The Bund is the river promenade with the old European banks on one side and the Pudong towers across the water. It is free, it is open all the time, and the only thing you can get wrong is the timing. We went at night and the gold-lit buildings are the whole point. Here is how to do it without wandering.
Prices and times here are from the sources at the bottom, checked on 15 October 2026. They move. Treat the numbers as a guide and check the official page or Trip.com on the day.
Quick answers
Is the Bund free?
Yes. The promenade has no ticket. Only the cruises, observation decks and the sightseeing tunnel cost money.
Which metro exit for the Bund?
East Nanjing Road station, Lines 2 and 10, exit 2 or exit 7, then walk east along Nanjing East Road to the river.
What time do the Bund lights turn off?
Usually 22:00 on both banks. They come on around 18:00 in winter and around 19:30 in summer.
Is the Bund better by day or by night?
Arrive about 45 to 60 minutes before sunset and you get both. Weekday mornings are the quiet option for photos.
How to do the Bund in one evening
- 1
Take the metro to East Nanjing Road and use exit 2 or 7
East Nanjing Road station is on Lines 2 and 10. From exit 2 you are on the pedestrian street; walk east, towards the river, about 10 to 15 minutes. Taxis cannot drop you on the promenade itself.
- 2
Arrive about an hour before sunset
You get the buildings in daylight, then sunset, then the lights. Coming from the north, Tiantong Road station on Lines 10 and 12 also works.
- 3
Start at the Peace Hotel and walk south
The green-roofed Peace Hotel is where Nanjing Road meets the Bund, so it is the natural start. Walk south along the raised promenade with the old banks on your right and Pudong on your left.
- 4
Know when the lights go off
The architectural lights on both banks usually switch off at 22:00. In winter they come on from about 18:00, in summer not until about 19:30. Do not arrive at 22:30 expecting the show.
- 5
Skip the sightseeing tunnel unless you have kids
The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel under the river is a short light-effects ride with no river view. Fun for children, not for the skyline.
- 6
Give it 90 minutes, or half a day with a cruise
The promenade and the main buildings take about 90 minutes. Add a river cruise from Jinling East Road pier (10 minutes south) and you have an evening.
Rules change. Everything here was checked on 2026-10-15 against the sources below. Before you fly, open the official page once more.
