Walking The Bund: Guide to Shanghai's Iconic Waterfront

To walk the Bund, start at the Yan'an East Road Ferry Pier and walk north toward the Waibaidu Bridge, ideally arriving just before sunset to witness the historic architecture and the Pudong skyline illuminate. This 1.5-kilometre promenade provides the most famous views in China, where the colonial-era 'Museum of Buildings' faces the futuristic skyscrapers of Lujiazui across the Huangpu River. For the best experience, visit on a weekday evening when the lights are most vibrant and the crowds are slightly more manageable.## The Architectural Grandeur of the Puxi SideThe Bund, or Waitan, is defined by its collection of 52 buildings in various architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Deco. As you walk along Zhongshan Road, the sheer scale of the 1920s financial hub becomes apparent. The Custom House, built in 1927, remains a focal point with its famous 'Big Ching' clock tower, which was modeled after Big Ben in London. Next to it stands the former HSBC Building, once called the most luxurious building between the Suez Canal and the Bering Strait.Further north, the Fairmont Peace Hotel (formerly the Cathay Hotel) with its distinctive green copper pyramid roof serves as a reminder of Shanghai's jazz-age glamour. Exploring these interiors is often free, and stepping into the lobby of the Peace Hotel feels like traveling back to 1930. These buildings represent a time when Shanghai was the primary financial gateway to East Asia, a status it is reclaiming today.## Capturing the Pudong SkylineAcross the Huangpu River lies Lujiazui, the financial district of Pudong. From the elevated walkway of the Bund, you have a front-row seat to some of the world's tallest structures. The Oriental Pearl Tower, with its unique pink spheres, is the most recognizable, but it is now dwarfed by the Shanghai Tower (the world's second-tallest building), the Shanghai World Financial Center (the 'bottle opener'), and the Jin Mao Tower.For photographers, the best shots are taken from the northern end of the Bund near the Monument to the People's Heroes. From here, you can frame the historic Waibaidu Bridge in the foreground with the neon-lit Pudong towers in the background. To share these high-resolution photos instantly on Instagram or Facebook, you will need a reliable data connection that bypasses the Great Firewall. Many travelers find that using a ChinaRoam eSIM is the most efficient way to maintain access to Western social media apps without needing a clunky VPN. You can see plans that offer high-speed 5G data specifically for this purpose.## Connectivity for International TravelersNavigating Shanghai requires more than just a map; you need active data for translation apps, ride-hailing services like Didi, and mobile payments via Alipay or WeChat Pay. While Shanghai has public Wi-Fi, it often requires a Chinese phone number to receive an SMS verification code, which most international tourists do not have. Furthermore, standard roaming from UK providers like EE, Vodafone, or O2 can be prohibitively expensive, often charging significant daily fees for very limited data caps.ChinaRoam provides an alternative by routing data through international gateways. This means when you connect to local 5G networks like China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom, your device acts as if it is in a neutral territory, allowing Google Maps, WhatsApp, and Gmail to work natively. These are 'data only' plans, meaning they do not come with a local Chinese phone number, but they are fully compatible with WhatsApp calls and other VoIP services.### Comparison: ChinaRoam vs. UK Carrier Roaming| Feature | UK Roaming (EE/O2/Vodafone) | ChinaRoam eSIM || :--- | :--- | :--- || Cost | High daily roaming fees | Affordable prepaid bundles || Censorship | Varies (often blocked) | Uncensored (No VPN needed) || Network | Usually limited to 4G | 5G on Mobile/Unicom/Telecom || Setup | Automatic (Expensive) | QR Code Scan (how) || Flexibility | Contract-based | Fixed plans or Daily passes |## Step-by-Step Walking Route1. Start at Shiliupu Pier: Begin at the southern end. This area is less crowded and offers a great perspective of the river's curve.2. The Bull of Wall Street: Find the 'Bund Bull' sculpture, a bronze replica of the New York original, symbolizing the city's financial energy.3. The Elevated Promenade: Climb the stairs to the wide, raised walkway. This keeps you away from the street-level traffic and provides the best vantage point for the Pudong skyline.4. The Custom House & HSBC Building: Stop at the midpoint to admire the neoclassical facades. Listen for the bells of the Custom House.5. The Peace Hotel: Cross the street at Nanjing Road East to see the Art Deco masterpiece.6. Waibaidu Bridge: End your walk at this iconic steel bridge. It is the first all-steel bridge in China and a popular spot for wedding photography.If you have extra time in the city, consider visiting the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum to learn about a different facet of the city's international history. For those looking to escape the urban bustle, a day trip to the classical gardens featured in our Suzhou Travel Guide is highly recommended.## Technical Logistics: Network and SetupIn Shanghai, you will find excellent 5G coverage across all major carriers. China Mobile has the widest reach, while China Unicom and China Telecom offer exceptional speeds in dense urban areas like the Bund. When you choose an eSIM, you can see plans ranging from 1GB for short stays to 50GB for long-term travelers. There are also daily passes available, such as 1GB or 2GB per day, which are perfect for heavy users who plan to stream video or upload vlogs.Before you depart, you should check if your phone is compatible with eSIM technology. Most iPhones from the XS/XR onwards and modern Android devices like the Google Pixel or Samsung S-series are supported. The installation process is straightforward: you scan a QR code sent to your email, and the data plan activates once you land in China and connect to a local tower. This eliminates the need to hunt for a physical SIM card at Pudong International Airport (PVG) or Hongqiao Airport (SHA), where queues can be long and language barriers can make the process difficult.## Essential Tips for the Bund- Timing: Lights on the Bund and in Pudong are typically turned on at 7:00 PM and turned off at 10:00 PM (11:00 PM in summer). Plan your walk accordingly.- Weather: Shanghai can be humid in the summer and surprisingly cold in the winter. The river breeze makes the Bund feel a few degrees cooler than the rest of the city.- Crowds: Avoid the Golden Week holidays (October) and Chinese New Year if possible, as the Bund becomes so crowded that police often have to implement one-way walking systems.- Ferries: For a few yuan, you can take the cross-river ferry from the Bund to Lujiazui. It is the cheapest 'river cruise' in the city and takes about 5 minutes.## The bottom lineThe Bund is the essential Shanghai experience, blending a century of history with a futuristic horizon. To enjoy it fully, skip the expensive UK roaming rates and ensure you have an uncensored eSIM. By using ChinaRoam, you can navigate the city with ease and share your skyline photos instantly without the hassle of a VPN.