Dante's descendant explores North Bund's new face

english.shanghai.gov.cn| November 19, 2025
Dante
​Sperello di Serego Alighieri photographs the scenery of the North Bund. [Photo by Zhang Chengkai/Publicity department of the CPC Hongkou district committee]

Sperello di Serego Alighieri, astrophysicist, travel writer, and descendant of the legendary poet Dante Alighieri, visited Shanghai's North Bund on Nov 15, exploring the landmarks along the waterfront.

He toured sites including The Grand Halls, China Securities Museum, Shanghai Postal Museum, and Zhapulu Bridge, learning about the history and architecture of these century-old structures.

This marked his fourth trip to Shanghai and his second to the North Bund. During the tour, he observed noticeable improvements in public amenities and a more vibrant riverscape compared to previous visits. He also experienced the Shanghai Metro for the first time, adding a new dimension to his understanding of the city's urban life.

At the Little Egg art installation and the North Bund waterfront viewing platform, Alighieri joined the crowd of visitors, enthusiastically taking photos from various angles. The curved mirrors at the Little Egg reflect the Sinar Mas Plaza and the riverfront scenery of both Puxi and Pudong.

An avid photographer, Alighieri explained that his work as an astronomer often involves capturing the sky and stars, making photography a natural extension of his profession. When asked about the most memorable part of his tour, he remarked that the view of Pudong from the North Bund offered a more focused perspective than the reverse angle. Spaces like the North Bund waterfront viewing platform, he added, create a uniquely captivating composition of the city — one that feels almost magical.

 

Source: WeChat account of the publicity department of the CPC Hongkou district committee at "shhongkou"