Tianjin

Tianjin is a direct-administered municipality in northern China on the shore of the Bohai Sea. It is one of the nine national central cities, with a total population of 13,866,009 inhabitants at the time of the 2020 Chinese census. Its metropolitan area, which is made up of 12 central districts (other than Baodi, Jizhou, Jinghai and Ninghe), was home to 11,165,706 inhabitants and is also the world's 29th-largest agglomeration (between Chengdu and Rio de Janeiro) and 11th-most populous city proper. Tianjin is governed as one of the four municipalities (alongside Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing) under the direct administration of the State Council of China. The city borders Hebei Province and Beijing Municipality, bounded to the east by the Bohai Gulf portion of the Yellow Sea. Part of the Bohai Economic Rim, it is the largest coastal city in Northern China and part of the Jing-Jin-Ji megapolis. In terms of urban population, Tianjin is the seventh largest city in China. In terms of administrative area population, Tianjin ranks fifth in mainland China. The walled city of Tianjin was built in 1404. As a treaty port since 1860, Tianjin has been a seaport and gateway to Beijing. During the Boxer Rebellion, the city was the seat of the Tianjin Provisional Government. Under the Qing dynasty and the Republic of China, Tianjin became one of the largest cities in the region. At that time, European-style buildings and mansions were constructed in concessions, some of which are preserved today. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Tianjin suffered a depression due to the policy of the central government and the 1976 Tangshan earthquake; however, it has been recovering since the 1990s. Tianjin is classified as the largest type of port city, a Large-Port Megacity, due to its large urban population and port traffic volume. Tianjin is currently a dual-core city, with its main urban area (including the older part of the city) located along the Hai River, which connects to the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers via the Grand Canal; and Binhai, an adjacent New Area urban core located east of the older part of the city on the coast of the Bohai. As of the end of 2010, approximately 285 Fortune 500 companies have operated in buildings located in Binhai. Since 2010, Tianjin's Yujiapu Financial District has become known as China's Manhattan and the city is considered to be one of the world's top 100 cities, including in the Global Financial Centres Index. As of 2024, Tianjin was ranked as a Beta+ (global second tier) city together with Barcelona and Rome by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

One-Day Tianjin Tour Itinerary Recommendations

Theme:

Ancient Port Charm + European Flair + Culinary Adventure

Suitable for:

Culture seekers/Instagrammers/foodies, optimal with metro + bike-sharing

Practical Tips

Booking Guide:

Maritime Museum free (closed Mon) | Carrier Park ¥220 | Haihe Cruise ¥100

Transport Hacks:

Walk old town alleys | Ride-hailing for Binhai efficiency

Hidden Gems:

Five Avenues weekend Cultural and Creative markets

Liberation Bridge lifts monthly (summer ~8:30pm)

Optimization Tips:

Culture add-on: Quiet Garden (Puyi's Tianjin years)

Binhai alternative: Polar Ocean World for kids

Food upgrade: JinCaiDian restaurant (crispy whole fish)

(Note: Tianjin Station/Xi Station are downtown ideal starting points)

Option 1:

Old Town Cultural Immersion

Best for:

History buffs, photographers

Transport:

Metro Line 2 + walking

08:00-10:00 Ancient Culture Street

Clay figurine Zhang workshop + Yangliuqing New Year paintings | Teahouse crosstalk show (10:30am)

10:30-12:00 Drum Tower + Guangdong Guildhall

Panoramic city views | Exquisite opera house carvings

12:30-14:00 Nanshi Food Street Lunch

Go Believe steamed buns (three-delicacy filling) + Ear-Hole Fried Cake | Pair with Shanhaiguan soda

14:30-16:30 Five Great Avenues

Horse carriage tour of 300 villas | Minyuan Square highlight

17:00-19:00 Haihe River Cruise (sunset session)

Pass Tianjin Eye + Liberation Bridge | Skyline light show

Option 2:

Binhai Instagram Hotspots

Best for:

Creatives, families

Transport:

Metro Line 9 + e-scooter

09:00-11:00 National Maritime Museum

"Oceanic Palace" whale shark exhibits | Blue Home aquarium (book ahead)

11:30-13:00 Binhai Library

Pure white "book mountain" | Viral photo spots

13:30-15:00 Dongjiang Bay Park

Beachcombing (check tides) | Winter gull feeding

15:30-18:00 TEDA Aircraft Carrier Park

Board Kiev carrier | Stunt driving show (4:30pm)

18:30 Yujiapu Night Views

Juilliard School light show | Rainbow Bridge reflections

Option 3:

Foodie Scavenger Hunt

Best for:

Gourmands, power walkers

Transport:

Metro Line 1 + cycling

07:30-09:00 Northwest Corner Breakfast

Goubuli pancakes + fermented bean soup + candied fritters | Must-try: Zhengweizhai jianbing

09:30-11:30 Italian Style Quarter

Marco Polo Square architecture | Dante Square iced coffee

12:00-14:00 Liaoning Road Snack Street

18th Street fried dough twists + pear cake + stuffed omelet

14:30-17:00 Binjiangdao + St. Joseph's Cathedral

Quanyechang vintage mall | Stained-glass photography

17:30-20:00 Olympic City Night Market

Tiezhen shaved ice + Li's clay pot | Korean grocery haul