Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shanghai. Also known as EWO, it was the first foreign company to erect a building on the
Bund in 1851. In 1941 the British Embassy occupied the top floor. Today it holds the
House of Roosevelt, China's largest wine cellar and bar.
Bank of China
A glorious meld of Chinese and Western architectural styling, this 1940s building (No 23)
is a neat collusion of art deco and Middle Kingdom motifs. Check out the funky modern-
style Chinese lions out front. It was originally designed to be the tallest building in the
city but wound up 1m shorter than its neighbour.
Fairmont Peace Hotel
Victor Sassoon built Shanghai's most treasured art deco monument in the late '20s, when
it was known as the Cathay Hotel. It was frequented by well-heeled celebrities (from Ge-
orge Bernard Shaw to Charlie Chaplin) - the riff-raff slept elsewhere. You don't need to
be a guest, though, to admire the wonderful art deco lobby and rotunda or listen to the old
jazz band (
Click here
)
.
Former Palace Hotel
The former Palace Hotel was China's largest hotel when completed (1909), and hosted
Sun Yatsen's 1911 victory celebration following his election as the first president of the
Republic of China. Now run by Swatch, it's home to an artist's residency program, with a
gallery expected to open in the future.
Former Chartered Bank Building
Reopened in 2004 as the upscale entertainment complex Bund 18, the building boasts one
of the Bund's premier late-night destinations: the top-floor Bar Rouge. The ground floor
offers a sampler of the area's exclusive tastes, featuring luxury brands such as Cartier and
Zegna.
North China Daily News Building
Known as the 'Old Lady of the Bund', the
News
ran from 1864 to 1951 as the main
English-language newspaper in China. Look for the paper's motto above the central win-
dows. The huge Atlas figures supporting the roof were designed in Italy and sculpted in
Shanghai; each figure was carved from three blocks of granite.
