Portugal-Basilica

The Bund In May, Shanghai- 5/2023

The Bund is deeply connected to Imperial China's defeat to Britain in the First Opium War in the 1840s. Consequently, it is also part of Western colonialism's violent history, which peaked in the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth. China had resisted Western initiatives to establish trade, but this changed as a direct result of the Treaty of Nanking (now Nanjing). This defeat forced China to accept the establishment of Shanghai as a treaty port, which included granting concessions or settlements to the leading Western powers of that time, mainly Britain and France.

Much of what has become recognizable today as the Bund dates from a large wave of construction between 1920-1937. In many ways, the building trends witnessed in The Bund recount the dynamics among the Western powers at a given time.

We came back in May as the weather is a little better and there is no more fogs, The view is definitely better.

We are on Nanjing Road over looking at the bund and in the distance is Pudong District with all the tall buildings.

We are headed South with all the buildings that was built during the British seaport settlement building boom.

On the right is HSBC Building served as the headquarters of the Shanghai branch of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation from 1923 to 1955, and currently houses the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank

HSBC Building built in a neo classic building was designed by the British architecture firm Palmer & Turner Architects and Surveyors, construction of the building lasted from 5 May 1921 to 23 June 1923. On the right is the Custom house

The HSBC building has a dome in the center and below there are six Ionic columns penetrating from the second to the fourth story.

The Neo Classic Custom house was built in 1857 and renovated in 1927 is one of the most important buildings on the Bund. With a Big Ching (clock) at the top and modeled on London's Big Ben. Located next to the HSBC Building and both buildings are regarded as one of the symbols of the Bund.

The Peace Hotel comprised two buildings: Peace Palace hotel (Former Palace hotel) on the left and Sasoon house on the right are divided by the famous Nanjing Road which is the busiest street in Shanghai

Sassoon house with the green rooftop was built in 1929 for Sir Victor Sassoon whose famous Sassoon family who dominated Shanghai business and real estate in the early 20th century.

It was the first high rise building and designed by Palmer and Turner Architects firm. It is a 10 story building with a pyramidal roof made out of copper that gas corroded to a light green over time.

The former Palace Hotel (on the right) was built in 1906 and features a brick and wood structure of Renaissance style. The Hotel was widely known as the luxurious number one mansion of the Far East, due to its prime location along the Bund. Renovated in 2010 and it is now the Swatch Art Peace hotel.

Panoramic view of buildings on the Bund facing the Huangpu River

The Bund promenade over looking at all the high rise buildings on the other side of the Huangpu River

View of the Oriental Peal Radio and Television tower (pink) located in the Pudong District.

Skyline view of Pudong district

So many tall buildings on the horizon.

Panoramic view of Pudong district from the Bund promenade.

We are now in Lijiazui located in the East side on the Huangpu River in Pudong. Lujizui has been developed specifically as a new financial district of Shanghai

The famous Oriental Pearl Radio and Television tower and is a district landmark in the area.

The Oriental Pearl Radio and Television tower was built in 1991 and completed in 1994 and put into use on May 1, 1995.

Walkway between buildings. On the right is the Bank of China Tower. It was one of the three buildings that were part of the filming of Mission: Impossible III starring Tom Cruise. It is the building where Tom Cruise did a bungee jump.