Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Custom House
The Custom House (No 13), first established at this site in 1857 and rebuilt in 1927, has
long been one of the most important buildings on the Bund. Capping the building is Big
Ching, a bell modelled on London's Big Ben. During the Cultural Revolution, the bell was
replaced with loudspeakers broadcasting revolutionary songs.
Hongkong & Shanghai Bank Building
Put a crick in your neck gawping at the ceiling mosaic portraying the 12 zodiac signs and
the world's eight great banking centres. When it went up in 1923, the domed
HSBC
building
(No 12; 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri)
was the second-largest bank in the world and com-
monly known as 'the finest building east of Suez'.
Three on the Bund
With its opening in 2004, Three on the Bund became the strip's first lifestyle destination
and the model that many other Bund edifices have since followed. Upscale restaurants and
bars occupy the upper three floors, while the lower levels are anchored by Armani, the
Evian Spa and the conceptually minded
Shanghai Gallery of Art
(
11am-9pm)
.
Meteorological Signal Tower
This
signal tower
(No 1; admission free; 10am-5pm)
was built in 1907 to replace the wooden
original as well as to serve as a meteorological relay station for the tireless Shanghai Je-
suits. The ground floor contains a small scattering of historical photographs, while the up-
per floors house the cafe Atanu.
Restaurants
There's no shortage of upscale Western restaurants here, many of which sport fabulous
views. Top choices are Mr & Mrs Bund (
Click here
)
at Bund 18 and M on the Bund (
Click here
)
. Lost Heaven (
Click here
)
has the finest Chinese cuisine in the area, though
unfortunately no panoramas.
Nightlife
If cocktails are your thing, you're spoilt for choice: decadent watering holes include the
Long Bar (
Click here
)
, Glamour Bar (
Click here
)
, New Heights (
Click here
)
and Bar
Rouge (
Click here
)
. The Fairmont Peace Hotel has its old-fashioned Jazz Bar (
Click
