0:22Shanghai
Shanghai’s riverfront lights
The Bund, Pudong towers and waterfront buildings illuminated at night.
Read the Shanghai guide ↗Shanghai travel guide ↗
City life
The Bund
Shanghai’s historic waterfront promenade, with older commercial buildings on one bank and Pudong’s modern skyline across the river.
Include this in my private trip ↗
About this place
Why visit
The historic buildings along the western bank and the towers of Pudong offer a clear visual introduction to Shanghai. Walk far enough to see the older facades individually rather than using the whole promenade only as a skyline backdrop. Nearby streets provide a calmer continuation when the busiest viewing areas fill up.
Details worth noticing
- The western-bank facades
- The river’s working traffic
- Pudong across the water
Watch before you go
Watch the place and its surroundings
See the scenery and setting, then use the visitor guide to plan your visit.
0:22
0:39Shanghai
The Bund after dark
Night views along the Bund and the Huangpu River.
Read the Shanghai guide ↗Before you go
Plan your visit
The Bund is on the west bank; Lujiazui is across the river. Plan the crossing if visiting both, and allow for the city’s walking distances. A river cruise is optional and uses its own departure point.
The Bund and the Pudong riverfront are opposite banks. Plan any crossing deliberately and avoid assuming that two spots facing each other are a short walk apart.
Nearby visits and onward travel
Nearby central streets make a natural continuation. A Pudong observation deck or promenade requires a deliberate crossing and its own time block.
Getting there & around Shanghai ↗A flexible day idea
A suggested day
Use this day plan as a guide. We can adjust the walking, transport and breaks for your group.
- Start
Historic facades
Walk a compact section of the western waterfront, looking at individual buildings as well as the skyline. Give the river traffic and changing street views time to register.
- Explore
A neighborhood pause
Move into nearby streets for a meal, coffee or a slower architectural walk. Choose a small area instead of adding several distant shopping districts.
- Finish
The skyline changes
Return to the promenade around your preferred light if conditions suit. Keep dinner and the return journey simple, especially when the waterfront is busy.
Longer itinerary ideas
Plan a longer trip
Explore day-by-day routes that include Shanghai and its wider region, then adapt one with us.
1 day
Garden lanes and a skyline
One full city day joining the Old City with Shanghai’s historic riverfront.
See the day-by-day idea ↗3 daysShanghai in three different moods
Combine the Old City and river with modern Pudong, museum time and leafy neighborhood streets.
See the day-by-day idea ↗7 daysShanghai and Suzhou
Combine three Shanghai sightseeing themes with Suzhou’s gardens and canals. The route starts in Shanghai and ends in Suzhou.
See the day-by-day idea ↗10 daysShanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou
A Jiangnan journey through a big-city waterfront, classical gardens and West Lake, finishing in Hangzhou.
See the day-by-day idea ↗