Towering above Shanghai, the "Bund" stretches 4.3 kilometers alongside Shanghai's Huangpu riverfront. There are many ways to take in the Bund but probably Shanghai's most famous attraction is the view of Shanghai's Pudong skyline including The Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Shanghai World Financial Centre (SWFC). Strolling along the Bund's walkways is a must for anyone visiting Shanghai as you can almost forget that Shanghai is an ever-growing megacity (with over 24 million people!) as the Bund has such a different atmosphere to other areas in Shanghai. The Bund's history dates back to 1842 when Shanghai became one of China's main treaty ports and was owned, at least nominally, by the Shanghai Municipal Council. Originally the British were based in Shanghai's Shanghai French Concession which was separated from Shanghai's Chinese area of settlement (the City) by Suzhou Creek. The first buildings on the Bund were built in 1863 and for decades it was Shanghai's Wall Street as many of Shanghai's banks had their offices along the Bund. Shanghai makes a point of showing Shanghai's European influences as you will see from Shanghai's architecture, but there were some American banks on the Bund as well as Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank (now called HSBC) which was founded in Shanghai.