The Bund: tickets, hours and how to visit
1.5 km of 1920s banks facing Pudong. Best at 6:30 before the crowds and at night from the other side.
The Bund at a glance
1.5 km of 1920s banks facing Pudong. Best at 6:30 before the crowds and at night from the other side. Plan on 90 minutes on foot here, plus half an hour either side for entry, security and parking.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tickets | Free. The promenade is open 24 hours; the historic buildings are private offices. |
| Opening hours | Open all day. Best light 06:00–07:30 and 17:30–19:00. Lights on the Pudong side come on around 18:30. |
| Time needed | 90 minutes on foot; 2 hours if you walk the full 1.5 km and cross to Pudong. |
| City | Shanghai, China |
What to see
Three things carry this sight. If you are short on time, do them in this order.
- The north end at dawn1920s banks with nobody in front of them
- Fairmont Peace Hotel lobbyart deco, free to walk in, good coffee
- The view back from Pudongthe only place you can see the Bund skyline itself
Tickets and booking
How the ticket works, and what foreigners usually get wrong.
Before you buy
- Price. Free. The promenade is open 24 hours; the historic buildings are private offices.
- Booking. Everyone photographs Pudong FROM the Bund, which means the Bund itself is the one skyline you never see. Take the CNY 2 ferry across to Pudong (Dongchang Road ferry, 5 minutes) and look back — same river, no crowd, and the buildings you came for.
- Payment. Most Chinese sights take WeChat Pay or Alipay only. Cash works at staffed windows but not at self-service machines; a licensed guide can pay on your behalf and settle with you at the end of the day.
Getting there and when to go
Metro Line 2 or 10 to East Nanjing Road, exit 7, then 8 minutes east. Cars can stop on Zhongshan East Road but the promenade level is pedestrian only.
Open all day. Best light 06:00–07:30 and 17:30–19:00. Lights on the Pudong side come on around 18:30.. The first hour after opening is the quietest — tour groups arrive around 09:30. Late afternoon gives better light but the main viewpoints start clearing people out, so shoot early if that is your priority.
Public transport reaches The Bund, but connections and waiting times add up. With luggage, older travellers, or two sights in one day, a car and driver removes the guesswork.
The one thing that goes wrong
Shanghai local note
- Everyone photographs Pudong FROM the Bund, which means the Bund itself is the one skyline you never see. Take the CNY 2 ferry across to Pudong (Dongchang Road ferry, 5 minutes) and look back — same river, no crowd, and the buildings you came for.
Pairing The Bund with
These are usually on the same day or the same trip.
The Bund: questions travellers ask
When is it least crowded?
Is the river cruise worth it?
How booking works — three steps, itinerary before price
No deposit to get a plan, and nothing is locked in before you agree.
Send the brief
Dates, party size, how you arrive and what you want to see around The Bund.
Get a route and a price
We order the stops by location and traffic, then quote per car per day with fuel, tolls and the driver included.
Confirm and travel
Only after you accept the route and the price do we assign the car and guide.
