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   location:Home > The Bund---Unique in China and Shanghai
 
 

The Bund---Unique in China and Shanghai

 

  
 
Shanghai, the largest city in China, attracts people from all around the world like a magnet. People come here for its culture, history, and all the vigor and vitality. It shows in its rush to international metropolis status. Like a dragon wake up from his dream, Shanghai is the showcase of China's fast growth and a top prize of tourist attractions, business opportunities and cultural activities. Today's Shanghai is designed with the scope of international standard to welcome people from home and abroad.

To meet with the world international standard, it has to take the good elements and side effects. For instance, traffic jam is just an issue you have to deal with even in Shanghai.

Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu that parallels the promenade is Shanghai's signature cityscape, a long wall of colonial-era European buildings erected by foreign governments, trading houses, and business individuals mostly during the prosperous and disreputable 1920s and 1930s.

The Bund (which means the Embankment) refers to Shanghai's famous waterfront running along the west shore of the Huangpu River, forming the eastern boundary of old downtown Shanghai.

The architectural design is a good start point for visitors. Let's take a close look at each of those buildings.

Cathay Hotel, now the north wing of the Peace Hotel. Built in 1930 by Victor Sassoon, who was a bachelor, lived in the penthouse. He was also the owner of the English Country style villa located on the grounds of today's Cypress Hotel.

As I passing by many other signature buildings such as the old customhouse, the AIA American Insurance Company, I wondered who was the first one had the idea to create such an establishment in Shanghai. It reminded me the Chinatown in NYC.
 

To take a good look at the details of the building, they are all very European style with no trace of Chinese influence. The difference between the 20s and now is that people come to China today with passion and love.


  The Bund lately has a lot of changes. I am talking about in the recent 10 years. For example, 3 on the Bund have brought in the trendy restaurant, fashion clubs and fashion boutique for example the Georgio Armani store. Then there is 18th on the Bund built beautiful clubs and restaurants. And there is upcoming 5th on the Bund. So, there are a lots of things happened on the Bund. But this is not new, back to 1920s the Bund used to be the center, the commercial center for business especially for westerners. Let's go to take a look at everything.

So, what is your concept to setup the business in Shanghai such as No. 3 on the Bund?


If you visit Shanghai you have to come to the Bund. This is 3 on the Bund. Every day every week there are modern art exhibition, activities, and events. Right now this is called Three Worlds right on the Bund. There are 3 famous artists from China have this exhibition right here. Now is the Press Conference.

Modern art can be anything, sometimes it is hard to interpret it. For this one it's very easy for me to understand. This is a copy of Chinese registration book, and even a copy of Chinese passport and this is a college certificate, and here is an art association membership card. But I found this piece is very interesting. It is a healthy certificate for international travelers. Hey, international travelers out there you need one of those. If you come to China, this is exactly a copy of the international healthy certificate, every one needs one like that.

Roberto Dominici ¨C Managing Director of Classico Italia: Who is seeking revenge who is proud of being what he is. It is something that every time I see it I feel touched. The energy that I felt when I came here in 1971. It was absolutely fantastic! I was touched by it. Now there is something else beautiful about this... usually, the icons of ChinaĦ­

Today the Bund consists of a spectacular promenade, stretching from Suzhou Creek in the north to Jinling Lu in the south, the perfect platform for walking along the busy river

Personally I enjoy walking or driving through Zhong Shan Dong Yi Lu, the major street of Shanghai's new developments. Every building on the road has its unique background story that recorded at Shanghai Museum.

When the lower section of the Huangpu River, which rises from the Taihu Lake, flows through the city of Shanghai for 39km, its water surface extends as wide as 400 metres. A cruise on the river involves a 60-km-long round trip, which runs past some of the major landmarks of shanghai as a port city.

The Shanghai Club, built in 1909 for an English club, which had been founded in 1865. It was said that the Club had the longest bar in the world, or at least Asia. Reputedly it was 34 metres (111 ft) long. A part of the bar still remains in the Seamen's Club upstairs.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank. Opened in 1925. Mentioned in the Shanghai Guide of that year as the largest bank of the Far East. In front of the building was a pair of magnificent bronze lions.

In the early years of the century, Shanghai was the worst and the best of everything

The Bund used to be the center stage for underground business. "Big Ears" Du was one of the key characters in Shanghai's life from the early 1920s to 1950s.

He was from the main underworld societies of old Shanghai and rose to become its leader and the ultimate Chinese Godfather. One of his favorite phrases was "You have my word".

The name of the Bund, the premier street in the city, is originally an Anglo-Indian word.

  
 In 1920s a streetcar was built by the British like this (In Shanghai). Most Chinese either unwilling or afraid to get on the car like this. Actually the only people take advantage of this is foreigners.Ħħ

The Yangzi River separate Shanghai in 2 parts. West of it is called Historical Bund; East of the Yangzi River is called the new development area PuDong. If you have a chance visit Shanghai, you can come here and take advantage of few things. The Grand Hyatt 5 star hotel offers the tallest bar in the world called Cloud 9. And the Presidential Suit or called Chairman's Suit is also the tallest Chairman suit in the world. It is located right on the 82nd floor. Its about 300 meters above the ground level.

Grand Hyatt Shanghai has been included in the 2000 Millennium edition of the Guinness Book of Records as the highest hotel in the world. Crowning the prestigious 88-storey Jin Mao Tower the hotel commences on the 53rd floor and rises to the 87th floor, surpassing the height of all other hotels worldwide.

Entry into Grand Hyatt Shanghai is through an intimate yet impressive forecourt; its assertive style is a complimenting contrast to the ultra modern high-tech exterior skin of the architecture.

Astor House HotelĦĦor Richard's HotelĦĦas it was known beforeĦĦwas established in 1846ĦĦduring Qing Dynasty by the Richard's family. It is the very first western hotel property all over China since Shanghai became a trading port.

Many world famous people checked in Astor House Hotel that includes Charlie Chaplin, Einstein, and American President Grant.

The hotel moved to where it is now on the north end of Baidu Bridge formerly "Weiersi Bridge"ĦĦand renamed to Astor House Hotel in 1857ĦĦduring Qing Dynasty,

To make it the most deluxe western hotel in the city and one of the best in China and in the Far East alikeĦĦthe hotel was restored in 1907ĦĦto a neo-classic extravagant structure.

Over the past 150 yearsĦĦAstor House Hotel retains its glorious architectural spiritĦĦand helps to epitomize the historical nature of the city of Shanghai.

Currently Astor House Hotel still has about 100 various types of rooms including deluxe rooms and business suites. Some rooms are decorated in Barloke style of Victoria times in 19th century. Others are designed in 20th century modern style with satellite TV air conditioner and other modern equipments. However, the glamour of its past adds considerable value to the present business.

Astor House Hotel is one of the famous and oldest hotels in Shanghai. There are so many world well-known people lived in this hotel before. In 1922, Albert Einstein stayed right in this room. In 1879, American President Grant also visited Astor House Hotel Shanghai. In 1920, British philosopher Rusell also spent time here. In 1931, the greatest comedian Charlie Charplin also visited the Astor House Hotel. In 1936 he came back again with his wife on honey moon, they stayed in room 404 and today if you are lucky you can check in room 404 and the hotel prepared some great works of Charlie Chaplin such as the City Lights. You can sit back enjoy the movie right in this room.Ħħ

Come to party if you are ready or you come to shanghai for travel.

Shanghai's weather sometime is just a little tough especially for February and March. These are the raining day, raining every day, but wintertime is not that cold and there is no snow, but you know, summertime is also hot as well. Hey it's just everywhere.

The city of Shanghai was once the most modern city in the world and could have competed against any major cities in the world for the title of Sleepless Town with Endless Party.

From the bars, it is off to the discos. While many interesting places where I suggest you to check it out on Friday and Saturday nights, such as 18th on the Bund, Park 97, Dragon are all surprisingly crowded with party goers from all over the world.

Amid all this increased competition, Park 97 has remained the biggest name in Shanghai especially within the westerner's community.

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