The Bund Facing the Pudong Skyline

Shanghai straddles the Huangpu River, with the historic Bund on the west bank facing the Lujiazui financial district on the east. Sunrise comes from the east: from the Bund waterfront promenade, the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower (632 m), and the Jin Mao Tower receive the first golden light while the Bund buildings are still in shadow. The reverse angle (from Pudong at sunset looking west) catches the European-style facades turning amber as the sun drops behind the city. Yuyuan Garden, in the Old Town, offers traditional Jiangnan architecture in low-angle morning light. At 31.2°N, golden hour lasts about 30 minutes. Spring and autumn offer the most frequent clear days; winter brings occasional fog off the river that produces diffused morning light.