Presented as a collection for the first time, these rare and early photographs of Shanghai's most famous waterfront offer a unique glimpse into how a marshy embankment turned into the Bund, the city's most recognised landmark. These images bring to life a past not usually seen in old Shanghai photographs, back when the city was nothing more than a small treaty port. But even then there existed hints of the modernisation that would transform Shanghai into an international commercial hub, and these first signs captured on film are now gathered together to present an exclusive visual history of this city's fascinating beginnings.