Children fly the balloons during the completion ceremony of bund renovation project in Shanghai, east China, March 28, 2010. Shanghai's Bund reopened on Sunday after a thirty-three months' renovation project to welcome the 2010 World Expo. (Xinhua/Chen Fei)

The Bund of Shanghai reopened Sunday after nearly three years of renovation designed to improve the landscape and facilities for visitors to the World Expo.

A six-lane tunnel was built beneath the Bund after the project cut off four of the 11 lanes on the surface road.

The project also spruced up the riverfront, improved the flood-control infrastructure, sewage system and public transport network.

The revamp increases the area for public activities by 40 percent, allowing local residents and the World Expo visitors to experience a more beautiful and functional Bund, which is famous for its aesthetic buildings built in the early period of the 20th century.

The Bund is the symbol of Shanghai. The project will preserve and promote the city's historical and cultural heritage while improving urban infrastructure for the World Expo, said Han Zheng, the city's mayor.