Located in the Huangpu district, towards the south of The Bund at the heart of Shanghai, the cool docks are a recent development that was initiated in anticipation of the World Expo 2010. The Cool Docks are a great hangout place made up of a square fountain space in the middle and surrounded by buildings which take the style of the traditional Shanghai Shikumen.
The docks were once known as Shiliupu pier which was the oldest harbor in Shanghai and the stuff of legends, most involving people drowned at sea! There were factories and storage houses around the waterfront area which did not present a very charming sight. However, developers wanted to gentrify this place, so close to the Bund and with such proximity to Huangpu river. Therefore, just in time for the World Expo, the area was given an expensive makeover which helped usher in international cuisine restaurants from Greece and India and brands like Starbucks here. This glamour didn’t last too long though. Because it was out of the way and there weren’t lots of public transport connections going through the area, the buzz quickly faded and not many entertainment venues chose to stay. But with the advent of some posh hotels in the vicinity, the prospects are looking up again.
In terms of view, the Cool Docks have a nice sight of the financial quarter across the river. If one was to start with the glitz and hustle bustle of the Bund, a good way to wind up the night would be a walk down to this pier to enjoy a quite dinner and some peace away from the buzzing crowds and noise. Alternatively, travelers can get here by getting off at Xiaonanmen metro stop but this requires them to take 20 minutes of further walking to the docks. Alternatively, they can take one of the many public buses or taxi directly to the area.
Close to the renovated pier is the Shanghai ferry station. The boats there come and go along the Huangpu river and endow its guests with gorgeous views of either side of the metropolis that seems to reach for the heavens. Especially at night, when the buildings on the bay light up, the scene becomes all the more enchanting. A recommended activity for any tourist wanting to experience the magic of China’s biggest city. It takes up to an hour and be prepared to face crowds on weekends and holidays but it is absolutely worth the money and effort to indulge in a night cruise when in the metropolis.
The Cool Docks are also equipped to handle events like openings, exhibitions and such. A Riverside Camping event took place during a festival recently that involved much positive vibes. Every April the venue is host to the Eco Design Fair, an event that attracts much traffic from the creative world. The place has also had a movie appearance in ‘Shanghai Calling’, so it has got a bit of star power sprinkled on as well!