Cruise control brings Bund closer to tourists

By Miao Qing (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-27 16:52

The municipal government has promised that historic spots will be well preserved in the redevelopment process. World-famous Tilanqiao, an area that used to be a Jewish ghetto during World War II, is located nearby. Its historic buildings, including the Ohel Moshe Synagogue, will be protected, Du said, and may even become a recommended attraction for visiting passengers.

Modern shipping centre

While the project aims to boost the local cruise industry, "the shipping industry is the key element in the redevelopment scheme," Du said.

When Yangshan Deep Water Port opened last December, Shanghai became the port city handling the largest overall cargo volume and the second largest number of containers in the world. Now, Du says, "a 1-million-square-metre Central Business District (CBD) will be developed in the North Bund area, gathering a large number of shipping service companies and organizations from home and abroad."

Before the redevelopment began, the North Bund was already home to about 20,000 shipping businesses and organizations, including the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, Shanghai MSA, the China Shipping Group, COSCO and the Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG), which is also the main developer of the international passenger terminal.

After the North Bund CBD is built, officials expect it to become the third business hub around the Huangpu River, with economic functions complementing the Bund area in Puxi and the Lujiazui Financial Centre in Pudong.

The goal is for the North Bund to attract even more shipping businesses to help Shanghai strengthen its shipping services industry. But for that to happen, Jade Fang of the China Institute of Navigation says the city needs to change its priorities and focus on improving its service quality and trade environment rather than the level of its facilities.

"The role of information collection and concentration should be stressed in the redevelopment," Fang said.

Government officials say that the redeveloped North Bund could potentially become a venue for Shanghai's whole shipping industry. The key to the industry's growth lies in attracting global businesses.

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