The Bund is Shanghai’s famous old row of mostly neoclassical buildings on the river. It’s where various western powers set up banks, newspapers, telegraph services, and the like in the early 20th century to have a commercial foothold in the east. This is also where some of China’s oldest modern companies were headquartered. Many of those buildings remain and are now banks, hotels (Waldorf Astoria), and/or fine dining restaurants (M on the Bund). If you’re picturing the old Shanghai it’s this. Directly across the river are the brand new high rises of Pudong. The old/new dichotomy is obviously striking.

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