Bank of Taiwan Building, Financial heritage building on the Bund, Shanghai, China.
The Bank of Taiwan Building is an 18-story financial structure on the Bund that combines Western exterior forms with Chinese interior design features. Today it operates as a Bank of China branch and shows the architectural variety that defines Shanghai's main waterfront.
The building was completed in 1937 and replaced an earlier German Club that had been taken over after World War I. Its construction marked a period when Shanghai was rebuilding itself as a financial center with mixed architectural styles.
The building shows how Eastern and Western design elements mixed together during Shanghai's international period. Walking through it, you notice details that blend both traditions, reflecting how the city brought different worlds together.
The building sits among other historic structures along the Bund and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors can view the architecture from outside and explore the financial district while walking.
The original design called for 34 floors but was reduced to 18 because Victor Sassoon, a powerful property owner, imposed height restrictions on the Bund. This decision shows how a single investor shaped Shanghai's skyline in the 1930s.
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