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 & Away
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.