Tianjin Holiday Guide: Best Places for First-Timers
The charming and picturesque coastal city of Tianjin is commonly seen as an easy day trip from Beijing; just hop on a bullet train at the Beijing Southern Railway Station and you will arrive in 40 minutes.
In recent years, however, Tianjin has come into its own. Perhaps it has to do with its size, as China’s fourth largest city, its unique heritage melding Eastern and Western influences, or how it juxtaposes age-old traditions with futuristic ambitions. Whatever the case may be, you will find yourself drawn by Tianjin’s friendly and laid-back vibe.
To help you get up close and personal with this fast-growing metropolis, the team at Pan Pacific Tianjin has put together this essential guide to the best stuff to do in Tianjin for first-time visitors. Here, you will discover:
- Basic travel information on Tianjin
- Where to take the best Tianjin photos
- The top Tianjin places of interest
Travel Information on Tianjin
Take note of the following useful information if you are a first-time traveller to Tianjin.
Currency in Tianjin: RMB (Renminbi) or Yuan
Weather in Tianjin: As with most Northern cities in China, Tianjin has four distinct seasons. Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) are generally the best times to travel to Tianjin as the weather is cool and comfortable. Summer (June to August) is hot and rainy while winter (December to February) can be dry and cold. (Discover the best time to visit Tianjin here.)
Travel apps in Tianjin: To navigate China’s cities efficiently, you will need an alternative to Google Maps as it will require a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access. (Check out ExpressVPN or read this article on top VPNs in China.) One option is Apple Maps, which works in China and does not require a VPN; do note that it only works for iPhones. Another option is Maps.me, which is available in English and allows you to download maps for offline reference. If you understand Chinese, you can also use Baidu maps to find your way around.
Payment apps in Tianjin: From shopping or watching performances, to dining or taking a taxi, every transaction in China today has gone cashless. So be sure to set up your mobile wallet before your Tianjin holiday by downloading WeChat Pay or Alipay. (It can be tricky to set up your e-wallet on these apps without a physical bank account in China, so do refer to this online guide beforehand.)
How to get around in Tianjin:
Tianjin’s metro system links the main train stations and the airport to the rest of the city. Tickets cost about 2 to 5 RMB (which is about US$0.30 to US$0.70). Buses are also a major form of transport around the city, and they run for long hours from around 5am to 11pm. Fares vary from 2 RMB to 4 RMB for most routes. It is also easy to get around by taxi, but be prepared to pay a bit more for the convenience.
Best Tianjin photo spots
Begin your Tianjin sojourn by venturing out with your DSLR or smartphone camera. Here are some of the best places to take stunning photos in Tianjin.
1. Be Wowed By Haihe and Tianjn Eye
| Address |
Hongqiao, Tianjin 300011, China |
| Opening Hours |
Monday 5.00pm to 9.30pm; Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30am to 9:30pm |
The Tianjin Eye is the only ferris wheel in the world to be built on a bridge, and is also the 10th tallest ferris wheel in the world. A ticket to ride it will set you back 70 RMB (10USD)—the good thing is that you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the cosmopolitan Chinese city. Each passenger capsule on the Tianjin Eye rises to a peak of 120 metres; equivalent to the height of a 35-storey building.
One of the best places to take photos of the Tianjin Eye is at the Jingang Bridge (only a three-minute walk from Pan Pacific Tianjin). At night, the view of the huge ferris wheel, illuminated and towering over the shimmering Haihe (海河, Hai River), is a beautiful sight to behold, and to capture on camera.
2. Experience New Literary Levels at Tianjin Binhai New Area Library
| Address | No.347 Xusheng Road, Binhai New Area, Tianjin 300457, China |
| Phone Number |
+86 22 65545678 |
| Opening Hours |
Monday: 2.00pm to 6.00pm; Tuesday to Sunday: 10.00 am to 6.00pm |
The Tianjin Binhai New Area Library, nicknamed The Eye of the Sea, was listed as one of the World’s Greatest Places in 2018 by TIME magazine. Part of the Binhai Cultural Centre, the 33,700 square-metre cultural centre features a luminous spherical auditorium with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, making it a stunning space for bibliophiles and non-book-lovers alike.
Popular with locals and visitors, the library is perfect as a quiet spot to read, write, work, snap awe-inspiring photos of its architecture, or just reflect on your life.
Directions to Tianjin Binhai New Area Library
3. Shop for Trinkets at Ancient Cultural Street
| Address | Nankai Qu, Tianjin 300011, China |
| Opening Hours |
8.00am to 5.00pm daily |
Just a stone’s throw away from Pan Pacific Tianjin is the popular pedestrian shopping street that is quaintly named the Ancient Cultural Street. Walking down this street is like walking down memory lane—all the way back to the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), with architecture reminiscent of that era. You will discover (and take home) all manner of Chinese curios here. Take your pick of calligraphic artworks, ornately carved jade pieces, rustic antiques and souvenirs while sampling Tianjin’s local delicacies.
Directions to Ancient Cultural Street
(For more picture-perfect photo spots in Tianjin, focus your lenses on this article.)
Top places of interest in Tianjin
Bookmark some of the city’s best-known historical and cultural attractions below.
4. Appreciate Architecture at Five Great Avenues
| Address | Stadium Street, Heping Qu, Tianjin 300050, China |
| Phone Number |
+86 22-23307222 |
If you appreciate architecture, Wu Da Dao (五大道), or the Five Great Avenues, is the best place to start your Tianjin adventure. The upscale residential precinct comprises five parallel streets littered with European-styled architecture built in the 1920s and 1930s. Marvel at the colourful architectural styles featured here—from Greek to Gothic and Romantic-era styles.
Directions to Five Great Avenues
5. Experience Local Culture at Mingliu Tea House
| Address | 52 Gulou South Street, Drum Tower Shopping Centre, Nankai Qu, Tianjin 300090, China |
| Phone Number |
+86 22 8825 2627 |
While in Tianjin, do as the locals do and catch a witty crosstalk performance in a traditional tea house—it is one of the best things to do in Tianjin at night.
To do so, make a trip down to Mingliu Tea House. This charmingly designed eating place is one of the most well-known venues in Tianjin for crosstalk performances. While a good understanding of Mandarin will help you to fully appreciate the performers’ sharp wordplay and puns, it will still make for a good night out if your knowledge of Mandarin is rudimentary.
Directions to Mingliu Tea House
6. Go on a Food Trail at Nanshi Food Street
The Nanshi Food Street is considered a part of Tianjin’s national treasure—all 40,000 square feet of it. Prepare your palates for the city’s calorific culinary delights as you wander the mall’s countless stalls, shops, and restaurants serving baked pastries and candies. Ma hua (fried dough twist) is a must-try among the local specialties.
The food street is also a great place to stock up on culinary souvenirs such as erduoyan zhagao (耳朵眼炸糕, or ear-eye fried cakes), ripe pear cakes, and fried beans.
Directions to Nanshi Food Street
7. Step into History at Huangya Pass (Great Wall of China)
How does the prospect of climbing the Great Wall of China minus the busloads of tourists sound? A two-hour drive from Tianjin will allow you to do so, at Huangya Pass—a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. This lesser-known section of the Great Wall was badly damaged through various battles but was repaired between 1984-1986, under the call of Deng Xiaoping to “Love China and Build the Great Wall.” Of all the Great Wall restoration projects, this section took the longest time to rebuild.
Be sure to be properly equipped and physically and mentally ready as the climb can be tough at parts.
Directions of Huangya Pass (Great Wall of China)
Where to Stay in Tianjin
Looking for hotel accommodation in Tianjin? Wake up to a romantic view of Haihe by staying at Pan Pacific Tianjin. Get in touch with us today!
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Toll-Free Room Reservation Numbers
No. 1 Zhang Zi Zhong Road,
Hong Qiao District, Tianjin,
China, 300091
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