Tianjin is the capital of the municipality of Tianjin in northeast China. It lies next door to Beijing Municipality, has the Yellow Sea to the east China, and is a little visited part of China by tourists.
Tianjin is an odd mix of huge, glitzy buildings and older, rundown areas. It is trying very much to keep up with the likes of Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing, yet lacks the vitality of these traditional tourist centers. To those that do head here, it is this lack in tourism that adds to the appeal, along with good shopping.
Tianjin has one of the largest shopping districts in the country - Binjiang Dao Business Street and Heping Lu Business Street are loaded with shopping malls. There are also many markets and antiques stores in Tianjin. Ancient Cultural Street is big into souvenirs, while Shenyang Dao Antique Market is the biggest of its kind in China.
Other than antiques, electronics, and souvenirs, Tianjin is also well known for its tea, with many authentic Chinese tea houses and shops, while ceramic figurines and tea sets are good buys.
Landmarks worth seeing in Tianjin include Xikai Cathedral, also known as French Church, and the beautiful Machang Dao Street, which is lined with English-style houses. Seaside Amusement Park in the Tanggu area is good for families.
Out of town is part of the Great Wall of China and good hiking at Huangyaguan. There are also several towns along the municipality of Tianjin’s coastline along with many nice beaches. Swimming outside the summer period is no fun, however.
Getting There#
Tianjin is 137kms from Beijing and is connected by the Jingitan Expressway. Taking the bullet train from Beijing’s Southern Station is the best option as it takes just 30 minutes and trains reach speeds of over 330kph. Buses also serve Tijian from Beijing, as do ferries from Incheon in South Korea and Kobe in Japan. The nearest airport is Tianjin Binhai International Airport. Beijing International Airport has more international flight options though.
Things to Do#
Tianjin Attractions
- Shenyang Dao Antique Market
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This market is purported to be the largest such market of porcelain items, paintings, and precious and semi-precious stones in china.
- Ancient Cultural Street (Gulou Jie)
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Featuring yuan huang ge and tian hou temples, this street has well-preserved buildings and souvenir shops.
- Binjiang Dao
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Known as enormous street, this area of tianjin is loaded with shops of every description.
- Machang Dao
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A pleasant street which looks like it is straight out of england.
Side trips from Tianjin
- Huangyaguan
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Considered a scaled-down version of the great wall, huangyaguan, in the mountainous area of tianjin municipality, is one of the most popular nearby sights.
Events
- Yuyang Golden Autumn Mountain Tour Festival
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A fun time in tianjin between september and october, with week-long festivities.
Housed in a self-contained municipality on China’s eastern seaboard, just south of Beijing, Tianjin is a huge city better-known for its industrial output than its tourist charms. Still worth a look on the way to the capital, sections of the Great Wall lie within the municipality to the north of the city, while Tianjin proper is a curious mish-mash of European and Chinese styles dating back to the foreign concession era of the 19th century.
Any visit to Tianjin is not complete without a look around the old colonial parts of the city. The best examples amid the city’s rush for modernization are Jiefang road and Munan Dao. Tianjin even has its own Chinatown, a confusing concept given that it is one of the largest cities in China, but then this area dates back to the days when the city was apportioned to the likes of England and France.
Tianjin is also home to a variety of religious buildings, the most well-known being the Monastery of Deep Compassion, built in the mid-17th century. The city is also home to a French Catholic church, a large mosque, a Confucian temple and other smaller religious structures. For a look at the Great Wall, make the 100-mile bus journey north of Tianjin to the Yellow Cliff Pass.
Highlights
Monastery of Deep Compassion: is a 400-year-old temple which was partly destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, yet is still impressive following renovation work.
Chinatown: see how the other half lived during the Tianjin concessions in this partly authentic area south of Beima road.
Antique Market: hustle and bustle Chinese style at this famous outdoor market, with thousands of different old pieces on display every Saturday and Sunday.
Great Wall: head north out of the city for a look at Tianjin’s section of the mighty wall.
Pan Shan: is a much celebrated range of hills north of the city with superb views of the Great Wall on a clear day.