Mosburger,

Agree with you that it is mostly tourists and expats who visit the bund. I don't think that makes it a bad place to visit though.

To your point about the bund returning to its former glories by the re-opening of the peace hotel. When the majority of the bund area (including the non-riverfront ones) buildings are renovated and re-opened as trends would expect I think the criticism will be the opposite with people saying it feels fake, etc and there is no regular people working or living there. One of the best places to walk in my opinion is the backstreets of the bund right now where there are no crowds, no Gucci or Prada, but the same impressive architecture being used for everyday offices or businesses rather than the elite.

My earlier point was that I would recommend the bund area hotels also over to LRM and people's square as a general recommendation until I know more of what a persons interests are. The westin is the most central to the bund, Nanjing rd, Yuyuan, and Lujiazui of most city hotels. Which makes it a basis recommendation until someone specifies other interest to suggest the French concession, Jing'an, xujiahui, or specific properties in other areas.