Tianjin is an unusual city in China. Despite its long Chinese history, it but was once a treaty port shared by nine countries: Italy, Germany, France, Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Japan, and Belgium. These circumstances have resulted in a city with a truly international flavor, with European-style buildings and mansions rubbing shoulders with historical, traditional Chinese buildings. It is a financial and industrial hub for the area, offering all you’ll need for an exciting, unique visit.
Tours and activities in Tianjin
Tainjin has many attractions and hotspots and to take it all in you should consider taking an organized tour. Local guides can help you to book tickets to shows and attractions, advise on the best places to sample local cuisine and give you important historical background.
Take a look at some of the many tours we have on offer or get in touch for more information.
Best time to visit
Tianjin has variable temperatures across the year ranging from warm in July to dry and cold in Winter. Best times for visiting are from March to May and from September to October when the temperatures are pleasant, and you can enjoy natural attractions in bloom and at their most beautiful.
Top Attractions in Tianjin
As Tainjin had been the trade hub and trade port for multiple countries, so the culture and architecture have the influence of many other countries. The dynamic culture of the region has its own charm, and shopping is great fun here as you can find a lot of products from Germany, Italy, Russia, and Japan. The more you explore, the more fun you have in Tainjin.
The Ancient Cultural Street located in the Nankai District is one of Tianjin’s most famous attractions. Although it is mainly a business street, it is lined on either side with an array of replicas of historical Chinese architectural styles. Here you’ll find the beautiful Temple of the Queen of Heaven and Yuhuang Pavilion.
Tianjin Museum is the largest in the City. It houses historical and cultural relics and the building itself is designed to appear like a swan spreading its wings. It contains over 200,000 items including calligraphy, bronzeware, seals, coins and Jiagu (bones or tortoiseshell with Shang Dynasty inscriptions).
There are many other museums in the city, including the Luzutang Boxer Rebellion Museum and the Tianjin Natural History Museum.
Hiahe River is an area of great scenic beauty as well as important historical and cultural features. Haihe Park sits on its bank and is a stunning and relaxing area, surrounded by bronze sculptures, blossoms and fountains.
Haihe Cultural Square is a serious of resorts that focus on folk traditions and customs, but with a modern twist – high-tech lighting and modern architecture make the area shine like a pearl.
Huangyaguan Great Wall is seen as a miniature of the Great Wall of China of which it is a part and was started in 500-557 before being built upon in the Ming Dynasty. Sites like the Pass of Huangyaguan, Huangya Water Gate and Widow Tower are all worth a visit too.
Happy Valley is a massive theme park that is ideal for the younger members of the family. With five smaller parks located inside, including Viking Harbour, Christmas Village and Over the Caribbean, the park is packed full of exciting rides and amusements to thrill kids (and adults) of all ages. Along with this, there are more than 90 performances taking place in the Show Centre every day, making it an ideal visit for lovers of dance and music too.
Other attractions for kids in Tianjin include the acclaimed Tianjin Zoo and the Tianjin Radio and Television Tower where they can get a bird’s eye view of the city.
Shopping in Tianjin is a mix of modern department stores and unique traditional stores. Binjian Dao Business Street and Heping Lu Business Street are the main shopping areas where you can find luxury goods, clothing and technology, often at bargain prices.
Gu Wenhua Jie is a street with traditional stores lining either side and is a great place to purchase souvenirs like Wejin kites, paper-cuts and Yangliu Qingnian paintings.
It also has the TEDA Football Stadium, home turf of the Chinese Super League Team, Tianjin Teda FC.
Tianjin hosts a number of annual festivals, perhaps the most famous of which is the Mazu Culture and Tourism Festival. Held on the 23rd day of the third lunar month of each year, this colourful celebration of traditional Mazu culture includes lantern displays, temple fairs and music and dance performances.
Getting here and getting around
Tianjin Binhai International Airport is the second largest airport in northern China, serving up around 40 routes both internationally and domestically. It is located just 13km from the downtown of the city, with shuttle buses leaving the airport to Shanghai, Xian, Seoul, and many other destinations.
There are four railways stations in Tianjin, offering high-speed rail lines to many domestic Chinese cities. Long-distance buses also transport people to and from the city, and with the Jingjintang Highway, you can travel to Beijing in only an hour and a half.
Xingang Port is China’s biggest port and allows for domestic and international travel by sea.
Traveling around the city is easy, with plenty of city bus routes that start at just ¥1. There are five metro lines open with a further 12 planned, and this is an efficient way of getting around many of the key areas in the city.
Taxis are convenient and plentiful but beware of over-charging for longer distances. Either agree on a fare in advance and ensure it is reasonable or asks the driver to use the meter. Starting fares are ¥8.
Eating and drinking
Due to its long history as a port city, Tianjing food focuses mainly on seafood. Local delicacies include Shiba Jie Mahua (fried dough twist), Baozi (steamed stuffed buns) and Xiaobao chestnut. You can sample all of these at street markets on Nanshi Food Street, as well as many other local snacks.
Another prominent dish is the Eight Great Bowls consisting of eight different meat dishes. The ‘Four Great Stews’ is a dish worth trying, which is actually made up of more than four stews including chicken, duck, beef, mutton, and seafood.
The best place for steamed buns is Goubuli Boazi on Shandong Lu. For Sichuan cuisine, try Tianfu Lamoa Restaurant on Liuwei. You can try Muslim dining at Yang Shangshu which has two branches in the city, and if you’re looking for western food, Friday’s and Barcelona Western Food Restaurant are both recommended.
Getting a good night's sleep
One of the best high-end hotels in Tianjin is the Shangri-La Hotel. Getting consistent rave reviews, this top-class hotel has sumptuously decorated rooms with river views, as well as a fitness center, international buffet, a heated indoor pool, relaxing massage and a beautiful dining area.
The Holiday Inn Express Tianjin City Centre is a great mid-priced hotel in the downtown of the city. Rooms are modern and well-styled with sofas and work desks. There are an on-site restaurant and breakfast buffet, and the hotel is in a great location near to many cultural attractions and shopping centers.
If you’re traveling on a budget, the Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe is a wonderful place to stay. European style rooms are designed with quirky modern décor and have writing desks, and all facilities and the hotel is located close to Tianjin Zoo. You can also rent bicycles to explore the nearby area or relax in the beautiful garden.
