
 Many of the large Western businesses that built the stately Bund
buildings made their money from respectable trades such as tea and
spice. But, some generated it from the opium trade.
The two most famous buildings on the
Bund are the Peace Hotel and the domed edifice that was once the headquarters of the Hong Kong and Shanghai
Bank Corporation (HSBC), one of the largest banks in the world today.
The Bund was once known as the
financial capital of Asia. After the worldwide stock market crash of 1929, it began to lose some of it
luster. Now, Hong Kong and Pudong, across the
river from the Bund, are China's primary financial centers.
Bund derives its name from an Anglo-Indian word for a flood
preventing embankment (which was the Bund's original and still crucial purpose).
The Bund is 1500 meters (almost a
mile) in length.
Tips for your
vacation tour or trip
Take a one-hour cruise on the Huangpu River.
The ships leave from docks on the Bund riverbank
(see photo). They provide a thrilling vantage of the Bund and - across the river - the Pudong skyscrapers.
The ideal departure time is just before the
buildings are illuminated with floodlights. When you return, the buildings are spectacularly lit against the evening sky.
Make an early morning
visit to the Bund's promenade. It becomes a popular destination for tai chi enthusiasts.
Pronunciation guide
Bund: bun'd
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