Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
BEHIND THE BUND
The streets behind the Bund are some of the most thrillingly atmo-
spheric in the city, from the historic buildings and high-end dining
of 'Missionary Row' to the gloriously unrestored banks and
churches of the former International Settlement.
DISTANCE:
2km (1.2 miles)
TIME:
A half-day
START:
Peninsula Shanghai hotel
END:
M Glamour Bar
POINTS TO NOTE:
Take a taxi to the Peninsula Shanghai hotel to
reach the starting point on Yuanmingyuan Road. Try to go on a Wed-
nesday or Thursday to ensure access to buildings and museums that
open only during business hours. This route can be combined with
Route 1 (for more information,
click here
)
.
The area behind the Bund was once home to old Shanghai's social institutions and recreation-
al associations such as the YWCA, the Royal Asiatic Society, the Rotary Club and the Rowing
Club. Neglected for decades, they have now been given a new lease of life as part of Waitany-
uan, a 'lifestyle zone' that incorporates shopping, fine dining and culture in and around the his-
toric buildings, injecting new life into the neighbourhood.
British surveyors laid out this part of the city in a logical grid pattern. They named the
streets after China's cities and provinces: cities running east to west, provinces running north
to south. The pinyin system is now used to transliterate Chinese street names, but the names
themselves have remained unchanged since the 19th century.
