Shanghai City Walk Guide: The Bund – North Bund [EP.1]

I want to invite everyone to explore Shanghai on foot with the first episode of this Shanghai City Walk series, covering The Bund and North Bund. This riverside walking route is easy, relaxed, full of photo spots, and one of the clearest ways to experience the essence of Shanghai. The walk takes us from historic buildings tucked along the route to world-class skyline views that have become the image of Shanghai in the eyes of people around the world. This route is honestly beautiful, easy to enjoy, fun to photograph, and gives you a complete look at the city from several different angles. If you want to get to know Shanghai through walking, come follow this route.

Getting to Know The Bund and North Bund

If Shanghai were a book, The Bund and North Bund would be its opening chapter, the part that tells you most clearly what this city is all about. This is where Shanghai began its transformation from a traditional Chinese port city into a global metropolis in just a few decades. This stretch along the Huangpu River was once the city’s economic artery, a gateway for trade, and one of the strongest meeting points between Eastern and Western cultures in modern China.

Going back to the late 19th century, this area was the heart of the concession era. European-style buildings, banks, shipping companies, churches, and foreign clubs rose one after another along the riverfront, turning The Bund into a symbol of Shanghai’s wealth, modernity, and economic power during that period. Meanwhile, North Bund, just further north, was once an area of docks, warehouses, and working communities that quietly powered the city from behind the scenes. More recently, the area has been revitalized into a peaceful and spacious riverside promenade, and it is now one of the best places to see Shanghai’s skyline.

Shanghai City Walk Route: The Bund – North Bund

If you want to understand Shanghai beyond the image of skyscrapers and night lights, the The Bund – North Bund route is a City Walk I really want everyone to try. It is a route that does not need to be rushed or overplanned. You simply walk slowly along the river and let the city tell its own story little by little.

This route starts at The Bund, the iconic image of Shanghai that many people already know. From there, the walk gradually moves north toward Rock Bund, an area where the pace of the city slows down, filled with old buildings, cafés, and photogenic corners. Along the way, you will pass Union Church and the Former Rowing Club, both of which add more dimension to the story of foreign life in old Shanghai.

The highlight of the route is crossing Waibaidu Bridge and Zhapu Road Bridge, where you can see Suzhou Creek, the river, and the dramatic Pudong skyline all in one view. After that, the atmosphere shifts into a smaller, charming corner at Hongkou Gang, before opening up again at the final stop, North Bund Green Land, a riverside park that is perfect for sitting down, taking a break, and ending the walk slowly.

Overall, this is a City Walk that can easily take half a day to a full day. It lets you see Shanghai’s past, present, and everyday rhythm without rushing. It is especially good for anyone who wants to walk, get to know the city, and collect beautiful photos along the way in one route.

The Bund

We start this City Walk at The Bund, the riverside promenade along the Huangpu River where you can see the glamorous skyline of Shanghai across the water in Lujiazui. With rows of skyscrapers standing on the opposite bank, this is one of the city’s most famous panoramic viewpoints, a place visitors keep coming back to, and almost an essential check-in spot for any trip to Shanghai.

The charm of The Bund is not only the skyline across the river. If you turn back toward the side you are standing on, you will see a grand row of historic buildings lined up elegantly along the street. These were built roughly between the 1880s and the 1930s, when Shanghai was flourishing as a world-class port city. The buildings combine many European architectural styles, including Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassical, Romanesque, Art Deco, and Renaissance. It can feel almost like you are walking somewhere in Europe rather than in an Asian metropolis. One building I want everyone to notice is the Bangkok Bank building, with Thai lettering that can be seen clearly from a distance. It gave me a small smile, because yes, a Thai bank has a grand building standing right in the middle of Shanghai’s historic financial district too.

Another spot many people always stop to photograph while walking around The Bund is the large bull sculpture. It is often seen as a symbol of power, strength, and economic prosperity, on par with other major global cities. Many visitors also like to touch the bull, especially its head, horns, and front body, as if asking for a bit of that energy.

The time I recommend for taking photos here is the afternoon, because the light hits the front of the buildings nicely. In the morning, the light tends to come from behind, making photos more backlit. If you want to see the building lights and neon skyline, the lights are usually fully on from around 6 PM onward, giving The Bund a completely different kind of energy.

If you visit Shanghai from March to April, this is probably the most beautiful time of year to see The Bund. Colorful tulip beds are planted along the street, making the area feel much cuter and more lively. Photos come out beautifully, with European-style historic buildings paired with bright tulips in the foreground. Honestly, The Bund is such a strong starting point for a city walk that if you already get a great Shanghai photo here, you could almost go straight back to the hotel. Just kidding, but only a little.

Rock Bund

From The Bund, walk a little north and you will reach Rock Bund, an area that is fun to photograph with its red-brick buildings, shops, cafés, and restaurants hidden inside historic structures. It is the kind of place where you can stroll slowly, take stylish photos, and sit for a relaxed break for an hour or more.

The Rock Bund area was once home to the British Consulate and was one of the important areas of the colonial era. It also played a role in Shanghai’s development into an international trading hub. Many buildings in Rock Bund were designed in European architectural styles, especially Neoclassical and Art Deco, reflecting Western influence that still remains in the city’s urban fabric today.

As you walk through the area, you will pass boutique brands, skincare shops like Aesop, Chinese fashion labels, and popular cafés like % Arabica tucked into historic buildings. If you come for a walk here, expect to spend longer than you originally planned, because almost every corner makes you want to stop for photos and explore the stylish details packed into every square meter of the neighborhood.

Luneurs

The café I stopped by in Rock Bund was the French bakery Luneurs, which has the sweet slogan “Grams of Joy.” The joy really does carry through from the atmosphere of the shop to the food, all thoughtfully made to bring happiness to customers. Their highlights include a wide range of ice cream flavors displayed beautifully, a variety of freshly made brunch dishes served daily, and especially their breads and pastries, created with the expertise of a world-champion French pastry chef.

Inside, the shop feels warm and homey, with a large counter lined with ice cream, pastries, and cakes. Behind it, the kitchen is busy preparing food for customers. The seating area is divided into several sections, from tables and chairs that work well for larger groups to more relaxed corners decorated with wine bottles, plants, and cute little objects.

I ordered a coffee called the “Green Bean Latte,” a creamy latte with small cooked mung beans at the bottom, and another drink called the “Yuzu Longjing Soda,” a sweet-and-sour yuzu soda that tasted nicely refreshing. Both drinks were bright and energizing. If you are walking around Rock Bund and want somewhere to sit, sip something cold, or get a light bite, I recommend Luneurs. The vibe is really lovely, and the front of the shop is especially photogenic.

After eating pastries, recharging, and taking plenty of photos, there is also a beautiful building across from Luneurs that feels like something straight out of Europe. Nearby, there is also a Tourist Information point in a small block-style space. Inside, you can find the history of The Bund area, along with souvenirs such as shirts, photographs, illustrations, pins, and other cute small items that are great to buy as gifts or keepsakes.

Union Church

Another spot not to miss in the Rock Bund area is Union Church, an old church located near the end of the neighborhood’s street. It has become a popular photo spot among stylish Chinese visitors and Thai travelers who come to take pictures for social media, thanks to its classic European-style architecture that stands out immediately.

Union Church was founded in 1849 by British and American residents who had moved to Shanghai to live and work. It was built to serve the growing number of foreigners during the period when the city was rapidly developing into an international trade center. The building we see today was completed in 1886 and is known for its Gothic architecture, steep roof, pointed arches, tall stained-glass windows, and a bell tower visible from afar. It is another trace of Western influence that has been embedded in Shanghai’s urban structure for a very long time.

Former Rowing Club

If you cross the road opposite Union Church, you will find another photo spot I especially recommend: the Former Rowing Club. This red-brick building stands prominently by the street and has become one of the Instagrammable spots that photography lovers should not miss. There is also an old swimming pool that no longer holds water, now open for visitors to walk down, explore, and take photos comfortably.

The Former Rowing Club was founded in 1863 during Shanghai’s colonial era. It served as a sports and social center for foreigners living in the city at a time when Shanghai was growing into an international trading port. In 1905, the current building was constructed, combining Neoclassical and Victorian architectural styles. Its red-brick walls and large windows are particularly distinctive. The club was designed so members could relax and enjoy the creek view up close, reflecting the lifestyle of the upper class at the time, when sports, social gatherings, and riverside leisure were part of everyday life. After 1949, rowing club activities gradually declined, and the building’s function changed with the times. Today, it remains one of the most beautiful and characterful buildings in Rock Bund.

Waibaidu Bridge

Nearby, continue walking to Waibaidu Bridge, an old steel bridge about 106 meters long that crosses Suzhou Creek and has stood with Shanghai since 1908. This is not just an ordinary bridge. Its story is quite meaningful, because it was built through the collective effort of Chinese residents. The older bridge used to charge a toll, which made crossing difficult for local Chinese people. This new steel bridge was built so everyone could cross for free, and Chinese people came to call it “Waibaidu,” meaning a free-crossing bridge.

Today, Waibaidu Bridge is still well maintained and is one of the bridges where you can walk and enjoy the Shanghai atmosphere. From here, you can see the Pudong skyline and the Oriental Pearl Tower standing dramatically in front of you. The best time to come for a walk and photos is from late afternoon to evening, when the light becomes soft, the city starts switching on its lights, and the atmosphere turns romantic without trying too hard.

Zhapu Road Bridge

Near Waibaidu Bridge, there is another bridge where you can see an even more dramatic skyline view than from The Bund: Zhapu Road Bridge. This is another important bridge in the city, and from here you can see the skyscrapers of Pudong in full view, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower, and Waibaidu Bridge, all lined up within the same frame. This angle gives you the full sense of Shanghai as a grand metropolis.

The most beautiful time here is from late afternoon toward evening, when the sunlight falls softly onto the cluster of skyscrapers and photos turn out beautifully. This bridge is a fairly popular photo spot among locals and tourists. On the day I visited, there were travelers and several couples taking pre-wedding photos. You may need to wait a little for the right moment, but the photos you get are definitely worth it.

Hongkou Gang Bridge

From the impressive skyline view on Zhapu Road Bridge, I recommend walking a little further to the bridge over Hongkou Gang, another spot I personally think looks extremely cute in photos. To get here, you can search for “Jiulong Road and Changzhi Road Intersection” on Amap.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Hongkou Gang played an important role as a transportation route in the port city, used for moving goods and people in and out of Shanghai. Over time, that role gradually faded as the city developed. What makes this spot special today is the view of the canal and cute pastel buildings in the foreground, with the Pudong skyline, including the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower, in the background. It is a contrast that works beautifully and gives this photo spot a very unique Shanghai character.

North Bund Green Land

The final stop of this Shanghai City Walk from The Bund to North Bund is North Bund Green Land, a riverside public park with a silver egg-shaped sculpture and the Oriental Pearl Tower in the background. This is honestly one of the best photo spots in Shanghai, and it is so cute.

North Bund Green Land sits along the Huangpu River on an area of about 400,000 square meters, and it is part of Shanghai’s effort to increase green space and improve quality of life for people in the city. This area used to be an industrial zone before being transformed into a modern, environmentally friendly riverside park where people can spend time outdoors. Inside the park, the atmosphere is refreshing, with trees, plants, colorful flowers, and long walking paths that are great for strolling, jogging, or finding a comfortable place to sit and relax. There are spaces for picnics, river views, and moments where you can simply let time pass slowly with the Pudong skyline standing in the distance.

The highlight many people come to photograph is the silver egg-shaped sculpture standing in the middle of the green park. This is a popular angle because you can capture the park, river, and city skyline in one frame, giving this side of Shanghai a modern and stylish look.

For me, North Bund Green Land feels like the perfect closing chapter of this Shanghai City Walk. After passing old buildings, bridges, and historical traces throughout the day, sitting quietly in a green riverside space helped me see another side of Shanghai, one that is not only glamorous, but also thoughtful about creating places where people can truly rest. It is a calm, open, and genuinely healing end to the route.

Final Thoughts on Shanghai City Walk: The Bund – North Bund

For me, Shanghai City Walk: The Bund – North Bund is one of the routes that lets you get to know Shanghai in one of the clearest ways. It does not take you only to famous landmarks, but leads you through the city’s story from past to present, slowly and naturally in one route. Along the way, you see old European buildings, historic bridges, daily life by the canal, world-class skyline photo spots, and finally a riverside green park where the city gives you space to breathe. Every stop connects naturally without needing to rush or chase a checklist. You simply let the city reveal itself softly.

This route is perfect for anyone who wants to walk, take photos, enjoy the city, and absorb the atmosphere of Shanghai in a way that goes deeper than just seeing it as a big city in China. It is an easy City Walk that takes only half a day to one full day, but what you get back is a collection of beautiful Shanghai photos and the kind of charm that will probably stay in your mind for a long time.

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