Step onto Shanghai's iconic Bund in 2026, and you're literally walking through a living timeline. On one bank of the Huangpu River, century-old European architecture whispers tales of the 1920s jazz age 🎷, while across the water, the futuristic Lujiazui skyline blinks with LED constellations that make Blade Runner look retro. CGTN's Caroline Wu, a born-and-raised Shanghainese, calls it "the world's best open-air museum where every exhibit is Instagram-ready."
This year, new augmented reality guides let visitors overlay historical photos onto today's landmarks using their phones – imagine 1930s rickshaws "racing" past your sneakers! 🏃♂️📸 Local cafes now blend traditional tea ceremonies with holographic menus, proving Shanghai's magic lies in its constant reinvention.
"The Bund isn't just postcard views," says Wu. "It's where my grandma learned English from sailors, where startups pitch AI projects in heritage buildings, and where every sunset paints both old and new Shanghai in the same golden light." 🌇 Whether you're a history buff, tech geek, or just craving soup dumplings with a view, this waterfront promises your main character moment.
