Experience luxury at the Bund for free! International architecture + stunning river views, a complete photo and food guide!

🔥 Shanghai’s most “luxurious” free attraction! The Bund hides international architecture, river sunset views, and century-old stories. Here’s a zero-cost guide to capturing cinematic photos! (First, here’s the address! 📍 Northeast corner of the intersection of Zhongshan East 1st Road and Yan’an East Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai | 8-minute walk from Exit 3 of Nanjing East Road Station on Metro Lines 2/10 | Navigate to “Bund Viewing Platform”) Ladies! I declare this the most “elegant” street I’ve seen in Shanghai! When the Huangpu River cruise ship sounds its horn passing by, on your left is a century-old Gothic spire, on your right the skyscrapers of Lujiazui, and the air is filled with the aroma of coffee and the scent of history — best of all, it’s free to explore all day! 🌆 This place holds the secret of the “Far East’s first financial street.” From Shanghai’s first foreign trading company in 1843 to today’s global tourist hotspot, follow me and I guarantee you’ll experience a “magical city romance” spanning a hundred years, from sunset photos to night cruises on the Huangpu River! 🏛️【International Architecture Expo: Feel the “Texture” of History】 1️⃣ Customs House: A century of memories in its chimes This Art Deco building, completed in 1927, features the “largest clock in Asia” on its roof that chimes “The East is Red” on the hour. 🕰️ Hidden tip: Stand in front of the building at 3 PM, film the chimes with pedestrians and river cruises in the background, and post with the caption “Listen, Shanghai is telling time” ~ Fun fact: The bronze bell inside weighs 1.5 tons and its chimes can be heard 3 kilometers away. Sailors used it to set their clocks! 2️⃣ Peace Hotel: The “noble living room” in movies Opened in 1929 as the “Far East’s first skyscraper,” its octagonal stained glass dome in the lobby is breathtaking! 🎬 Must-visit: Spend 20 RMB on a coffee, sit next to the elderly jazz band (performing 6:30-9:30 PM), and listen to their saxophone playing “Tuberose,” feeling like you’ve stepped onto the set of “In the Mood for Love” ~ Legend has it: Charlie Chaplin and Churchill stayed here. The “Saxon Presidential Suite” on the 9th floor costs 30,000 RMB per night now! 3️⃣ Pudong Development Bank Building: The “glowing” financial palace Built in 1923 in classical style, its facade has 60 Ionic columns. At night, the lights make it look like a “golden palace.” 💡 Hidden shot: Walk from the Customs House to the Pudong Development Bank, use 0.5x wide-angle to capture the whole building with the Oriental Pearl Tower in the background — a stunning blend of modern and classical! Detail lovers: The mosaic floor tiles in the lobby are imported from Italy, featuring the “God of Wealth” Mercury. Touching it is said to bring fortune ~ 🌅【Sunset and Night Views: The Bund’s “Highlight Moments”】 1️⃣ Best sunset spot: Bund Origin Yuanmingyuan Road At 5 PM, stand at the intersection of Yuanmingyuan Road and South Suzhou Road, facing the Huangpu River, and watch the sun slowly set behind the Lujiazui skyline. 🌇 Photo tip: Use portrait mode on your phone to capture silhouettes, have a friend shoot you from the side with the sunset and Oriental Pearl Tower, and post with “Eloping with the sunset in Shanghai” ~ Hidden perk: On weekends from 4-6 PM, Yuanmingyuan Road becomes a “pedestrian street” with markets selling hand-brewed coffee and creative goods. You can get a special drink for 20 RMB ~ 2️⃣ Night view crown: Bund Viewing Platform At 7 PM, when the city lights come on, the Bund’s international buildings glow with warm yellow lights, and across the river, Lujiazui’s “three-piece set” (Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower) looks like a sci-fi movie scene. 📸 Photo secret: Stand in the middle of the viewing platform, use wide-angle to capture the buildings and their reflections on the river, and wear light-colored clothes for better photos! Fun fact: The Bund’s light show runs daily from 6 PM to 10 PM, extended to 11 PM on holidays ~ 3️⃣ Night cruise on the Huangpu River: See the bustling banks for 2 RMB Take the 2 RMB ferry from Jinling East Road Pier (East Jin line), a 7-minute crossing of the Huangpu River. Onboard, you can see the Bund’s lights and Lujiazui’s neon signs intertwining. 🚢 Hidden tip: Choose a window seat and film when passing the Oriental Pearl Tower, with flowing river water and lights in the background — super atmospheric! Money-saving tip: Don’t buy the 150 RMB cruise tickets! The 2 RMB ferry runs frequently and you can use your transit card ~ 🍜【Food Frenzy: Taste “Shanghai Flavors” for 50 RMB】 1️⃣ Old-school local dishes: Big meals for 80 RMB per person Lao Zhengxing Restaurant (556 Fuzhou Road): Founded in 1862, their crispy-yet-tender fried shrimp with sauce is rich but not greasy! 🍤 Recommended: For two people, order “fried shrimp + water spinach rings + fermented rice balls” for 160 RMB to eat your fill ~ Shanghai Old Restaurant (242 Fuyou Road): 140 years of history, their Eight Treasure Duck is an “intangible cultural heritage” dish, stuffed with glutinous rice, chestnuts, and mushrooms, 128 RMB per serving. 🦆 Fun fact: This dish requires a one-day advance order! 2️⃣ Popular snacks: Worth the queue Shen Dacheng Qing Tuan (636 Nanjing East Road): Qingming Festival special, salted egg yolk and pork floss filling is savory, red bean paste is sweet, 4 RMB each. 🌿 Tip: Buy before 9 AM to avoid lines! Harbin Food Factory Butterfly Pastry (720 Nanjing East Road): 60 years of classic flavor, the butterfly pastry is bigger than your face, with a rich milky aroma! 🦋 Hidden way to eat: Dip it in coffee, the crust softens and tastes like cake ~ 3️⃣ Riverside cafes: Hip and cozy Starbucks Reserve Shanghai Bund Origin (133 Yuanmingyuan Road): A cafe hidden in a century-old house, order the “Shanghai exclusive” sea salt coffee (45 RMB), sit in the courtyard listening to birdsong, perfect for a whole afternoon ~ % Arabica Bund Origin (169 Yuanmingyuan Road): Japanese popular coffee, the Spanish latte (50 RMB) is smooth, and the second-floor terrace offers photos of the Bund buildings and river ~ 📸【Photo Secrets: 9 Iconic Shanghai Spots】 1️⃣ Bund Origin Yuanmingyuan Road: Vintage ceiling vibes Stand at the entrance of Anrenli, use wide-angle to capture the European-style buildings on Yuanmingyuan Road with the “Bund Origin” street sign in the background. Wearing a cheongsam or suit adds a timeless feel! 2️⃣ Peace Hotel entrance: Cinematic shots Wear black and stand at the Peace Hotel entrance, have a friend shoot from across the street with the “Peace Hotel” sign and passing rickshaws (models) in the background, like filming “In the Mood for Love”! 3️⃣ Customs House clock tower: Time frozen At 3 PM, stand in front of the Customs House, film the chimes with pedestrians and river cruises in the background, and post with “Listen, Shanghai is telling time” ~ 4️⃣ Pudong Development Bank Building: Golden palace Walk from the Customs House to the Pudong Development Bank, use 0.5x wide-angle to capture the whole building with the Oriental Pearl Tower in the background — a stunning blend of modern and classical! 5️⃣ Bund Viewing Platform: River views and lights At 7 PM, stand in the middle of the viewing platform, use wide-angle to capture the buildings and their reflections on the river, and wear light-colored clothes for better photos! 💌【Local Insider Tips】 ✔️ Wear comfortable sneakers! The Bund promenade is 1.5 km long ✔️ Bring mosquito repellent! The riverside mosquitoes are fierce ✔️ Visit before 8 AM to avoid tour groups ✔️ Chat with staff and you might get “small gifts” (like latte art at cafes) ✔️ Buy souvenirs at “Harbin Food Factory” for better prices than tourist spots 💬【Real Experience & Tips】 ⚠️ Weekends are very crowded! Weekdays are recommended ⚠️ Some restaurants require queuing; book in advance ⚠️ Don’t block the way when taking photos; pedestrians will rush you ⚠️ Don’t be greedy when sampling; staff might roll their eyes 💌 Writing this reminds me of the old lady selling butterfly pastries who said, “I’ve sold pastries here for 40 years and seen many people take photos and leave. Actually, the best part to try is the piping hot, fresh-out-of-the-oven bite — that’s the real aroma~” Indeed, when you bite into the crust and the milky aroma spreads in your mouth, you suddenly understand — the Bund is just history turned into legend~ 📍Click to check real-time crowd levels 👉🏻 Follow me for more Shanghai guides 👇🏻 Share your beautiful Bund photos in the comments!