Meheartseoul | ~sweet memories~: [Shanghai]

Sunday, 14 November 2021

[Shanghai] - The Bund's Best Buildings

Of course, we didn't miss out The Bund, the most iconic place in Shanghai on our last day in China. Strolling down along promenade of the Huangpu River. It offers exceptional stunning view of 40 charming old and grand British colonial buildings along the waterfront.

Out of them, there are 22 grandiose and well-preserved architectures built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Let's check out and appreciate these impressive exterior of heritage buildings.

This place is loved by locals and tourists.

It's still crowded at night because the buildings looks more charming

with tunable white LED façade lighting.

Asia Building or McBain Building (亚细亚大楼 ) - The Bund 1

Built in 1916, this building was crowned as the Bund No. 1. Asia Building is the key cultural relic under the state protection. The exterior of the build is the mixed styles of neoclassic and eclecticism with baroque touches. It features simplicity, elegance and magnificence. Now it is occupied by the China Pacific Insurance Company.

Shanghai Club (上海总会) - The Bund 2

This luxury hotel, The Wardorf Astoria Shanghai (under Hilton chain) was originally constructed in 1861 and used as a social place for the British expats. The Shanghai Club’s most famous feature is the “longest bar” in the world, 34 meters long and made of mahogany.

The building is the style of renaissance, and the exterior decorative style is the baroque. The columns between the 3rd and 4th floors are the ionic style. It has two baroque style pavilions on the top.

Union Building (有利大楼) - The Bund 3

It's the first steel-frame building in Shanghai which featuring the style of renaissance and the exterior baroque decorative style. The columns on the both sides of the gate are the ionic style.

Nissin Building (日清大楼 ) - The Bund 5

The Nissin Building was built by Nissin Bank in 1925. It was used by Nishin Navigation or Nisshin Kisen Kaisha Steamship Company. The whole building has 6 floors featuring Japanese style elements coupled with modern concrete design. Now it has been transformed into a world designer restaurant.

China Merchants Bank Building (中国通商银行大楼) - The Bund 6

Victorian Gothic style featured of the strong color widely used in European religious architecture was built in 1886. It's used by Messrs Russell & Company. In 1897, China’s first native bank – China Merchants Bank was set up. Now, it has been transformed into a complex of designer restaurants, bars and the flagship stores of some of the world’s most exclusive brands.

Telegram Building (大北电报公司大楼) - The Bund 7

It was purchased by the Bangkok Bank which was founded in 1944. The Royal Thai Consulate General now occupies the third floor. It is also home to the Bangkok Bank China (盘谷银行).

Russell & Co. Building 轮船招商局大楼（The Bund 9 )

Originally built in 1846 by the Russell & Co, it was sold to the China Merchants Steamship Company in 1877. In 1901, the Russell & Co. Now it is the Shanghai flagship store of the international brand – SHIATZYCHEN (夏姿上海旗舰店).

HSBC Building (汇丰银行大楼) - The Bund 12

The HSBC Building is the most outstanding piece of Western style classical and exquisite architecture in China modern history. The building has seven stories including the top, a semi-sphere roof.

Now it is the office building of Pudong Development Bank. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank built a new tower in the Pudong district. It is 46 floors and 203.4 meters tall.

The Customs House (上海海关大楼) - The Bund 13

As the sister building of HSBC Building, the Customs Houses was built in 1927. The customs house has two parts – the east and west parts. The east part has 8 floors facing the Bund with a huge clock tower on the top. The four clocks are set for the four sides and chimes on every hour.

Bank of Communications in Shanghai (交通银行大楼) - The Bund 14

The China Bank of Communications was founded in 1908 with a branch in Shanghai opening on the same year. The whole building has six stories with the style of pragmatism, a wonderful example of Art-Deco, combining the modern with traditional Chinese symmetry. Today the building is now used by the Shanghai Federation of Trade Unions.

Taiwan Bank Building (台湾银行大楼 ) - The Bund 16

The building was completed in 1924 features the Japanese architectural style coupled with the merits of other different architectural styles. Now the building is used by the China Merchants Bank.

The North China Daily News Building (上海字林西报大楼 ) - The Bund 17

It is the highest concession-era building on the Bund built in 1921 which featuring the architectural style of modernism and neo-classicism. It has baroque towers, Renaissance relief sculpture, classic pillars, and a modern concrete frame structure.

Previously, it was “North China Daily News” , the first English newspaper in Shanghai but it stopped publishing in 1951. In 1996 the building was renovated and became AIA Shanghai branch office.

Chartered Bank Building (麦加利银行渣打银行) - The Bund 18

The Chartered Bank Building was complete in 1923. The Chartered Bank opened its Shanghai branch in 1858. The building features the architectural style of eclecticism of renaissance. Now they have moved to the Pudong district. The present building is used as the flagship stores of international brands (Cartier).

Former Palace Hotel (和平饭店南楼) - The Bund 18B

The building was completed in 1906 with 6 floors. It features a brick and wood structure of Renaissance style. In 1965, the hotel became the South Wing of the Peace Hotel, which is the next building, just across Nanjing Road. It have received many celebrity visits including the historic visit by Sun Yat-sen in December 1911, when he was provisional president.

Sassoon House (沙逊大厦 / 和平饭店北楼) - The Bund 19

This has 10 storey hotel was originally built in 1929. It's the first modernism-style which occupies an important place in the modern architectural history of Shanghai. Now it is the north building of Fairmont Peace Hotel.

Jardine Matheson Building (怡和洋行大楼) - The Bund 27

Originally built in 1920, The building is neo-classical architectural style of UK. The building has 5 stories plus 2 stories added in 1983. It once served as the headquarters for Jardine Matheson.