The Bund, Shanghai During the Epidemic, February 2020

11 Feb 2020

At the beginning of the pandemic, when so many were outside of the city visiting family for Chinese New Year, Shanghai's bustling city life came to a halt. The empty roads and sidewalks were eerily silent, as residents stayed safe inside. It was like a scene from a sci-film where the city becomes empty overnight, with no explanation as to why it happened, or when it would end.

Let's take a drive downtown to The Bund which is arguably Shanghai's most iconic destination.

Before the pandemic, the Bund would be crawling with tourists, both local and international, all clamoring to get a perfect photo in front of the city's famous skyline.

The buildings reflected the light of the sun and dazzled for an audience that wasn't there to appreciate its beauty.

The long promenade, which usually teemed with life, from dancers and joggers, to tourists and vendors, was left with only a few people to entertain.

The highway that snakes from Lujiazui to the outskirts of Pudong and beyond, with its wide lanes and billboard-sized signs, was nearly bare.

The coils of road that wrap tightly around the interchange, usually filled with cars, was left hungry and barren.