Former Palace Hotel

The Palace Hotel was China’s largest hotel when completed (1909), though it was ravaged by fires in the early years and then hit by stray Chinese bombs in 1937 (one of the Bund’s most tragic moments, when 720 passers-by were killed). Now owned by Swatch, it’s home to an artists’ residency program, with a gallery planned.

Custom House

The Custom House (No 13), established at this site in 1857 and rebuilt in 1927, is one of the most important buildings on the Bund. Capping the Custom House is Big Ching, a bell modelled on London’s Big Ben. Clocks were by no means new to China, but Shanghai was the first city in which they gained widespread acceptance and the lives of many became dictated by a standardised, common schedule. During the Cultural Revolution, Big Ching was fittingly replaced with loudspeakers that blasted out revolutionary songs (‘The East is Red’) and slogans.

Wining & Dining on the Bund

There’s no shortage of bars and restaurants on the Bund, many of which sport fabulous views. Top choices:

» Fairmont Peace Hotel Visit its old-fashioned Jazz Bar (Click here) and street-side cafe Victor’s (Click here).

» Former Palace Hotel rooftop Part of Shook! (Click here).

» Bund 18 Features Bar Rouge (Click here) and Mr & Mrs Bund (Click here).

» Five on the Bund Home to M on the Bund (Click here) and the Glamour Bar (Click here).

» Three on the Bund With Jean Georges (Click here) and New Heights (Click here).

» Waldorf Astoria At No 2, with the Long Bar (Click here).

For something more low-key, head to the Captain’s Bar (Click here) or Atanu (Click here).

Hongkong & Shanghai Bank Building

Adjacent to the Custom House, the HSBC building (12 The Bund; 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri) was constructed in 1923. The bank was first established in Hong Kong in 1864 and in Shanghai in 1865 to finance trade, and soon became one of the richest in Shanghai, arranging the indemnity paid after the Boxer Rebellion. Enter and marvel at the beautiful mosaic ceiling, which was plastered over until its restoration in 1997. Photography is not allowed inside.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14