Things to Do in Tianjin

Like a wheel of an upturned bicycle, the Ferris Wheel of Tianjin, also known Tianjin Eye stands about 120 metres tall. One of the four in China and the fourth tallest in the world the most eye catching and unique characteristic about it is that it’s the only one in the world built over a bridge. The wheel has about 48 passenger cubicles, each with a capacity to carry 8 passengers and it takes about 30 minutes to complete a full rotation.

The view from the top is breath taking as you can see everything from within a 40 km radius in all directions. Even from the ground, just its mere presence over the Hai River adds so much to the cityscape of Tianjin.

Most people think of it as The Great Wall of China which is a general misconception. ‘The Wall’ was never one continuous structure but built in many segregated parts in different places from 220 BC to 1644 AD. So the Great Wall at Huangyaguan Pass is one small section of ‘The Great Wall of China’ which lies in a steep and abrupt mountain ridge in the north of Ji County. It was built originally 1400 years ago in the Northern Qi Dynasty and later rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty. It also underwent a huge restoration in 1984 after which it was open to public.

The Wall is about 42 km long and is an ideal place for trekking and hiking enthusiasts and it is generally visited from the Tianjin end. ‘Hunagyayuan’ means ‘Yellow Cliff Pass’ and just as its name the flora there grows with a surprising shade of ochre, a delight to the eyes. At the end of the Wall is the Huangya Fortress where there is an outdoor market which offers rare varieties of dry fruits at affordable prices. 

True to its name, the minute you step into the street you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into Ancient China. This colourful street is adorned with hundreds of stores. The items in those stores being relics, handicrafts, double-sided embroidery, jade carvings, art ceramics, pottery, calligraphy & paint brushes and other items from history. The place is classified a scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration and was first opened to public in 1986.

The street houses not just relics but buildings from the past too. The Tianhou Palace which was constructed in 1326 during the Yuan dynasty is right at the centre of the street. The overall architectural style of the street, its gate and buildings resembles that of the Qing dynasty. While walking through its historical memory lanes you also have the opportunity to try out some mouth-watering ancient recipes offered in some shops along the street.

Arguably one of the best and oldest hotel in China is the only one with its own museum that has preserved its illustrious 150 year old history. It was built by British Methodist missionary John Innocent in 1863. The old building is still maintained in the same way and a new one behind it has been constructed. The hotel has about 152 rooms and suites that in design, are a hybrid of both the Victorian era and the contemporary style.

The museum is located at the basement of the hotel where still painting, photos, gramophones and other relics has kept intact and managed retain their glory from the bygone era. The hotel has also been hosts to world famous people from a long time including politicians, presidents, business tycoons, military generals and so on the list continues. It is the only hotel in China classified by the National Important Historical Relics Protection Unit and is now managed by the Starwood resort and hotel management group.

One of the many famous pedestrian streets in Tianjin, the street was built in 1902 since the area was the Italian concession at the time. Formerly known as Xin Yi Street it was renamed to its current name a hundred years later when the Municipal government and Tianjin Haihe Construction Development Co., Ltd made extensive renovations to the street.

Since then a lot of Italian style residential complexes and buildings were constructed in this place. Other than the architecture one can enjoy the authentic Italian street performances, clothes and handicraft exhibitions and probably the best pizza ever. Even otherwise it’s a nice place for a pleasant stroll in the city with friends and loved ones.

Right from the 20th century Tianjin being geographically well placed for transportation and duty-free customs, it was a preferred location for various dignitaries and rich people. It was then that The Fifth avenue became one of Tianjin’s richest neighbourhoods. Renowned as the ‘World Building Exposition’ the avenues are known for having buildings of all kinds of architecture. From nationalities like British, France, German, Spain, Italy and in styles such as Renaissance, Greek, Gothic, Romantic, Eclectic, and Carson you’ll find it all. The name is from the five streets or avenues which are lined parallel to each other from east to west.

The streets being:

• Machang Avenue
• Chongquing Avenue
• Dali Avenue
• Munan Avenue
• Cheng du Avenue

The area, which has over 230 buildings, is known for housing celebrities from the 20th century till now including two presidents, seven Prime Ministers, famous educators Yan Xiu, Zhang Boling, well-known industrialists Zhou Xuexi, Li Zhuchen and Song Peiqing. There are several small cafes, restaurants, and bars in these streets for refreshments.

Formerly known as the ‘Green Dragon Pond’ the Shuishang Park is the largest park in Tianjin. The presence of two universities nearby made the spot a summer favourite for academic staff and students during the 19th century which later paved way for more developments. It was officially open to the public from 1st July 1951 and today it’s listed as a 4A Tourist site by the National Tourism Administration. The park is actually a collection of five island amidst three lakes. There are interconnected waterways, pathways and bridges that takes you across these islands.

The recreational facilities in the park are one of the best with the Ferris wheel being the icing on the cake. The most unique quality about the park is the change in its style and themes according to seasons. For ex a tulip show in spring or a chrysanthemum show in autumn. The buildings and gardens show both Chinese and foreign architectural styles. Surrounded by scenic beauty with lush green vegetation Shuishang park offers a great opportunity to spend time with loved ones as well as with nature.

One of the finest examples not just in China but perhaps in the world where art is created from broken and discarded things. The Porcelain House is the result of a life-long commitment and efforts of one business man Zhang Lianzhi with a deep interest towards the art and culture of his nation. The house contains materials which took about 20 years to collect and 5 years to decorate. Today it has around 3000 porcelain vases, 16000 pieces of ancient chinaware, 300 white-marble carvings, and 20 tons of natural crystals. And to top it all the decorations are done with such expertise that no one make out that they are actually an amalgamation of broken pieces. They are so well done that they almost look intact. Porcelain House captivates the attention both from outside and within and is definitely worth visiting.

The cultural square gets its name from its close proximity to the Ancient culture street and the revitalizing project development that has been undertaken. They focus more on the cultural traditions and folk traditions of Tianjin. The pavement is aligned with Old buildings and a lot of small artisan shops and stalls. One of the key features of the square is its brilliant & ingenious lighting. There are nearly 2000 lighting fixtures that have been installed & every nook and corner has a distinctive lighting pattern that is just meant to be experienced. 

A landmark that can be spotted from miles away with its elegant ‘Green Dome’ the Xikai Church also known as St Joseph’s Cathedral is the largest catholic church in Tianjin. Almost a century old the church was built by French Jesuit Missionaries in 1916 with every brick being imported from France. Its architectural style is distinctively Romanesque. The main hall is big enough to accommodate about 1500 people and is supported by 14 huge columns leading to a gallery style tee. The walls are covered with paintings and murals depicting scenes from the Bible. From the time of its construction till about 80 years hence it was said to be the tallest building in Tianjin. All these years the church has stood taut although having undergone many damages both natural and man-made. After undergoing extensive renovations the church was re-opened to the public in 1980 and has since been listed on Tianjin’s cultural relic protection list.

Known as the oldest shopping mall in China the Quanyechang Building was the first of its kind. It was completed in 1928 by the French architect Muller and was the most famous and largest shopping centre back then and had only five floors. The sixth and seventh were added much later after the War. Today it encourages both commercial and entertainment services and is now one of the three major retail department stores in Tianjin city.

• Ranging from various kinds of commodities like toys, jewellery, fashion, clothing, spices, fruits & vegetables, watches, cosmetics, footwear the market has over 30,000 of them.
• Also recreational facilities like a theatre, teahouse, night garden, and indoor games like table tennis and bowling are available at the top two floors.
• There’s tower atop the building which enshrines a Buddha statue.

The building is a symbol of Tianjin’s culture and authenticity and is one of top attractions in the city.

The Tianjin Zoo is one of the ‘Top Ten’ scenic spots in Tianjin being home some of the most exotic animals. This 133 acre land is divided into separate habitats for the animals. Besides from the usual lion, tiger, zebra, monkey the zoo hosts a number of rare species like Panda, lynx, Swan, Jaguar and Macaw. There’s an open feeding area to feed the animals. Other than that there are recreational activities near the circus and even boating facilities available near the lakes. Behind the zoo is a small river facing Ao Cheng which is a calm and a beautiful retreat and can be a perfect spot for a picnic. Overall a fun place to visit for the weekend with friends and family.

Once owned by a private salt merchant after its donation to government today has become everyone’s favourite park in Tianjin. Built during the Qing dynasty in 1863 the park was a private garden that belonged to Li Chuncheng. After the establishment of People’s Republic of China in 1949 the LI family donated it to the government and it was open to the public from 1951. Apart from the usual pathways for strolls, jogging and walking the park has pools with floaters to relax, a small amusement section for children, two giant cages for birds. The park’s central location in the city and its pleasant atmosphere with tall green trees, lakes, and cool breeze made it a go-to place for the public.

The home of the Last Emperor of China, Aisin Gioro Puyi, the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty is now classified as a heritage structure, 3A scenic spot. The residence is a unique combination of both Chinese and European architecture. The building has 21 rooms of which the main structure has a Spanish styled brick wood construction while the interiors are all restored to their original function and are exquisitely Chinese in style and themes. With perfect low key lighting the ambience inside is very beautiful and serene.

Built during the Ming dynasty and covering about 10,600 sqmts the Dabei Monastery is the largest and oldest in Tianjin. It is also the only monastery to provide delicious vegetarian food. The monastery is divided in two parts. The west part is the old temple while the east is the new one. Each part consists of Halls that honor the gods and deities of the Buddhist tradition. The west has the Wenwu Hall and Buddhist Abbot Hall while east includes four halls namely Dabei, Grand, Tianwang and Dizang halls. The temple once also had a skull relic of master Xuanzang which was gifted to India by the Chinese to honour the friendship between the two countries. But perhaps the most notable feature of the monastery is the 24 arm statue of Kwan Yin which is splendid. With a lot of murals on the walls,the Dabei monastery is colourful and has a very devout atmosphere which makes it a wonderful place to visit as well as to meditate.