Lujiazui, previously known as Lokatse in its pronunciation in Shanghainese, is a locality in the Pudong New District, Shanghai, a peninsula formed on a bend of the Huangpu River.

As a national-level development zone designated by the government, the State Council reaffirmed, in 2005 the positioning of the 28 square kilometers (10.8 square miles) Lujiazui area as the only finance and trade zone among the 185 state-level development zones in mainland China. The decision to earmark the importance of Lujiazui stems from the fact that it lies directly across the river from the Bund, the old financial and business district of Shanghai, and south of the confluence of the Suzhou Creek with the Huangpu River.

It is its remarkable skyline of shimmering skyscrapers (including the world’s second tallest building), studded with around 100 high-rise buildings of different architectural styles, many of which are landmark buildings of Shanghai, that makes Lujiazui a great place to experience the modern flavor of the international metropolis.It is one of the financial powerhouses of China and home to countless high-end restaurants and hotels.

Since the reform and opening-up policy carried out last century, Lujiazui has enjoyed a great economic boom, which has fueled tourism and business related travel here. Tourists could spend an entire week in this area to admire the charm of the city as an “oriental pearl”.

Praised as the 'Wall Street of China', Lujiazui is the largest financial zone in mainland China, with more than 400 banks and financial institutions from both home and abroad, including HSBC, Citibank, and Standard Chartered Bank. In addition, it is home to the headquarters of over 70 international giants and about 5,000 companies engaged in trade, investment, and intermediary services. The sum of transactions in the Shanghai stock market ranks it the 2nd in the world only behind the New York Stock Exchange.

Take a trip on the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel

the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel is a tourist attraction consisting of slow-moving underground vehicles which move between the Bund and Lujiazui accompanied by audio-visual effects played as you travel in an automated car under the Huangpu river.

Take a cruise on the Huangpu

Taking a trip by water is still one of the best ways to gaze upon both The Bund and the skyscrapers of Lujiazui, whose glamour would be unfolded to the largest degree.

Lujiazui is linked to the rest of central Shanghai by ferry services from two wharves, located at the northern and southern ends of the area respectively.

At the southern end, the Dongchang Road ferry terminal provides river-crossing services across the Huangpu River to central and southern central Shanghai, the most popular ferry service for tourists connecting Dongchang Road wharf with Jinling East wharf, located on the Bund. You can enjoy views of the best bit just as well by taking the ferry from Jinling Road to Dongchang Road and vice versa.It is recommended going early evening as the sun goes down and the lights come on, as the buildings decorated with shining colorful lights presenting a gorgeous scene before your eyes.

The former Lujiazui ferry wharf, once part of the most bustling local river crossing, was closed in the end of last century, with its wharf structure now used as a waterfront seating area.

Landmark buildings in Lujiazui include:

Oriental Pearl Tower

Jin Mao Building

Shanghai World Financial Center

Super Brand Mall

Shanghai IFC

Bank of China Tower

Shanghai Tower