Custom House At The Bund In Shanghai, China Editorial Photo

Custom House is seen as one of the symbols of the Bund and Shanghai. The Shanghai Custom House was first set up in the late 17th century, when the Qing dynasty Kangxi Emperor lifted the ban against sea trade after conquering Taiwan. To facilitate trading along the east coast of China, the Qing government set up customs houses in the four coastal provinces of Jiangnan Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong.