The Bund is basically an area where people gather. In Shanghai it is located right along the waterfront where people can walk, hangout, and shop. A lot of financial institutions are also located in this area of Shanghai....along with some very ritzy hotels (Waldorf Astoria).....this hotel even smelled expensive when we walked by.
This waterfront area is also known as the "Wall Street" of Shanghai. It even has a Wall Street BULL monument along the Bund. The same sculptor that created the bull in New York.....also sculpted this one! We made sure to rub his horns (both of them!) so that good luck comes our way....and then maybe we can afford a night at the Waldorf someday!
We have seen our share of temples on this China trip. It should be noted that many Chinese do not even adhere to a religion. Most Chinese simply believe in living a clean, healthy life without the distractions of any one religion or god. But, the minority of Chinese who do worship at these temples....are seriously crazy! Some of these places remind us of a haunted house at the York Fair. Scary statues and monstrous-looking creatures....almost silly enough to make you laugh. The one deity that is worshipped at various temples is Buddha....and he comes in many different shapes, sizes, and forms. Most of us picture the "happy" Buddha with the big belly that you rub for good luck.....but there are several different looking Buddha's that the Chinese worship.
*** It should be noted that if you look at Buddha's chest in the photo above, you will see the swatztika symbol. This was originally a Chinese religious symbol defining a person's "growth" in their spirituality. Hitler and the Nazi's took this symbol and turned it slightly at a 45-degree angle during his reign in the early half of the 20th century.