Colonial-era buildings, peaceful parks, high-end boutiques and city views are all part of the charm of the Bund, Shanghai’s waterfront promenade, running alongside Shanghai’s Huangpu River.

Sunrise tai chi

Start your day on the Bund as dawn breaks and before the crowds begin to arrive. The promenade is a popular spot for local Tai Chi practitioners. Try your hand at the ancient martial art or head to Oriental Pearl Tower for the best views of the sunrise.

Huangpu Park

Occupying the Bund’s northernmost tip (overlooking the riverbend), Huangpu is Shanghai’s oldest park. A verdant triangle in the urban jungle, it’s a great place to stop and watch the world go by. It’s worth seeking out the Shanghai People’s Heroes Monument, dedicated to local revolutionary heroes. Below the monument is Bund Historical Museum where you’ll find old photos of the Bund.

Explore Shanghai’s architecture

Once home to the headquarters of major financial and banking institutions, the Bund is something of an architectural museum of grandiose buildings. The best way to discover them is on a walking tour, but you can easily appreciate their beauty on a self-guided wander. From the gothic China Merchants Bank to the Neoclassical East Wind Hotel, the spread of buildings is so diverse that you can spend a whole morning soaking up these enchanting architectural landmarks.

Bund Sightseeing Tunnel

A subterranean passageway connecting the Bund to the Pudong District, the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel is a great way to get to the other side of the river. Travelling in a transparent rail car, you’ll journey slowly through the tunnel, passsing colourful, psychedelic projections. Kids will love the technicolour light show and the atmospheric sound effects.

Chen Yi Square

Located halfway along the Bund, Chen Yi Square is dedicated to Shanghai’s first mayor, Chen Yi. You can’t miss his imposing bronze statue that presides over this pretty green space, one of the key tourist sites in the city, and an important place for locals, who congregate here to sing, dance and catch up. On Saturday nights, music concerts often take place in front of the statue.

Shop til you drop

Once you’ve soaked up the Bund’s many historical and architectural charms, it’s time to hit the shops for some retail therapy. The promenade is lined with the world’s finest designer labels, so you can shop for new season collections at Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani, and try on luxurious timepieces at Patek Philippe and Cartier.

In the heart of the Pudong District, moments from Century Park, Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel is the perfect base from which to explore Shanghai’s sights.