The Customs House, Shanghai

51

The Customs House, Shanghai

The Customs House, Shanghai

The Customs House was built by the British on the Shanghai Bund as the office of the British Governor general of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service. The structure is still used as a customs house and is regarded along with its neighbour, the HSBC building as symbols of the Bund and the city of Shanghai.

The Customs House was designed by Palmer and Turner Architects in 1925 and completed in 1927. The building occupies an area of 5722 square meters and has a floor space of 32,680 square meters. The structure has a Greek revival neoclassical design. The exterior is made of red brick and granite. The grand main hall is decorated with marble and gold leaf with an octagonal dome surrounded by mosaics. It has eight floors and a clock tower that offers spectacular views of the Bund and the city.

The notable feature of the Shanghai Customs House is the clock tower. The structure, inspired by the British Big Ben has four faces with over a 100 pieces of glass. JB Joyce and Company designed and created the mechanism and the clock was shipped to Shanghai in 1927. It remains, till date, the largest clock in Asia.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Shanghai. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51 App

The Customs House on Map

Sight Name: The Customs House
Sight Location: Shanghai, China (See walking tours in Shanghai)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Shanghai, China

Create Your Own Walk in Shanghai

Create Your Own Walk in Shanghai

Creating your own self-guided walk in Shanghai is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Shanghai Introduction Walking Tour

Shanghai Introduction Walking Tour

Perhaps more than any other Chinese city, Shanghai deserves to be called the “face of modern China.” Despite modern look, the city emerged on a map as far back as 751 AD. Shanghai County was established under the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century, although the city character, as we know it today, began to take shape in the aftermath of the first Opium War in 1842. The post-war treaty opened...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.2 Km or 3.9 Miles
Souvenirs Shopping Walk

Souvenirs Shopping Walk

Leaving Shanghai without calling local shops and procuring something truly original to bring home as a souvenir would be a pity. Indeed, souvenir shopping in Shanghai is an exciting experience.

Nanjing Road, commonly known as Nanjing Lu – Asia's longest and perhaps most famous thoroughfare – is a popular destination in Shanghai. Here, you can find a plethora of shops and boutiques...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The Bund Sightseeing Tour

The Bund Sightseeing Tour

The Bund is a waterfront area and a protected historical district in central Shanghai. The term "bund" was borrowed into English from Hindi and originally referred to a dyke or embankment. The Chinese name for the Bund is unrelated in origin: it literally means "outer bank", and distinguishes this part of the riverfront from the "inner bank" adjacent to the Old Town...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Shanghai Old Town Walking Tour

Shanghai Old Town Walking Tour

The Old Town of Shanghai, historically the heart of the city, is a part of Shanghai's urban core. Shanghai's importance as a trade hub led to its elevation to county status in 1292. In 1554, during the Ming Dynasty, the area was surrounded by protective walls to safeguard against Japanese pirate raids and remained so until 1912, when the walls were dismantled.

During the colonial era,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


15 Uniquely Chinese Things to Buy in Shanghai

15 Uniquely Chinese Things to Buy in Shanghai

Prepare a Shanghai surprise for your loved ones back home! Bring them a piece of exciting China from one of the country's most iconic destinations. Luckily, the choice of things fit to do the job is enormous. All you need is a knowledgeable advice on where to go to get a fair price and decent...