Shanghai - The Bund

Downpour all day!
We decided to explore ‘The Bund’ in the afternoon, as this features as a ‘must do’ in all the guide books. We knew there were numerous buildings of different eras and architectural styles ranged along the waterfront but were finding it difficult to find out more about the individual building histories. We thought we’d ask at the dedicated Tourist Information Centre on the front. No-one was in it when we arrived but 3 staff sat behind the counter. We did not have much hope of a useful response as we had already experienced the distinctive  Chinese approach to a foreign tourist regularly throughout the holiday. This ranged from a, ‘Sorry, no English’, to a firm shake of the head , to a dismissive wave, to a decisive physical removal of us from the queue.  This one however took the biscuit. I smiled and nodded encouragingly, then held up Google Translate.  ‘Do you have a map of the Bund, please?’ As one, all their eyes focussed into the middle distance and no other response could we get. We took that as them having no map, no information and no interest so we left and went next door to dry out, console ourselves with KFC chips and try the internet. On the way there we noticed an amazingly detailed map on the wall that pointed out and listed all the public toilets along the whole length of the waterfront.


My son is not one to be put off by rain or lack of information, or that the Huangpu River was so shrouded in fog we could not see the far bank, so we spent the rest of the afternoon dripping our way down the length of the promenade viewing the huge, wet and nevertheless imposing buildings and photographing them for future reference. The plus was that there were very few other people about. This changed as an early dusk descended and the lights started to come on. It became bright as a repeating firework display, lights flashing, fluctuating and scrolling up and down the buildings. The river rippled with shiny chocolate wrapper reflections. Visitors emerged from food shops or arrived in taxis and with umbrellas twirling strolled up and down photographing and being photographed. We joined them, and despite squelching socks, cold fingers and fading phone batteries we felt ‘The Bund’ had its good points.