Shanghai: Bund Origin

After the First Opium War, Shanghai began to open up to the world, attracting the British who established their consulate in this region. The Bund, home to some of the oldest buildings, served as the starting point for the modernization of Shanghai. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, this area flourished with a concentration of educated individuals, consulates, churches, museums, press outlets, banks, high-class apartments, and foreign firms. It played a pivotal role in shaping Shanghai's political landscape, fostering Western cultural influences, and driving commercial development, thus becoming the cradle of the city's political, cultural, and commercial transformations.