Shanghai Bund- A Night Walk Through Shanghai’s Most Iconic Skyline

It’s October 2025, and this autumn, Shanghai launched a brand-new light show along both sides of Suzhou Creek, attracting visitors from all over the world. But when it comes to a true city experience in Shanghai, nothing is more iconic than the night view of the Bund.

The Bund is a must-visit spot for global travelers. From the Bund, you can see the entire skyline of Pudong — the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center — all standing in full view. Walking straight along Nanjing East Road will naturally lead you to the Bund and the banks of the Huangpu River.

Almost no one drives here. Parking is scarce and expensive, while the metro and buses are extremely convenient. Public transportation is the best way to reach the Bund.

Among all the buildings along the Bund, the Peace Hotel stands out as one of its most iconic landmarks. According to Wikipedia, the Bund stretches 1.5 km from the Waibaidu Bridge in the north to Yan’an East Road in the south, forming the famous “Museum of International Architecture.”

But even this vibrant area has seen tragedy. On December 31st, 2014, during the New Year countdown, overcrowding at Chen Yi Square and the viewing platform led to a stampede that resulted in 36 deaths. This is why it’s always best to avoid holiday peak hours when visiting the Bund.

For many people, the Bund also brings to mind the classic TV drama The Bund, which depicts the chaos, gang conflicts, and social turbulence of 1930s–40s Shanghai. Its theme song has become inseparable from the city’s image.

Shanghai is also one of the birthplaces of Chinese cinema. In the 1930s and 40s, its film industry was extremely open and quickly transitioned from silent films to sound films, following Western developments.

I first visited the Bund in 1994. , the Oriental Pearl Tower was still under construction, and many skyscrapers in Lujiazui had not yet been built. Walking along this historic riverside area as a young man filled me with dreams and imagination for the future.