Old Bank of China Building, Shanghai

Old Bank of China Building, Shanghai

The Old Bank of China Building is one of the highest structures on the Bund. Its stunted appearance is because the owner of the neighbouring building, Victor Sassoon insisted that no other structure in Shanghai could be higher than his.

The Old Bank of China Building was built on the site of an old German Club. It was once the headquarters of the Bank of China. Today, it houses the bank’s Shanghai branch. The site was purchased in 1930 and the design was formulated jointly by Shanghai based firm Palmer and Turner and the chief architect of the bank, Lu Quianshou. The local Dao Kee construction company built the structure in 18 months after the laying of the foundation stone in 1936.

Political upheavals in the city resulted in the Bank of China moving into the building in 1946, ten years after its completion. The structure has a 50,000 square meter floor space. It has 17 floors, two of which are underground. The building has a traditional Chinese style and is built of smooth Jinshan stones. The old Bank of China building is unique because it was the first Chinese owned and built structure on the Bund where all other buildings were constructed by foreign nations.

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Old Bank of China Building on Map

Sight Name: Old Bank of China Building
Sight Location: Shanghai, China (See walking tours in Shanghai)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Shanghai, China

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Create Your Own Walk in Shanghai

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Shanghai Old Town Walking Tour

Shanghai Old Town Walking Tour

The Old Town of Shanghai, historically the heart of the city, is a part of Shanghai's urban core. Shanghai's importance as a trade hub led to its elevation to county status in 1292. In 1554, during the Ming Dynasty, the area was surrounded by protective walls to safeguard against Japanese pirate raids and remained so until 1912, when the walls were dismantled.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The Bund Sightseeing Tour

The Bund Sightseeing Tour

The Bund is a waterfront area and a protected historical district in central Shanghai. The term "bund" was borrowed into English from Hindi and originally referred to a dyke or embankment. The Chinese name for the Bund is unrelated in origin: it literally means "outer bank", and distinguishes this part of the riverfront from the "inner bank" adjacent to the Old Town...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Shanghai Introduction Walking Tour

Shanghai Introduction Walking Tour

Perhaps more than any other Chinese city, Shanghai deserves to be called the “face of modern China.” Despite modern look, the city emerged on a map as far back as 751 AD. Shanghai County was established under the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century, although the city character, as we know it today, began to take shape in the aftermath of the first Opium War in 1842. The post-war treaty opened...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.2 Km or 3.9 Miles

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