01 The Bund
The colonial riverfront, The Bund, Shanghai. During Shanghai's riotous heyday, under the British, the Bund was the city's financial and commercial centre with, as seen in this picture, the Huangpu River on one side and the banks and grand hotels on the other. The green pyramid roofed building to the left is the Peace Hotel, then as it is now, the most famous hotel in Shanghai. I attempted to enter its bar to sample some of the jazz the bar is famous for but I though better of it when I received dubious stares from the bar staff. They must know a backpacker when they see one. My budget wouldn't stretch to the Peace Hotel and instead I stayed in the beautifully restored Astor House Hotel, itself a bit of a museum with a very interesting past. It was located just behind the Epson sign in the distance. Shanghai, China. August 30th, 2004
