When doors around the world closed to Jewish refugees fleeing Europe on the eve of World War II, Shanghai accepted them with no visa required. " The Jewish community created a thriving community in Hongkou District, with cafés, theatres, synagogues, and even their own newspapers. Hongkou, which lies north of the Suzhou Creek, was the main asylum for Jewish refugees during the late 1930s. The legacy of the Hongkou ghetto is just one piece in what is a long, colorful history of the Jewish people in the Shanghai. Today, Hongkou District, also known as the North Bund area has been the leading district in Shanghai’s shipping industry. Its unique geographic location and profound historic and cultural deposits determine its crucial role of building Shanghai into an international shipping center. Today, gathering more shipping elements than other place in Mainland China, it has created a hospitable atmosphere for shipping and logistics companies. The North Bund has attracted more than 2,000 shipping and logistics companies (including China Shipping, CISCO, Shanghai International Shipping Group), shipping industrial association (such as Shanghai Shipping Exchange, Shanghai Ship Owner Association and Shanghai Freight Forwarder’s Association) as well as related functional organizations (maritime administration, customs offices, inspection offices, and a "One-Stop" declaration service center).
Living AreaNorth Bund Area, close to the Bund, provides a great view of the historical buildings at the Bund along the Huangpu River, as well as the commercial buildings in the Lujiazui area.