Bank of Indochina Building, Shanghai

The Renaissance-style Bank of Indochina Building at No. 29 was founded by the French to finance trade and manage investments in China and throughout French Indochina, including present-day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. As commercial ties between France and China expanded, a larger headquarters became necessary, leading to the construction of the present building.

Designed by the architectural firm Atkinson & Dallas, the building was completed in 1914. Take a moment to admire its elegant façade. The exterior combines Italian Renaissance symmetry with Beaux-Arts influences, featuring a monumental arched entrance framed by Ionic columns, rusticated stonework on the lower level, and large arched windows that flood the banking hall with natural light. The upper floors are more restrained, with classical cornices and decorative moldings that reflect the prestige of one of the leading European banks operating in Shanghai during the early 20th century.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, the Bank of Indochina continued operating for a time under the Vichy French administration before eventually ending its Shanghai operations. Today, the building houses a branch of China Everbright Bank. Although the interior is generally not open to casual visitors, the exterior remains one of the Bund's finest examples of early 20th-century French commercial architecture.