Photography published on March 8, 2022, at 15:09. This article discusses a remarkable building situated on the Bund, which is adorned with two bronze lion statues at its entrance. Originally known as the Municipal Building, it is commonly referred to by the elderly as the HSBC Building.
The building was completed in June 1923 and was designed by the British firm Palmer and Turner. It once served as the headquarters of the HSBC Bank and is now regarded as one of the finest examples of modern Western classicism architecture on the Chinese mainland. After the municipal government relocated in 1997, the building became the Shanghai branch of the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, which is open for public business.
Visitors are drawn to the building to witness the magnificent dome inside, which is decorated with murals. At the center of the dome is a depiction of the sun god, encircled by the names of HSBC’s global branches such as London, New York, Tokyo, and Paris, along with local cityscapes and portraits of goddesses. The interior is further enhanced by exquisite marble columns and mosaic floors that continue to shine brightly.
Due to it being a weekend, some areas of the building were not open to the public. However, fresh flowers were arranged on the bank counters, and a few customers were quietly conducting their transactions. This building, which is part of the Bund’s architectural complex, is recognized as a national cultural heritage site.
