Rockbund

Rockbund complex, is often referred to locally as Waitanyuan, meaning the origin or source of the Bund. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this northern pocket near Suzhou Creek developed as one of Shanghai’s earliest modern foreign settlements, bringing together consulates, banks, trading firms, and scholarly institutions.

Over the past two decades, this entire ensemble underwent a massive revitalization led by architect David Chipperfield. Rather than tearing down the weathered structures, the project carefully restored eleven historic buildings, stripping away later additions, cleaning the original masonry, and blending classical European facades with modern public passages and courtyards.

The cultural anchor of the entire area is right here on Huqiu Lu: the Rockbund Art Museum. This Art Deco building was completed in 1932 as the headquarters for the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. It originally housed a library, a lecture theater, and the RAS Shanghai Museum, which was one of the earliest modern public museums in China.

In 2010, the historic structure was renovated and reopened as a contemporary art museum. Inside, the original rooms were opened up with a central atrium and adaptable exhibition spaces. Instead of maintaining a permanent collection, the museum hosts rotating contemporary exhibitions and site-specific installations by Chinese and international artists, carrying the building’s original mission of cross-cultural dialogue straight into the present day.

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