Shanghai brings forward The Bund lighting on 26 and 27 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 12:25 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Shanghai will bring forward landscape lighting at The Bund on 26 and 27 September 2026, giving visitors an earlier evening view of the historic waterfront and the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.
The lighting change applies to The Bund, North Bund and Little Lujiazui areas, the Shanghai municipal government said in a public notice published on 25 September. The adjustment is linked to landscape-lighting arrangements for major events.
The Bund lighting begins at 6.30pm on 26 and 27 September
The lighting will switch on at 6.30pm on Saturday 26 September and Sunday 27 September. The notice names the three riverside areas together, so the change is broader than the main promenade alone.
For travellers, the announcement changes the timing of an evening visit rather than the basic access arrangement. The lighting programme brings the facades and river outlook into the visit earlier on both September dates. Shanghai government lighting notice confirms the two dates and the 6.30pm start.
The Bund links historic buildings with the Pudong skyline
The Bund is a 1.5-kilometre elevated waterfront promenade on the western bank of the Huangpu River. It runs between Yan'an East Road in the south and Suzhou Creek in the north, with Pudong and Lujiazui visible across the water.
Fifty-two early-twentieth-century buildings stand along the west side of the promenade. Their styles include Gothic, neoclassical, Renaissance Revival, Art Deco and early modernism. The HSBC Building was completed in 1923, the Customs House in 1927, Sassoon House in 1929 and the Bank of China Building in 1937.
The lighting change adds a precise evening marker to this architectural setting. Visitors arriving on 26 or 27 September can see the historic facades after 6.30pm while looking towards a skyline anchored by the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center and Shanghai Tower. Shanghai Tourism background guide records the promenade's location, dimensions and building history.
Visiting The Bund: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The special lighting starts at 6.30pm on 26 September and 27 September 2026 across The Bund, North Bund and Little Lujiazui areas.
- The announcement changes the lighting time, not the public promenade itself. The main riverside walk remains the relevant outdoor setting for viewing the illuminated facades and Pudong skyline.
- The promenade is in central Shanghai. East Nanjing Road Station, served by Metro Lines 2 and 10, is the principal metro reference for reaching the southern and central sections.
- The route is paved and elevated beside the river. A full visit involves walking along an exposed waterfront promenade, with steps used to reach the raised walkway.
- China's official language is Mandarin Chinese and the national currency is the renminbi.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
The 6.30pm start applies only on 26 and 27 September 2026. Travellers planning a later visit should check a current municipal notice before setting out.
Searching for The Bund on social platforms
These links open searches for The Bund on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about The Bund
When does the special lighting begin at The Bund?
It begins at 6.30pm on 26 September and 27 September 2026.
Where is The Bund and how do you get there?
The promenade runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River in central Shanghai. East Nanjing Road Station on Metro Lines 2 and 10 is the main metro reference.
What is The Bund?
It is a 1.5-kilometre waterfront promenade facing Pudong, lined by 52 early-twentieth-century buildings in several architectural styles.
