Shanghai - Shanghai Bund 上海外滩

6/14/2014    Shanghai, Shanghai Bund (外滩 Waitan)

Bank of China, ICBC

Aaron:

HSBC (left), The Customs House (center),
the former Bank of Communication (front)

Shanghai Bund was built along the Huangpu river, when it flows through the Shanghai city. It is the most beautiful scene of Shanghai, and also considered as the symbol of the city. Over 100 years ago, Shanghai was the busiest city in the world. It served as the largest harbor and biggest financial center in Asia Pacific . Just like New York City in United States.  It has dozens of historical buildings along Huangpu River. It once housed numerous banks and trading houses from the United Kingdom, France and other Europe countries.  You can find The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) building, The Customs House, the former Bank of Communication there.



new Shanghai

Today, Shanghai has the largest stock exchange market in China, and also is the largest financial center of the country. It is one of the busiest city of the world. In the last 30 years,  people start building  modern buildings, like skyscrapers, on the other side of the Huangpu River (east of Huangpu River 浦东) . The Oriental Pearl Tower is the highest among all of them, which being used as TV broadcast station. The building is so high that its top is above the clouds.  It becomes the landmark of Pudong. During the night, the tower is decorated with thousands  of colorful light bulbs, which change colors every few minutes.

bronze bull

There was a bronze bull with a lot of details on the street. It indicates the strong economy and healthy stock market.  Its designer is also the one who designed the bronze bull on Wall Street in New York.

Standing in the Shanghai Bund and looking at the both sides of the Huangpu River, I was amazed by the beautiful night  scene.  Telling from the over 100 years old historical building and the new modern high-rise buildings, Shanghai is coming back as one of the most modern and important financial center of the world.

Gordon:

old Shanghai

Shanghai Bund was beautiful. We went to see its night view. There were two sides, new and old. The old ones are buildings over 150 years old. The new ones had skyscrapers.








Oriental Pearl Tower

One of them is Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai TV tower. It is very tall and beautiful. Its color changes every five minutes. It was very pretty. Shanghai Bund was fun.