In front of you stands the Bund Bull, one of Shanghai’s most famous modern symbols, an imposing bronze sculpture more than three metres high and weighing six tonnes, created by Italian-American artist Arturo Di Modica, the same sculptor behind Wall Street’s Charging Bull. Installed in 2010 just before the World Expo, it was commissioned to embody the strength and economic dynamism of contemporary China, but unlike its New York counterpart, Shanghai’s bull lifts its head proudly and its tail spirals upward, a gesture of optimism symbolising a rising economy. Its reddish colour evokes luck and prosperity, two deeply rooted values in Chinese culture. The Bund Bull quickly became a true attraction, with locals touching it for good fortune—especially its horns and sometimes other parts said to bring luck. Standing across from the Bund’s former colonial buildings it perfectly illustrates Shanghai’s transformation from a city once dominated by foreign banks to a confident, forward-looking global financial capital today.