Tianjin
Sun, 04/04/2010 - 13:14
| Along with Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, Tianjin is one of the four cities in China directly managed by China's central government. The name of the city literally means "the emperor's ford," referring to critical location of the city on the Hai River. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Tianjin emerged as a leading trade port where Western interests grew considerable. Due to its proximity to Beijing the national capital, Tianjin has not accorded as attention as it deserves. The hidden beauty and rich culture of Tianjin remain to be discovered. | | | |  | Attractions | Confucian Temple (Wen Miao)The Confucian Temple of old Tianjin is located on Dongmennei Dajie, a short distance west of Traditional Culture Street (Gu Wenhua Jie). This was where traditionally Confucius the great Chinese philosopher was enshrined and honored - "Wen Miao" literally means "Temple of culture." Occupying 32 acres of land, The Confucian Temple is the largest extant traditional architectural complex in Tianjin.
Cuisine Street (Shipin Jie)One way to try out cuisines of different styles from various regions of China is to go to the Cuisine Street in Tianjin. This old-style complex hosts over one hundred restaurants, each with its particular appeals. The Food Street is located in what used to be the Southern Market (Nanshi) of Tianjin.
Great Mercy Buddhist Temple (Da Bei Chan Yuan)The temple was originally founded in the Ming Dynasty and reestablished in the Qing period. Located on the eastern side of the Hai River, Great Mercy Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Tianjin today.
Great Wall at Huangyaguan (Huangyaguan Changcheng)Huangyaguan Great Wall is located 135 km north of Tianjin. Built on the mountain range that runs through the region, this stretch of the Great Wall is 42 km in length, with 52 garrison towers and 14 beacon towers. Huangyaguan refers to Huangya Gate that is the central point of the defense system here. This part of the Great Wall was built in the Ming Dynasty.
Hai River (Hai He)Historically, the Hai River played an important role in the rise of Tianjin as an economic center. Ships from the sea sailed up the Hai River for about 50 km to arrive in Tianjin, where goods were unloaded and distributed. Today, the Hai River offers nice views and opportunities for leisure and entertainment. Tourists can cruise through the city and all the way to the coast.
Italian District ?Yidali Fengqing Qu)This was the Italian Concession in Tianjin in the old days, when foreign powers established their own settlements in various Chinese cities. Standing this part of Tianjin as reminders of the past are some Italian-style villas, which used to be Italian Consulate, Italian Barracks and residences of foreign and Chinese celebrities.
Mt. Pan (Pan Shan)Pan Shan, Mt. Pan, is a scenic area located 115 km north of Tianjin. It is a favorite retreat destination for residents of Tianjin, known for its natural beauty as well as Buddhist legacy.
Park on the Lakes (Shuishang Gongyuan)This is the largest park in Tianjin, comprising three lakes and 11 islands, measuring 500 acres in total area. Pavilions, gardens, tea houses, fountains, multimedia display... offer visitors plenty to see and do. The park is located in Nankai District, next to Tianjin Zoo and Tianjin TV and Radio Tower.
Riverside Shopping Street (Binjiang Dao Shangye Jie)Although it is called Riverside Street (Binjiang Dao), it is not actually on the river bank but some distance from it. It is, however, truly a shopping street, the busiest in Tianjin. The street starts from a point on the bank of the Hai River that is across the river from the Tianjin Railway Station and extends in the direction of southwest for about two kilometers. The origin of the street goes back to the late 19th century when Tianjin developed a important trade port in North China, and over the years a large number of diverse stores have moved here to serve their customers.
St. Joseph's Cathedral of Tianjin (Laoxikai Jiaotang)In the late 19th and early 20th century, Tianjin, as a leading trading port of China, played an important role in Sino-Western interactions. There are many Christian churches in the city, and the most famous is St. Joseph's Cathedral located on Dushan Road in Heping District. Known as Laoxikai Jiaotang to the Chinese, the Cathedral was built in 1916, in the Romanesque style. It is the largest Catholic church in Tianjin and is the seat of the Tianjin Diocese.
Tianjin TV and Radio Tower (Tianjin Guangbo Dianshi Ta)Standing in the southwestern part of Tianjin, the Tianjin TV and Radio Tower, in addition to functioning as a broadcast facility, also offers tourists an opportunity to see Tianjin up in the air. The overall height of the tower is 412 meters and the viewing platform is 270 meters above the ground.
Traditional Culture Street (Gu Wenhua Jie)This is a street that presents the traditional culture of Tianjin. The street is located on the eastern side of old Tianjin and the western bank of the Hai River. Along the street and in the nearby neighborhood, built in the traditional architectural style, there are close to a hundred shops and galleries specializing in art works, antiques and folk handicrafts. In the middle section of the street there stands Tianhougong, Temple of Heavenly Mother, which was originally established in the 14th century to honor the guardian goddess of sailors working on the Hai River.
| | | Tianjin TransportationAirport:
Xian Binhai International Airport is 13 km east of the city center of Tianjin. Means of transportation include shuttle buses and taxis.
Railway Stations:
There are three railway stations in Tianjin. Tianjin Railway Station (Tianjin Huoche Zhan) is located in central Tianjin, on the northern bank of the Hai River, close to Shijizhong Square and Jiefang Bridge. It used to be known as Tianjin East Staion. This is also the station for the Beijing-Tianjin Interity train services. Tianjin Railway West Station (Tianjin Huoche Xi Zhan) is located in northwestern Tianjin, off Beiyingmen Xi Malu (Beiyingmen West Road). Tianjin Railway North Station is located on Zhongshan Road, close to Beining Park.
Long Distance Bus Stations
Tianjin Long Distance Passenger Transportation Central Station (Tianjin Changtu Keyun Zhongxin Zhan), next to Tianjin Railway Station. Tianjin Tongsha Passenger Transportation Central Station (Tianjin Tongsha Keyun Zhongxin Zhan), next to Tian Railway Station. Tianjin Passenger Transportation Hebei Station (Tianjin Keyun Hebei Zhan), No. 39 Jianchang Road, Hebei District. Tianjin Passenger Transportation West Station (Tianjin Keyun Xi Zhan), No. 2 Xiqing Road, Hongqiao District. Tianjin Binhai Passenger Transportation General Station (Tianjin Binhai Keyun Zong Zhan), in Tanggu District, off Freeway 103.
Subway
Tianjin Subway Line One extends from northwest to southeast, with a total length of 26 km.
Taxi:
¥6 for the first 3 km; ¥1.7 for each additional km. | | | Tianjin MapView Untitled in a larger map | | | | | | |
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