The Bund extends lighting hours from 30 September to 7 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 03:17 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Bund in Shanghai has extended landscape lighting from 30 September to 7 October 2026, giving the historic waterfront a revised evening schedule during the National Day holiday. The change applies to the Huangpu River's core waterfront areas and includes colour changes to the floodwall lighting and waterfall.
The Bund lighting schedule runs until 7 October
The Shanghai Municipal Administration of Landscaping and City Appearance announced the temporary programme on 30 September. Landscape lighting in the core areas along the Huangpu River runs from 6pm to 11pm each day between 30 September and 7 October, one hour later than the winter schedule. The official notice also says that colour-changing lighting will operate on the floodwall and waterfall at the Bund.
The programme is part of Shanghai's major-event lighting mode for the National Day holiday. It does not promise a single coordinated show across the river: the authority specifically says that the Bund, North Bund and Lujiazui will not stage a cross-district linked light-and-shadow performance. The official lighting announcement sets out the period, hours and areas affected.
The Bund's historic facades frame the revised display
The Bund is a 1.5-kilometre waterfront area and a protected historical district in central Shanghai. The Huangpu River lies to its east, while 52 Gothic and Baroque-style buildings line the western side, reflecting the financial and trading institutions of old Shanghai.
That architectural row gives the temporary schedule a specific visual setting: the lighting change concerns a historic riverfront whose buildings are presented by Shanghai as an outdoor museum of international architecture. The city authority's guide to the Bund describes the promenade, the building styles and its position beside the river.
What the temporary lighting means at the waterfront
The revised hours affect the illuminated evening appearance rather than announcing a new exhibition or a change to the district's architectural status. Visitors can therefore expect the usual historic facades and river outlook, with the floodwall lighting and waterfall receiving the stated colour changes during the programme.
The practical distinction matters for planning. A visit after 11pm during the period will fall outside the announced lighting schedule, while an evening visit before that time will take place during the temporary 6pm to 11pm window. The notice describes lighting arrangements, not a separate ticketed attraction or a dedicated cross-river performance.
Visiting The Bund: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The temporary lighting schedule runs at The Bund from 30 September to 7 October 2026, daily from 6pm to 11pm.
- The change affects the waterfront lighting, including colour changes to the floodwall lighting and waterfall; the official notice does not announce a cross-district linked light show.
- The Bund is in central Shanghai beside the Huangpu River, with a long riverside walkway facing 52 historic buildings in Gothic and Baroque styles.
- The waterfront setting is a pedestrian promenade beside the river, while the historic building row is viewed from the public area rather than treated as one enclosed museum.
- China's official language is Mandarin Chinese and its national currency is the renminbi.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for The Bund on social platforms
These links open searches for The Bund on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about The Bund
When does the extended lighting take place at The Bund?
The revised schedule runs daily from 30 September to 7 October 2026, from 6pm to 11pm.
What changes at The Bund during the National Day holiday?
The floodwall lighting and waterfall receive colour changes, while the announced programme does not include a cross-district linked light show.
Where is The Bund and how do you get there?
The Bund is a historic waterfront in central Shanghai on the western bank of the Huangpu River, opposite the city's Pudong skyline.
