How many days in tianjin

This area is actually a fairly large area in southern Tianjin where foreign diplomats and officials used to live. Therefore, there are many European-style buildings around.

The Garden of Serenity is the former residence of Puyi, the last emperor of China. He had a bit of a complicated life, and spent part of it in Tianjin in a sort of purgatory between exile and reverence.

This was probably once one of the most lavish places in the country, and some of that grandeur remains. I absolutely loved my trip to the Yangliuqing suburbs of Tianjin. The places worth seeing are about an hour away from the city center by public bus. As I mentioned above, the Courtyard is the former residence of one of the most powerful families in the Tianjin area. They made their fortune in grain transport, and slowly accumulated the land to build their mansion.

It even has a private theater with enough seats to rival a small room at a modern movie theater, and a park nice enough to remind me of the parks in Japan. On the Chinese New Year holiday, you can see millions of these style paintings around the country for decoration. This style of painting has part of its ancestry in Tianjin, and there is a small museum that explains the process and has artists that work on the paintings in front of you!

They are really awesome, and I loved being able to see the artists carving out the patterns in wood, and the video explaining how delicate the whole process is.

I saw the artists filling in their art with watercolors, and prints of finished wood blocks that were printed on paper, waiting to be colored. The museum is pretty small, but it has a good amount of English and is absolutely worth the visit, seeing as its only about a 5 minute walk from the Shi Family Courtyard. Porcelain House These bright colors stand out in a stark contrast to the dull colors of the streets around the Porcelain House. Pick this option if you want: More flexibility — you can go to these places by bike, walking, subway, taxi, etc.

If you already bought your return ticket to Beijing, have a plane ticket to fly out of the airport, etc. Joined: Sep 10, Joined: Jan 26, Owyn wrote:. Boring city. Search form Search. Hottest Blog Posts. Why are Young Chinese in Debt?

Recent comments. Oct 26, am Re: High-Rise vs. Blog Category. Latest Reviews. Closed down. My favorite school. Terrible sandwich that can hurt people. Delicious food. I'll never go there again. Copyright True Run Media. All Rights Reserved. It was then no more than a cottage, but was extended, piece by piece, until there were two buildings on the site, large enough now to serve as a hotel. Contained within the hotel is a museum preserving some of the older architecture, with a wooden promenade and arched windows with carved designs.

The exhibits in the museum display an interesting range of erstwhile Chinese technology; old telephones and gramophone players and, perhaps most interestingly, the first ever Chinese elevator. These are now to be found to the southern side of modern downtown Tianjin, running east-to-west.

There are in excess of buildings of interest preserved from the days of colonial Tianjin. Many are modest, but 50 or so were made for rich and famous Europeans in markedly opulent style. In keeping with the fashion in Europe at the time, the bewildering array of architecture is made still more startling by the incorporation of styles revived from the Renaissance, ancient Greece, Gothic, and the Romantic period.

To complete the mix, the array of European and ancient styles are complemented by the architecture of Qing-dynasty China itself. There is nowhere else that such a collision and mixing of civilizations has led to such an explosion of architectural styles so beautifully preserved, and the Five Ancient Avenues are a sight not to be missed. Originating at the King Bridge in Beijing , running for more than 70 km before emptying out into the sea at Da Gukou , the Hai is the arterial river running through Tianjin.

It is also one of the better places from which to view the fascinating architecture of the old town arrayed along its banks. The fascinating juxtaposition of foreign and Chinese architectural styles is not the only interest Tianjin has to offer. This is, above all, a vibrant, modern metropolis, carrying on the traditions of commerce and the meeting of civilizations on into a thriving present day. It serves both as a bridge , and as a spectacular fun ride from which to see Tianjin from an elevated height.

How high? Well, raised above the bridge, and with a diameter of metres, it's the equivalent of a building 35 storeys in height and dwarfs its surroundings. With 64 transparent, degree viewing gondalas hanging from it, each able to seat eight people, it's a fascinating ride in the 30 minutes it takes to rotate with views of up to 40 km. Even if you don't take a ride on it, the eye itself is an incredible sight, particularly at night when it is lit up in changing colors.

Opening hours: Every day from 9. The teahouse takes its 'celebrity' name from its being used for performances , three times each day, in the morning, at noon and in the evening.

Performances may be anything, by anyone of any age, and is thus similar to a western-style cabaret , only with Chinese characteristics, of course. There are two branches of this particular teahouse - one is located on the Ancient Culture Street , the other on Xinhua Road. The one on Ancient Culture Street is more lively, perhaps even too crowded at times, while that on Xinhua Road is more relaxed with a more authentic feel to the decor.

These are also good venues for seeking out both traditional snacks and traditional crafts , both of which are on sale. For those wanting to get off the tourist track and to experience for themselves Tianjin as the locals know it, the Yan Yue Teahouse is strongly recommended. Located in Heping district , this is a quiet, modest teahouse favoured by Tianjin's residents.

Here too there is a stage for performances , but whereas those in the Pleasant Memories teahouse are met with polite and quiet admiration, here the audiences are more inclined to join in with the fun on offer, passing comment as they eat melon seeds and gossip between themselves.

This teahouse is of particular note for having played host to some of the earlier performances of the famous crosstalk artiste Ma Sanli. One of Tianjin's most famous and most popular western restaurants, if you're looking for somewhere for a taste of home then the Kissling is a good choice.

The first floor serves as a bakery and is a good place for snacks and sandwiches; the second floor is a buffet restaurant ; the third a standard restaurant and bar ; the fourth floor a French restaurant.