Tianjin (天津)

Tianjin, or Tientsin, serves as Beijing's port. It is a separate municipality that is not administered by any province. Tianjin is often referred to as 'Shanghai of the North', because it shares the same industrial pollution and European style architecture. It also used to be a foreign concession port just like Shanghai.

Tianjin was established in 1404. It was a walled city and it has always been a port to Beijing. During the Qing Dynasty, many of the European-style mansions were built in Tianjin. The city was the seat of the Tianjin Provisional Government during the Boxer Rebellion, which was an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist and anti-Christian uprising in northern China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty.

In 1976, the city was struck by an earthquake and in 2015 a huge explosion in a chemical warehouse in Tianjin Port caused 173 deaths.

Tianjin is divided into two parts. The main urban area includes the old town and is located along the Hai River, which is connected to the Yellow and Yangtze rivers via the Grand Canal. Binhai is the newer part of Tianjin. It sits on the shore of the Bohai sea, east of the old city.

There are numerous interesting sights in Tianjin, including 19th and 20th century colonial European architecture. The old city was completely razed at the beginning of the 21st century to make way for new developments, but several old buildings remain.

Points of interest

The old town featured numerous lanes, lined with dilapidated temples and traditional architecture, but many buildings were erected in western (Gothic) style as well. Unfortunately much of the old city was demolished in 2000 and 2001.

Old Town

On the city's antique market you can find countless artifacts that survived the Cultural Revolution somehow.
The Astor Hotel.
The Binjiang Avenue shopping street.
The Century Clock is an elaborate clock in the center of Tianjin. Its mechanism is visible and it features beautiful sculptures.
Dàbēi Sì (大悲寺, Dabei Monastery) is a Buddhist temple that was originally built during the Ming dynasty. it has been rebuilt and renovated many times and nowadays, it is made up of the West Monastery from 1669 and the East Monastery from 1940.
Dàbēi Yuàn (大悲院, Temple of Great Compassion) is a Chan Buddhist temple and part of the Dabei Monastery.
Goldin Finance 117 is also known as China 117 Tower (中国一一七大厦) is a supertall skyscraper in the Xiqing District. Construction started in 2008 and by 2015, when construction was halted, it had 128 floors and a height of 597 m (1,957 ft). It remains unfinished and stands empty.
Gǔlóu (鼓楼, Drum Tower) was built at the center of Tianjin to send warning signals using large drums.
In Hai River Park, people come to practice some t'ai chi in the mornings and the rest of the day it is occupied by hawkers and street artists.
Jīntǎ (津塔), or Tiānjīn Huánqiú Jīnróng Zhōngxīn (天津环球金融中心, Tianjin World Financial Center) a modern skyscraper on the banks of the Hai River in the Heping District. The building is 336.9 m (1,105 ft) tall and includes an observation deck at 305.2 m (1,001 ft), which offers beautiful views over Tianjin.
Luzutang Boxer Rebellion Museum has exhibitions on the forementionted Boxer Rebellion.
The Memorial Hall is dedicated to revolutionary Zhou Enlai and his wife Deng Yingchao.
Nánkāi dàxué(南开大学, Nankai University) was established in 1919.
Nanshi Cuisine Street is a structure enclosed by a circle of 3-storey buildings. It was built to look like an ancient walled city and it has a musical fountain at a crossroad in this 'city'. A large glass roof covers the entire 'city'. In Cuisine Street you'll find more than 100 shops that sell food from all over China. Cuisine Street is located in the busy district of Nanshi.
Cífángzi (瓷房子, Porcelain House) is a contemporary museum of pottery and antiques. It is housed in a historical colonial building.
Rénmín Gōngyuán (人民公园, People's Park) is an urban public park that was originally established in 1863 as a private garden. In 1951, it was opened to the public.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel opened in 2013. It is located at 167 Dagu North Road in the Heping District.
The Roman Catholic Shèng Ruòsè Zhǔjiào Zuòtáng (圣若瑟主教座堂, St. Joseph's Cathedral) was built in 1913. It was inaugurated in 1916 and it is the largest Roman Catholic Church in Tianjin.
Temple of Confucius Wen Miao is a temple for the veneration of Confucius.
Tianjin Ancient Culture Street is a pedestrian area, where the Chinese have attempted to re-create an old Chinese street, with traditional looking buildings, temple gates and kiosks. It is situated on the west bank of the Hai River. It was opend in 1986 and all sorts of cultural memorabilia are for sale there. Some of the most interesting sights include:
- The Niangniang Palace, or Queen of Heaven Palace, was originally built in 1326, but it has been amended and reconstructed numerous times since then.
- Yuhuangge Taoist Temple dates from 1368. It is one of the oldest extant buildings in Tianjin.
Tianjin Art Gallery.
Tiānjīn Bówùguǎn (天津博物馆, Tianjin Museum) exhibits cultural and historical important relics. It is the largest museum in Tianjin. The museum opened in 2006.
Tiānjīn Dàxué (天津大学, Tianjin University) was established in 1895.
The Tianjin Eye is a huge ferris wheel that sits atop the Yongle Bridge, which spans the Hai River. The ferris wheel is 120 m (394 ft) tall. It opened in 2008.
Tiānjīn Bīnhǎi Xīnqū Túshū Guǎn (天津滨海新区图书馆, Tianjin Binhai Library) is part of the Binhai Cultural Center. The building is absolutely striking.
Tiānjīn Nánkāi Zhōngxué (天津南开中学, Nankai Middle School) was founded in 1904.
Tianjin Natural History Museum.
The Tiānjīn Àolínpǐkè Zhōngxīn (天津奥林匹克中心, Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium) is also known as Shuǐdī (水滴 ,The Water Drop). It seats 54,696 spectators and it was inaugurated in 2007.
Tianjin Radio and Television Tower is a 415.2 m (1,362 ft) tall. It was completed in 1991 and there is an observation deck about two-thirds of the way up the tower that provides excellent views over Tianjin.
Tiānjīn Shuǐshàng Gōngyuán (天津水上公园, Tianjin Water Park) opened in 1951. It also includes Tianjin Zoo.
- Tiānjīn Dòngwùyuán (天津动物园, Tianjin Zoo) is part of the Water Park Complex. The zoo opened in 1980 and is divided into separate sections for monkeys/apes, bears, lions, pandas, songbirds, elephants, hippos/rhinos and amphibians.
Tiānjīn Túshū Guǎn (天津图书馆, Tianjin Library) is a public library in the Hexi District. It was established in 1908, making it one of the oldest public libraries in China.
Tiānjīn Yì Zūjiè (天津意租界, Tianjin Italian Style Town) was a small Italian concession (territory) in central Tianjin. it was under the control of Italy from 1901 to 1943. It was ceded back to China in 1947. It features numerous Italian style buildings.
Wǔdàdào (五大道, Five Main Avenues) is an upscale residential neighborhood in the Heping District.
Yángliǔqīng Zhèn (杨柳青镇) is a market town in the Xiqing District in the western suburbs of Tianjin. It includes Shi Family Grand Courtyard.
- Tiānjīn Shíjiā Dàyuàn (天津石家大院, Shi Family Grand Courtyard) is a folk custom museum located in the former residence of wealthy merchant Shi Yuanshi. The building was originally constructed in 1875 and expanded in 2003. The courtyard exhibits folk art pieces.

Sights outside the old city urban core

The Dà gū Pàotái (大沽炮台, Taku Forts) are also called Dagu Forts, or Peiho Forts. The oldest of the forts was built during the reign of the Ming Jiajing Emperor between 1522 and 1527. The forts are located by the Hai River (Peiho River) estuary in northeastern China's Binhai New Area, 60 km (37 mi) southeast of Tianjin.
Huángyáguān (黄崖关), or Huangya Pass, is a short section of the Great Wall of China, located in the north of Jizhou District, about 126 km (78 mi) north of Tianjin. This section of the wall was originally built in the 7th century during the Northern Qi Dynasty. The wall was later reinforced with bricks during the Ming dynasty. In 1984, it was reconstructed.
Pán Shān (盘山, Mount Pan) is a beautiful mountain area 120 km (75 mi) from Tianjin.
Tàidá Zúqiú Chǎng (泰达足球场, TEDA Football Stadium) is the home stadium of the Tianjin Jinmen Tiger Football Club. The stadium was built in 2004 and seats 36,390 spectators.
Zhōng-Xīn Tiānjīn Shēngtài Chéng (中新天津生态城, Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city) is a joint Chinese-Singaporese development.
The Soviet Aircraft Carrier Kiev was commissioned in 1975 and retired in 1993. In 1996, the ship was sold to Binhai Aircraft theme park. In 2011, it was converted into a luxury hotel.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Tinajin. The city is 105 km southeast of Beijing.

Tianjin (天津)

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