The Bund (Wai Tan), Shanghai Region, China

5Devin B 5:00 PM Feb 17, 2020

Unique Experience for a Westerner!
Most tourists who visit Shanghai will likely consider visiting Waitan (or "The Bund"), as it is close to the 'Old City' and provides some of the most spectacular views of the Lujiazui District and the Huangpu River. Some will choose to see it by way of a river cruise. Some may just stop for a quick photo and move along to the next site. I was there on a chilly February day, though, the day after Lunar New Year, with no particular agenda and no reason to leave after taking my obligatory cityscape shots. It was an unusual time for a Westerner to be in Shanghai: the city was bustling with visitors, though few of them resembled me, a bearded American standing over six feet tall. Due to the holiday and the tradition of traveling to be with family, the majority of the visitors in town were from rural inland areas, likely visiting their stubborn children who have abandoned traditional country life for the sights and sounds of the big city. This same story plays out all over the world, but due to the relative isolation of inland China from coastal cities like Shanghai and the rest of the world, many of these visitors had never seen someone like me in person before. My presence there was a shock and, often, a delight. Children are the least shy. Many are learning English at school, so they will enthusiastically greet you with "Hello!" and "Good Morning!" and will often burst into joyous laughter when you respond. I noticed a few younger adults sneaking pictures of me. Eventually, one bold individual approached and asked if he could take one. I insisted on posing for the photo with him. Though we were limited in what we could say to one another, we connected by virtue of the fact that we were both curious to meet one another and tell our friends back home a story about it. After he left, his friend approached me to take a picture. Eventually, I had a line of people waiting to take pictures with me. One young man introduced me to his parents and had us pose for a photo together, no doubt so they could show their friends at home the strange foreign man they met in the big city. It's maybe a little naive to say so, but this sort of human connection is what makes travel worthwhile to me, so I stuck around until I had taken a picture with everyone who wanted one. It makes you feel a bit like a cultural ambassador and was easily one of the highlights of my trip to Shanghai. If you're looking to take beautiful photos of a beautiful city, The Bund will absolutely give you that opportunity. If, like me, you're looking to meet people and have unique travel experiences, then you can't miss spending some time here. It's a good spot for photos, but it's a great spot to connect with other people.

4LoveTravelling1116 5:00 PM Jul 23, 2020

Awesome night view with colourful lights!
My last night in Shanghai was spent watching the spectacular night view of The Bund, and I never regretted having to jostle my way into the first line just so as to capture the view without people obstacles. The colourful night lights were one of the highlights of Shanghai, and is also a reflection of how economically vibrant Shanghai is. The numerous high-end posh hotels around this region complement the scenery, enhancing the attractiveness of this place too. I was standing behind the metal fence just next to the river, and it was wonderful to witness the various boats floating by with bright splashy colour! From The Bund, one can see the high-rise Oriental Pearl Tower gleaming in every hue. The Bund could be reached via East Nanjing Road train station, followed by a 10-minute straight walk. Be prepared to come here soon to avoid the need for hustling.