China's economic development increased the port's throughput.

But it failed to keep pace with the growing demand for international cruises.

Cargo shipping was shifted from the Huangpu River to the offshore Yangshan Deep-Water Port. The North Bund's vacated shoreline was rebuilt as the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal.

Costa Allegra became the first passenger cruise liner to depart from the terminal in 2006. The port received 512 liners and 2.98 million passenger visits over the following decade.

The North Bund today is a passenger, business and leisure hub.

The terminal hosts about 60 berths and is the only one on the Huangpu that can receive foreign yachts.

Shanghai International Port (Group) Co opened a "cruise city" on the site in September 2018.

The destination is a national 4A tourism site. (5A is the highest rank.)

The 73,000-square-meter attraction hosts a sightseeing lane and cultural gallery, where visitors can learn about the Huangpu River's history. It also features a music square, port museum and shops.

The cruise city recently installed a high-altitude rope-climbing course that offers spectacular views from above. It hosts 94 challenges of different difficulty levels for visitors ages 4 to 60. There's also a giant swing and bungee jumping.

"The cruise city is an important memory of old Shanghai," says Xu Juehui, a senior official with Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal Development Co.

"It continues the legacy of the Huangpu River's shipping history."

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn