About 135km (84mi) from Beijing, this quiet town of roughly 13 million is only a 30 minute bullet train ride from Beijing. It honestly took us longer to get to the Railway Station in Beijing navigating the metro system than it did to get from the Railway Station to Tianjin on a bullet train. One thing we quickly learned while living in China is that 13 million people can be considered a small town. However, Tianjin did not feel overwhelming. In fact, there were many cute walking streets, cafes, and stores that made it a very pleasant place to visit that wasn’t overly crowded.
We’d definitely recommend Tianjin for a quick day trip from Beijing. Get off at the Tianjin Railway station in the middle of the city (don’t take the train all the way to the port. If you have, you’ve gone too far). The best way to get around the city is either renting a bike or taking DiDis. We found the city very bike friendly if you are up for a good ride.
Arrive early and walk around the WuDaDao (Five Great Avenues) Culture Tourist area neighborhood. It’s the former site of celebrity and governmental residents and the street feels like you’re walking down a street in Germany, Italy, or Spain based on the architecture which is very unique in China. The streets are named after large cities in provinces in China like: Chongqing, Chengdu, Dali, Guilin, Yunnan and more. We found some amazing bakeries, a few farmers market style pop ups selling crafts and goods. It was an all around cute way to spend the morning. There are so many great coffee shops as well so do yourself a favor and meander around.
Porcelain House
Head a little north to the Porcelain House. What a fascinating place. I’ve never seen something so artistic and unique in China. This old house has been converted into a visual experience as you walk through each floor. The artist has taken broken pottery and made the most magical site. Covered in red and white mud/clay the walls hold together beautiful mosaics both inside and outside. Take time to explore each floor and see all the murals in every nook and cranny, seriously look everywhere. The pottery ranges from the Tang to the Qing dynasties. I thought the animal murals in the stairways were super impressive. And from the balcony upstairs, you can see the mosaic car in the front. No need to buy tickets in advance. You can purchase right at the door for CNY 50 ($7).
Tianjin Italian Street
The shopping/restaurant area has an intense Italian vibe. There are more than 200 European buildings that adorn the streets and walkways. It really feels like you are transported to Italy. There is a circular square area called Marco Polo that makes for a great area for people watching or grabbing a seat on a bench to relax for a while. We recommend you have lunch or dinner at the restaurant Venice Club for delicious real Italian food. After speaking with the owner, we learned he imports ingredients like olive oil and cheese directly from Italy. It was so delicious!
Take a walk on the Haihe River walk. They’ve done a nice job of building up the river walk so it’s beautiful. The buildings that adorn the river are powerful and stunning. The walkway is clean and nice and as you head north, you can stop at the Eye of Tianjin Ferris Wheel. Get a ride on the Ferris wheel for views of the whole city.
Once up north, make a stop at Tianjin Ancient Culture Street. One thing you’ll start to find is that each city in China has its own style of walking street with food and vendors. Many of these walking streets in other cities have started to feel the same and overly commercialized. Tianjin was able to keep some of the old time antique charm with the back alleyways that connect behind the main drag.
This walking street offers food vendors, stores and markets selling traditional antiques, paintings, and entertainment for the kids. Again, don’t just do the main drag. Make sure to walk behind and through all the alleyways to not miss anything. We found some amazing pottery and tea cups in the back alleys along with vendors selling walnuts. These walnuts are not for eating. They are the original fidget spinner. You’ll see many cab drivers and old men in town rotating these reddish brown unshelled walnuts in their hands in circular motion. This is a great place to pick up a few as souvenirs, but don’t forget to haggle your price.
Overall Tianjin is a lovely town. Of our friends and coworkers, most people didn’t stay for more than a weekend as once you’ve seen the main sites, you’ve seen it all. But it’s definitely a unique and fun stop if you’re looking for something a little different in China.
