Enough with the bright lights of Pudong across the equally lively Huangpu River. What do we have on the western bank of Huangpu River - at The Bund itself? As you gaze at the Pudong towers, behind you there are these elegant structures!
View to the south, with river at the left.
View to the north, with river at the right.
The Customs House - built in 1927 - has a clock tower, eleven storeys or 90 metres tall, and is an icon of The Bund. The flowery building to the right is actually behind The Bund - it's the Westin Shanghai.
The copper-top Sassoon House, built 1926, but the copper has since turned green. Owner was Sir Victor Sassoon of the famous Sassoon family: British Sephardic Jew of Lebanese origin. So influential that he decreed no buildings could be taller than his, so his neighour Bank of China bulding next to it, built 1937, looks stunted. And yes, in the foreground Chairman Mao welcomes all.
L-R: The Glen Line Bldg (built 1922), The Banque de l'Indochine Bldg (1914), and the humongous brand-new Peninsula Shanghai which opened earlier this year in time for Expo 2010.
The crescent and Sassoon's green pyramid are a great pair!
