On the afternoon of October 31, 2025, international students from ECUST embarked on a unique “Folding Time” journey—a three - hour Citywalk along the Bund, exploring the historical and modern layers of Shanghai.
The tour started on a solemn note at the Sihang Warehouse, a six - story concrete building. The building’s bullet - riddled walls stood as a silent yet powerful testament to the heroic defense of the “Eight Hundred Heroes” during the 1937 Battle of Shanghai. The students stared at the pitted walls in silence, feeling the courage and steadfastness that once filled this place.
The Sihang Warehouse site and film still: The Eight Hundred
Students listening to the echoes of history
Group photo in front of the Sihang Warehouse site
The mood then shifted as the group entered the Shanghai Post Museum. Housed in the former Shanghai General Post Office, a heritage building from 1924, the museum offered a walk through the “corridor of time,” showcasing the city’s postal development.
Shanghai Post Museum
Students learning about postal history
Next, the students strolled along Suzhou Creek to the iconic Waibaidu Bridge. They learned about the nearby Shanghai Mansions, whose name change from “Broadway” mirrors the city’s own transformation. The steel bridge, a famous filming location, provided a perfect photo opportunity with the modern Lujiazui skyline in the background.
Broadway Mansions (Shanghai Mansions) and Waibaidu Bridge
Students learning about the history of the Shanghai Mansions
Group photo on Waibaidu Bridge
The journey culminated at the Bund Origin, the architectural heart of the Bund. Known as the “most postcard corner” of Shanghai’s streets, the area is situated where the Huangpu River meets the Suzhou Creek. Here, the students admired a collection of historic buildings in Gothic, Baroque, and other styles, witnessing the fusion of global influences that shaped Shanghai.
Students heading toward the Bund Origin
Representative buildings at the Bund Origin
The Citywalk concluded at the legendary Peace Hotel, one of Shanghai’s most renowned landmarks. Looking back on the afternoon, many students shared that it was far more than a sightseeing trip, it was also a vivid and inspiring lesson on the living history and enduring spirit of Shanghai.
