The Bund

Where to go

Walk the full promenade from the southern end (next to the Customs House) to the north. The classic photo spot is at the river bend near the Monument to the People's Heroes. Then take the two-yuan ferry from Jinling Road to Pudong for the view back.

Practical notes

Go twice if you can — once by day for the architecture, once at night for the lights. Security is thorough; bring your passport. The best dinner pairing is a walk up to the Rock Bund or an old-style café on the back streets.

What to See — Aug 2026 Picks

In August the Bund is played at night: the historic facades light up at 19:00 on the summer schedule (extended an hour on weekends and holidays), and Xiaohongshu travelers time the 18:30–19:10 blue hour for the money shot of the old banks against the Lujiazui towers switching on. The local hacks circulating this summer are the 2-yuan public ferry, the photographer's bridge at Zhapu Road, and the near-empty Bund after 21:30.

Blue Hour at the Waterfront Promenade

The classic C-position, straight opposite the Lujiazui skyline. Arrive about 30 minutes before the 19:00 lighting to watch the sky turn deep blue while the Customs House and the colonial facades glow warm behind you — the colour contrast is the shot. Weekends are packed, so for clean frames go on a weekday or hang around until 21:30 when the crowds thin but the lights stay on.

Customs House & Its Clock Tower

The neo-classical Customs House with its 15-metre clock is the Bund's visual anchor, and its chimes ring out every 15 minutes — travelers recording video love the soundtrack. Two best angles: the crossing of East Beijing Road and Zhongshan East 1 Road for the street-level straight-on with the tower centred, and the small platform at No. 13 Zhongshan East 1 Road for the full tower with Lujiazui behind it.

Zhapu Road Bridge

The 'photographer's bridge' one block north of the main promenade: from its deck you frame the old Bund and Suzhou Creek in the foreground with the Lujiazui towers behind — the composition Xiaohongshu calls the Bund's best panorama. It is usually far less crowded than the waterfront, and it is the go-to spot for sunset and blue hour.

Waibaidu Bridge

The century-old steel bridge at the Bund's north end, famous from countless films and dramas. Its steel trusses act as a natural frame for the Oriental Pearl Tower, and at dusk the structure reads as pure cinematic Shanghai. Best in blue hour for silhouette shots, or at night when the bridge lights ripple across the water.

The 2-Yuan Huangpu Ferry

The best-value boat ride in Shanghai: the public ferry from Jinling East Road to Dongchang Road crosses the river in about ten minutes. Stand on the second-floor deck for a mid-river view of both skylines — a two-yuan alternative to the 100-plus-yuan sightseeing cruises. Aim for the 18:30–19:00 crossing to watch the lights switch on from the water.

North Bund Reverse View

Cross to the Hongkou bank and the whole sweep of the Bund's historic facades lines up opposite you — with a fraction of the crowd. The North Bund greenway is where locals watch the lights come on, best after 19:30 when both banks are fully lit. It is the counter-shot to every tourist photo taken from the west bank.

Plan for 18:30–19:10 blue hour, stay past 21:30 for crowd-free frames, and take the 19:00–21:00 window if you want maximum lights. Bring a light layer — the riverside wind is cooler than the streets — plus repellent and an umbrella for the summer evening shower, and get there by Metro Line 2 or 10 to East Nanjing Road; never drive into the area in the evening.

Getting there

• Metro Line 2 to Nanjing East Road, 10-min walk east